Jamie Clarke (Neighbours)

Jamie Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The character was originally played by S.J. Dey from the character's birth and introduction on 30 July 1987. Ryder Susman briefly took over the role in 1989, before Dey returned. Dey said her temporary departure was due to her hair length.^[1] Later in 1989, brothers Nicholas and James Mason took over the role of Jamie until the character departed in 1990. In 2003, the character returned, this time played by Angus McLaren.^[2]

Casting[]

Neighbours' casting director Jan Russ was responsible for casting the role of Jamie.^[3] As the son of Des (Paul Keane) and Daphne Clarke (Elaine Smith), he was born premature and this created a dilemma for Russ. She told Meno Toutsidis from Sunday Mail TV Plus that all the babies auditioned for the role were too large. She added that "I had several pregnant women on stand-by and things were getting desperate."^[3] A member of the show's production team informed Russ that they knew someone who had just given birth. Russ met with the family and hired their newborn, named SJ Dey, for the role. SJ's parents did not want to reveal what the initials stood for and this lead everyone on the show to assume that SJ was male.^[3] SJ was actually female and this later became publicised.^[4] Rachel Friend who plays Bronwyn Davies, took part in the 1988 interview and both she and Russ referred to SJ as male.^[3] SJ was only allowed to work on set for four hours over three days per week and all scenes had to be filmed during this allocated time. Scripts would often be rewritten to suit SJ's mood and responses during scenes.^[3]

Storylines[]

Jamie is born to Des and Daphne in July 1987. Shortly after his birth, Jamie suffers breathing problems, but recovers. Daphne dies several months before Jamie's first birthday and Des is forced to raise him alone. When Jamie wanders off one day at a supermarket, Des is frantic with worry but luckily Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend) returns Jamie to him safely. Bronwyn then becomes Jamie's nanny. Jamie causes Des more worry in several incidents including swallowing a toy drumstick and nearly drowning. When Des meets Fiona, they become engaged and he and Jamie leave Erinsborough. Some years later, Des' marriage to Fiona breaks down and he and Jamie move to Adelaide. Des suffers a breakdown and is admitted to hospital and Jamie is put into care.

After bullying from some older boys, Jamie, now 16, flees and returns to Erinsborough. Stuart Parker (Blair McDonough) befriends Jamie after catching him trying to steal from the caravan park where he is staying. Stuart introduces Jamie to Karl and Susan Kennedy who are now living in Jamie's old home and they tell him they have been trying to contact him regarding shares Daphne had left for him under the linoleum years before. Jamie confirms his identity and Karl explains that Jamie will only be able to claim them with Des' consent. Jamie goes cold on the idea after his father is mentioned and leaves the shares with the Kennedys.

Jamie finds Stuart's picture on the front of the Erinsborough News labelling him the ring-leader of Life Mechanics, a scam perpetrated by Jonathan Verne (Oscar Redding). Jamie accuses him of using him to get his hands on his shares and refuses to have anything to do with him. Stuart explains the truth of the matter and he and Jamie reconcile. Stuart takes Jamie to meet Harold Bishop (Ian Smith), a friend of Des and Daphne's. Harold arranges via a contact at the Salvation Army to get in touch with Des and is successful. Jamie is happy and agrees to return to his father in Adelaide.

Reception[]

A writer for the BBC described Jamie's most notable moments as "Being involved in a car crash which left his mother, Daphne in a coma" and "Returning to the Street in 2003 to claim his inheritance."^[5]

References[]