Jamie Forrest

Shortland Street character

Portrayed by

Karl Urban

Duration

1993–94

First appearance

29 April 1993
episode 244

Last appearance

22 February 1994
episode 457

Introduced by

Brian Lenanne

Classification

Former; recurring

Profile

Occupation

Paramedic

Family
Mother	Nina Forrest

Jamie Forrest is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. The character was portrayed by Karl Urban for a guest stint in mid-1993 before returning later in the year for a 6-month recurring stint. The character is remembered as the first openly gay character on the show.

Creation and casting

In 1992 Shortland Street planned for character - Stuart Neilson to be gay however the plans fell through.^[1] Producers decided to break new ground by introducing the controversial character of gay paramedic - Jamie Forrest.^[2] The character appeared in a short guest stint before returning for a 6-month recurring stint.

Storylines

Jamie arrived to Shortland Street in 1993 and after childhood friend - Kirsty (Angela Dotchin) failed to attract Jamie, he revealed he was gay. He worked as a paramedic alongside Sam (Rene Naufahu) but was alienated due to his sexuality. The two made up and Jamie ended up leaving the hospital. He returned some months later and the teenage Jonathon McKenna (Kieren Hutchison) developed a crush on him that eventually evolved into a love affair. Jonathon's father Michael (Paul Gittins) was heavily against the two's relationship and ended up temporarily disowning his son. Michael saved the couple from a group of homophobes but the two ended up breaking up. Jamie found solace being an advocate for HIV and gay rights before he eventually reconciled with the ignorant Jonathon. However, when Jamie decided to move to Christchurch and travel the world, the two broke up and made peace.

Reception

Jamie is remembered as the first ever openly homosexual character on the show.^[3] His romance with Jonathon proved both controversial and groundbreaking.^[2] It helped educate New Zealanders on homosexuality and even helped a confused teenager accept his sexuality.^[2]

References

↑ Bennett, Cath (May 2010). "Shorty road to success". stuff.co.nz. Fairfax Media. Retrieved September 2011. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
1 2 3 Barbara Cairns & Helen Martin (1996). Shortland Street - Production, Text and Audience (First ed.). Auckland: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand.
↑ Kreft, Brad (12 May 2011). "Character returning to Shortland Street after 15 years". Throng. Retrieved 4 January 2012.

Shortland Street

Present and future characters

Chris Warner Finn Connelly Sass Connelly Harry Warner Vinnie Kruse-Miller TK Samuels Nicole Kruse-Miller Tillie Potts Boyd Rolleston Kylie Brown Harper Whitley Jack Hannah Michael Hampton-Rees Lucy Rickman Mo Hannah Damo Johnson Drew McCaskill Ali Karim Esther Samuels Blue Nathan Kate Nathan Cam McCaskill Leroy Raumati Lily Flores Ruby Flores

Past characters

Lists of characters

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Original characters

Storylines and related topics

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2016 Births Deaths Marriages Cliffhangers First episode 20th anniversary Warner Family

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