Heartbreak High

Heartbreak High
Title card
Written by	Peter Neale Craig Wilkins David Phillips Leon Saunders Sally Webb Chris Roache Serge Lazareff Kevin Roberts Peter A. Kinloch Howard Griffiths
Directed by	Michael Jenkins Andrew Prowse Karl Zwicky Jessica Hobbs Ian Gilmour Catherine Millar Geoff Bennett Steve Mann Ian Watson Nico Lathouris
Theme music composer	Todd Hunter
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of series	7
No. of episodes	210
Production
Running time	50 minutes
Production company	Gannon Television
Release
Original network	Network Ten (1994–1996) ABC TV (1997–1999)
Picture format	4:3 (PAL)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	27 February 1994 (1994-02-27) – 29 November 1999 (1999-11-29)
Chronology
Related shows	The Heartbreak Kid

Heartbreak High is an Australian television program created by Michael Jenkins and Ben Gannon that ran for six years, through seven seasons from 1994 to 1999 on both Network Ten and ABC. The program dealt with the students of the fictional Hartley High (replaced by Hartley Heights from series 6 onwards), a tough high school in a multiracial area of Sydney, and has been described as a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries.^[1][2]

The show is a spin-off of the 1993 Australian feature film The Heartbreak Kid, which features cast members Alex Dimitriades, Nico Lathouris, Doris Younane, Scott Major and Katherine Halliday as early versions of their Heartbreak High characters. Later seasons of the show shifted emphasis from the Poulos family and the school setting, with a group of students living independently in a warehouse while working at The Shark Pool, a local hangout.

The first five series were filmed in Maroubra Bay High School in Maroubra, New South Wales in the Eastern Suburbs.^[3] Series six and seven were filmed in Warriewood in the Northern Beaches.

The series is set to be rebooted by Netflix for release in 2022.^[4]

Transmission[]

The program was transmitted by Network Ten between 1994 and 1996, and by the ABC between 1997 and 1999. It was also successful in sales internationally and was broadcast in over 25 countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America. After series seven, the ABC axed the show as selling another series to foreign TV stations proved increasingly difficult. The BBC had no interest in buying an additional series, due to scheduling delays a backlog of episodes had built up, and the program was forced to wrap up production.^{[citation needed]}

Cast[]

Timeline[]

Lighter colors denote guest appearances versus series regulars.

Series 1 (1994, episodes 1–38)[]

The first series premiered on Network Ten on 27 February 1994, and aired weekly at 6:30pm on Sundays. Midway through the year the show's time slot was changed to 7:30pm Wednesdays, where it aired until its finale on 9 November 1994 after 38 episodes.

The show initially focuses on the Poulos family, before shifting to the Bordino family towards the end of the series.

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Alex Dimitriades	Nick Poulos	1–38	student, Greek-Australian, Con's cousin, romantically involved with Jodie and Danielle, dies from brain aneurysm in episode 38
Sarah Lambert	Christina Milano	1–26	English and History teacher, Italian-Australian, moves to Indonesia in episode 26
Katherine Halliday	Rose Malouf	1–38	student, Lebanese-Australian, romantically involved with Jack
Salvatore Coco	Con Bordino	1–38	student, Greek-Italian Australian, Nick's cousin
Emma Roche	Danielle Miller	1–38	student, romantically involved with Steve and Nick
Corey Page	Steve Wiley	1–38	student, romantically involved with Danielle and Lucy
Doris Younane	Yola Fatoush	1–38	school guidance counsellor, Lebanese-Australian, roommates with Christina and later Sam
Scott Major	Peter Rivers	1–38	student, romantically involved with Chaka, Katerina and Sam
Abi Tucker	Jodie Cooper	1–5, 6–9 (credit only) 10–38	student, singer, romantically involved with Nick, involved with Rocco
Isabella Gutierrez	Chaka Cardenes	1–14	student, Salvadoran, romantically involved with Rivers, moves to Darwin with her family in episode 14
Tai Nguyen	Jack Tran	1–22, 23–26 (credit only) 37–38 (guest)	student, Vietnamese-Australian, romantically involved with Rose, moves to a selective school in episode 22 but returns in guest appearances
Tony Martin	Bill Southgate	1–38	Science teacher, later acting principal
Hugh Baldwin	Graham Brown	1–26	Maths and Music teacher, gay, not seen after episode 26 but makes guest appearances in later seasons
Stephen O'Rourke	Jim Deloraine	1–20, 21–24 (credit only) 25–38	school headmaster
Jan Adele	Ruby St John	1–26	owner of local milk bar Ruby's, not seen after episode 26
Elly Varrenti	Irini Poulos	1–8	Nick's mother, dies from car accident-related injuries in episode 8
Nico Lathouris	George Poulos	1–30	Nick's father, later romantically involved with Stella, moves back to Greece in episode 30
Despina Caldis	Effie Poulos	1–38	Nick's sister

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Peta Toppano	Stella Ioannou	9–28	housekeeper to the Poulos family, later romantically involved with George, moves to Greece in episode 28
Ada Nicodemou	Katerina Ioannou	16–28	student, Stella's daughter, romantically involved with Rivers, moves to Greece in episode 28
Barbara Gouskos	Helen Bordino	8, 25 (guest), 29–38	Con's mother and Irini's sister
Ivar Kants	Roberto Bordino	8, 25, 27 (guest) 29–38	Con's father, played by Francesco Caudullo in the character's first appearance
Kym Wilson	Sam Robinson	29 (guest), 30–35 36 (guest)	English and History teacher, romantically involved with Rivers, resigned from the school in episode 36
Alexandra Brunning	Lucy Weston	30–35 (guest), 36 (credit only) 37–38	private school student, romantically involved with Steve

Series 2 (1995, episodes 39–52)[]

The second season premiered on Network Ten on 28 May 1995, with Vince Poletto joining the cast, replacing Alex Dimitriades. The season finale aired on 27 August 1995 after 14 episodes.

Starting with this season the show follows a floating timeline. The students are established as being in their last school year and preparing for the HSC, but the class do not sit for their exams until the beginning of the show's fifth season (after enduring several cast changes and with nearly two years passing in real time).^[5][6]

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Vince Poletto	Matt Logan	39–52	student, Deloraine's nephew, romantically involved with Jodie
Abi Tucker	Jodie Cooper	39–52	student, singer, romantically involved with Matt
Salvatore Coco	Con Bordino	39–52	student, romantically involved with Rose
Emma Roche	Danielle Miller	39–52	student
Scott Major	Peter Rivers	39–52	student
Katherine Halliday	Rose Malouf	39–49	student, romantically involved with Con, marries Jack and moves to his school in episode 49
Corey Page	Steve Wiley	39–52	student, romantically involved with Lucy
Doris Younane	Yola Fatoush	39–52	school guidance counsellor and substitute English and History teacher, moves to a school in Yanderra in episode 52
Tony Martin	Bill Southgate	39–52	Science teacher, moves to a school in Yanderra in episode 52
Alexandra Brunning	Lucy Weston	39–51	private school student, romantically involved with Steve, leaves for a six-month exchange program in Japan in episode 51
Barbara Gouskos	Helen Bordino	39–52	Con's mother
Ivar Kants	Roberto Bordino	39–52	Con's father
Despina Caldis	Effie Poulos	39–52	Con's cousin
Stephen O'Rourke	Jim Deloraine	39–52	school headmaster, Matt's uncle

Series 3 (1995, episodes 53–65)[]

The third season premiered on Network Ten on 3 September 1995, with Kym Wilson returning to the cast. The season finale aired on 26 November 1995 after 13 episodes.

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Vince Poletto	Matt Logan	53–65	student, Deloraine's nephew, romantically involved with Jodie and Allie
Abi Tucker	Jodie Cooper	53–65	student, singer, romantically involved with Matt, leaves school to pursue her musical career in episode 65
Salvatore Coco	Con Bordino	53–65	student, romantically involved with Katerina
Emma Roche	Danielle Miller	53–65	student, romantically involved with Steve
Scott Major	Peter Rivers	53–65	student, romantically involved with Katerina and Sam, runs away with Sam up North in episode 65
Corey Page	Steve Wiley	53–65	student, romantically involved with Danielle, dies offscreen in accident after episode 65
Kym Wilson	Sam Robinson	53–65	English and History teacher, romantically involved with Andrew and Rivers, runs away with Rivers up North in episode 65
Barbara Gouskos	Helen Bordino	53–65	Con's mother
Ivar Kants	Roberto Bordino	53–65	Con's father
Despina Caldis	Effie Poulos	53–65	Con's cousin, not seen after episode 65
Stephen O'Rourke	Jim Deloraine	53–65	school headmaster, Matt's uncle

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Ada Nicodemou	Katerina Ioannou	54–65	student, romantically involved with Rivers and Con
Inge Hornstra	Allie Matts	55–65	student, Steve's half sister, romantically involved with Matt
Ian Bliss	Andrew Bell	56–65	Science teacher, romantically involved with Sam

Series 4 (1996, episodes 66–91)[]

Heartbreak High was axed after two years on Network Ten. However, 26 more episodes were subsequently produced with funding from BBC2. Network Ten eventually aired them as a final season from 16 June to 8 December 1996 to meet its local drama quota, before the show was subsequently bought and revived by the ABC.^[7] After three seasons as a recurring guest star, Jon Pollard was made a series regular, replacing Scott Major.

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Vince Poletto	Matt Logan	66–91	student, Deloraine's nephew, romantically involved with Allie and Stassy
Inge Hornstra	Allie Matts	66–87	student, romantically involved with Matt and Tom, leaves for a literary fellowship in London in episode 87
Salvatore Coco	Con Bordino	66–71	student, romantically involved with Katerina, leaves for a student exchange program in Santa Monica in episode 71
Emma Roche	Danielle Miller	66–91	student, romantically involved with Declan, leaves to become a television reporter in Wollongong in episode 91
Jon Pollard	Alan Bolton	66–91	student, romantically involved with Stassy
Ada Nicodemou	Katerina Ioannou	66–91	student, romantically involved with Con and Charlie
Ian Bliss	Andrew Bell	66–78	Science teacher, leaves to join a research team in Antarctica in episode 78
Barbara Gouskos	Helen Bordino	66–91	Con's mother
Ivar Kants	Roberto Bordino	66–91	Con's father
Stephen O'Rourke	Jim Deloraine	66–69	school headmaster, Matt's uncle, has a heart attack and retires in episode 69

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Deni Gordon	Ronnie Brooks	67–91	English and History teacher, African-American
Diane Craig	June Dyson	69–91	school headmistress
Rupert Reid	Declan Costello	72–91	student, romantically involved with Danielle
Tara Jakszewicz	Stassy Sumich	73–91	student, Yugoslavian Australian, romantically involved with Matt and Bolton
Simon Baker-Denny	Tom Summers	80–87	Science teacher, romantically involved with Allie, fired in episode 87
Sebastian Goldspink	Charlie Byrd	81–91	student, romantically involved with Katerina

Series 5 (1997, episodes 92–130)[]

The fifth series aired on the ABC from 3 February^[8] until 18 June 1997, a total of 39 episodes.^[9] The show began to follow a soap opera formula, with traditional 43–45-minute episodes aired in two 20–23-minute parts, allowing two episodes to be aired weekly across four nights (Mondays to Thursdays). Later airings of the episodes screened the episodes in full.

This series had the most significant cast change, with the majority of remaining cast members being phased out of the show within the first six episodes, and the show shifting focus from the Bordino family onto the Scheppers family.

A new school year begins from the eighth episode onwards and continues in a floating timeline, with students in their last school year but not sitting for their HSC exams until midway through the seventh season (with over two years passing in real time).

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Vince Poletto	Matt Logan	92–97	student, romantically involved with Stassy, graduates high school in episode 97
Ada Nicodemou	Katerina Ioannou	92–130	student, romantically involved with Charlie, leaves for performance school in Perth in episode 130
Jon Pollard	Alan Bolton	92–95	student, leaves for Canberra to become an event organizer in episode 95
Rupert Reid	Declan Costello	92–104	student, leaves for Bathurst for a nursing program in episode 104
Sebastian Goldspink	Charlie Byrd	92–130	student, romantically involved with Katerina, Anita and Melanie, leaves for Perth in episode 130
Tara Jakszewic	Stassy Sumich	92–97	student, romantically involved with Matt, goes travelling with Matt in episode 97
Deni Gordon	Ronnie Brooks	92–130	English and History teacher, leaves at the closure of Hartley High in episode 130
Barbara Gouskos	Helen Bordino	92–96	Con's mother, leaves for an extended vacation through Europe and the United States in episode 96
Ivar Kants	Roberto Bordino	92–96	Con's father, leaves for an extended vacation through Europe and the United States in episode 96
Diane Craig	June Dyson	92	school headmistress, leaves for Brisbane with her son in episode 92

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Rebecca Smart	Melanie Black	95–117, 118–121 (credit only) 122–130	student, romantically involved with Charlie
Rel Hunt	Ryan Scheppers	98–130	student, Anita's older brother, romantically involved with Mai
Lara Cox	Anita Scheppers	98–130	student, Ryan's younger sister, romantically involved with Drazic and Charlie
Tina Bursill	Hilary Scheppers	98–130	Ryan and Anita's mother, nurse
Callan Mulvey	Bogdan Drazic	99–130	student, Yugoslavian Australian, romantically involved with Anita
Peter Sumner	Les Bailey	99–130	school headmaster
Nina Liu	Mai Hem	104–130	student, Chinese Australian, romantically involved with Ryan

Series 6 (1997–98, episodes 131–170)[]

This series marked the debut of Hartley Heights, the student's new school location, along with new cast members Fleur Beaupert, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor and Andrea Moor.

The first 20 episodes of series six aired on the ABC from 23 June^[10] until 28 August 1997.^[11] After nearly a year of repeats, 20 more episodes aired from 1 July^[12] until 8 September 1998.^[13]

During this series, the focus gradually shifts from the Scheppers family onto the Delaine family.

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Callan Mulvey	Bogdan Drazic	131–170	student, romantically involved with Anita
Rel Hunt	Ryan Scheppers	131–170	student, romantically involved with Nikki and Sarah
Fleur Beaupert	Nikki Ruark	131–169	student, singer, romantically involved with Kurt and Ryan, leaves to recover from a nervous breakdown in episode 169
Jeremy Lindsay Taylor	Kurt Peterson	131–170	student, romantically involved with Nikki and Anita
Rebecca Smart	Melanie Black	131–136	student, leaves for Tasmania with her dying boyfriend Andrew in episode 136
Lara Cox	Anita Scheppers	131–170	student, romantically involved with Drazic and Kurt
Andrea Moor	Di Barnett	131–170	school headmistress
Tina Bursill	Hilary Scheppers	131–133	Ryan and Anita's mother, moves to Melbourne to pursue a job offer in episode 133
Peter Sumner	Les Bailey	131–134	Science and Maths teacher, quits after a sexual harassment complaint in episode 134
Nina Liu	Mai Hem	131–152	student, leaves to pursue a music video directing career in episode 152

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Frederick Miragliotta	Gerrard Albers	133–152	Humanities teacher, Spanish, leaves to become an artistic director of a regional theatre company in episode 152
Nathalie Roy	Sarah Livingston	139–150, 153 (credit only) 154–170	student, romantically involved with Ryan, leaves for the country with Kath in episode 150, returns from episode 154
Elaine Hudson	Kath Livingston	139–150	Sarah's mother, leaves for the country in episode 150
Mario Gamma	Peter D'Esposito	137 (guest), 151–170	owner of the Shark Pool, later works at school canteen
Marcel Bracks	Lee Delaine	153–170	student
Morna Seres	Jill Delaine	153–170	Lee's mother
John Walton	Nat Delaine	153–170	Humanities teacher, Lee's father
Putu Winchester	Dennis Klinsmann	131–169 (guest), 170	student

Series 7 (1999, episodes 171–210)[]

The seventh and final season first aired on the ABC from 12 July^[14] until 29 November 1999, a total of 40 episodes.^[15] Towards the end of the series, the show's focus shifts from the Delaine family onto the Mason family.

Regular Cast

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Callan Mulvey	Bogdan Drazic	171–210	student, romantically involved with Anita
Rel Hunt	Ryan Scheppers	171–186	student, romantically involved with Sarah, graduates high school in episode 186
Putu Winchester	Dennis Klinsmann	171–210	student
Jeremy Lindsay Taylor	Kurt Peterson	171–186	student, romantically involved with Thania, graduates high school in episode 186
Nathalie Roy	Sarah Livingston	171–186	student, romantically involved with Ryan, graduates high school in episode 186
Mario Gamma	Peter D'Esposito	171–174, 183–206 (guest)	owner of the Shark Pool
Lara Cox	Anita Scheppers	171–192, 193 (credit only) 203 (guest), 204–210	student, romantically involved with Drazic
Marcel Bracks	Lee Delaine	171–200	student, leaves for another school in episode 200
Morna Seres	Jill Delaine	171–200	Lee's mother, leaves with Lee in episode 200
John Walton	Nat Delaine	171–185	Humanities teacher, Lee's father, leaves in episode 185
Andrea Moor	Di Barnett	171–186	school headmistress, leaves for a bigger school in episode 186

Additions

Actor	Character	Episodes	Role
Tasneem Roc	Thania Saya	175–210	student, romantically involved with Kurt and Marco
Bianca Nacson	Gemma Whitley	186–209, 210 (credit only)	student, romantically involved with Zac, expelled in episode 209
Luke Jacobz	Zac Croft	187–210	student, romantically involved with Gemma and Tess
Elena Carapetis	Jackie Kassis	187–210	Science teacher
John Gregg	Alan Carson	187–210	school headmaster, English and History teacher
Danny Raco	Marco Vialli	191–210	student, Italian-Australian, romantically involved with Thania
Katherine Hicks	Tess Mason	200 (credit only), 201–210	student, romantically involved with Zac
Mark Owen-Taylor	Tim Mason	200 (credit only), 201–210	Tess's father

DVD release[]

The first 26 episodes of the first season were released in Australia as a DVD box set by Umbrella Entertainment on 5 October 2011. This DVD set is region free, featuring original 4:3 Full Frame and 2.0 English Dolby Digital Sound.^[16][17] The last 13 episodes of the first season, along with every episode of the second season were released as a second DVD box set on 7 March 2012.^[18] The season three DVD box set was released by Umbrella Entertainment on 6 June 2012.^[19] According to Umbrella Entertainment's Facebook page, subsequent seasons of the show were never released due to music licensing issues.

The dubbed German version of the show's first season was also released in two DVD sets in Germany, with no English audio track.^[20]

International[]

Heartbreak High was broadcast in the following countries:

• In Argentina on Canal 9 as "Aprendiendo a vivir" ("Learning to Live").
• In Australia on Network Ten, ABC TV and ABC3 (2009-2010).
• In Belgium on Flemish public television VRT and on French speaking side, Plug RTL as Hartley, cœurs à vif.
• In Canada on Showcase.
• In Chile on Chilevision as "Aprendiendo a vivir".
• In the Czech Republic on SuperMax and later on TV Nova as Škola zlomených srdcí.
• In Estonia on Kanal 2 as Koolide kool
• In France on France 2 as Hartley, cœurs à vif
• In Germany on ZDF (Episodes 1-52) and Sat.1 (Episodes 1–160)
• In Greece on Skai and New channel in 1997.
• In Hungary on MTV1 (Magyar Televízió - Hungarian Television), and is currently aired on m2 as Szívtipró gimi.
• In Iceland on RÚV as Fjör á Fjölbraut.
• In India on Zee Café.
• In Indonesia on Indosiar
• In Ireland on Network 2 (now RTÉ2)
• In Israel on Channel 1 (Israel) as Tichon Ha'Levavot Ha'Shvurim (תיכון הלבבות השבורים).
• In Kosovo on RTV21 as Vitet e arta
• In Lithuania on LRT (Lietuvos Televizija) as Neramioji Gimnazija.
• In Mexico on Azteca 13 as "Aprendiendo a vivir".
• In the Netherlands on Nederland 3 on VARA.
• In North Macedonia on A1 as Uchilishte skrsheni srca.
• In Norway on TV2.
• In Peru on TNP as "Aprendiendo a vivir".
• In Poland on TVP 1 as Szkoła złamanych serc (A School of Broken Hearts), re-runs were broadcast by TVN, and again in 2007 on TVP1.
• In Portugal on RTP1 as "Amores e Rebeldia"
• In Russia as Школа разбитых сердец was first broadcast on TV-6 in 1996.
• In Serbia on 3K RTS as Nestašne godine (Mischievous Years) and again on TV Stankom, Art TV and various regional TV stations.
• In Spain on TVE1 and TVE2 as Los Rompecorazones ("The Heartbreakers").
• In the United Arab Emirates on City7tv.
• In the United Kingdom on BBC2, Children's BBC, Trouble and TCC.
• In the United States on Encore WAM.

All seven seasons of the show were released worldwide on streaming platform Netflix on 27 November 2020, with the exception of France and French speaking territories, where it is available on .^[21] Even though it was reportedly world-wide, there are countries for which Netflix has not (as of yet) released the original series. For Belgium (for instance) Netflix has only announced the reboot, but has not released the original 7 seasons.

Book release[]

There have been a number of tie in releases about the show. A guide to the series was released in 1995 to coincide with the start of series 2, whilst novelisations of events from series 1, 5 and 6 were also released. In 2021, the first ever book about the complete history of the show is set to be released. ^[22]

References[]

External links[]

• The Heartbreak High Book Site
• Encyclopedia of Television
• IMDB page
• Scott Major's official website
• "Heartbreak High search" at the National Film and Sound Archive
• Heartbreak High Polish unofficial forum
• Heartbreak High - Ep 210 at Australian Screen Online