Tom Ramsay

Tom Ramsay
Neighbours character
Portrayed by Gary Files
Duration 1986, 1990–91, 2015
First appearance 12 May 1986
Last appearance 18 March 2015
Introduced by Reg Watson (1986)
Don Battye (1990)
Jason Herbison (2015)
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation Plumber
Home Queensland

Tom Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gary Files. The character was introduced to cover Max Ramsay's planned storylines, following Francis Bell's departure. He made his first screen appearance on 12 May 1986. Tom is Max and Madge's (Anne Charleston) brother. He departed on 2 February 1991. Files reprised his role for the show's 30th anniversary in March 2015. He has appeared in 64 episodes.[1]

Casting

In 1986, Francis Bell became unhappy with his role as Max Ramsay and quit the show. Files was cast in the role Tom, Max's brother, and he was introduced to the show to cover the rest of Max's storylines.[2]

On 28 November 2014, it was announced that Files would reprise his role for Neighbours' 30th anniversary in March 2015.[3]

Storylines

Tom is the second son of Dan (Syd Conabere) and Edna Ramsay (Jessica Noad) and the brother of Max (Francis Bell) and Madge (Anne Charleston). Tom fell in love with Doreen Leicester and they married and had two daughters, Moira and Gemma (Beth Buchanan). Moira shocked eloped with her boyfriend, leading Tom to lose contact with her. Gemma became the apple of Tom's eye. Doreen died suddenly and Tom was left to bring Gemma up alone. He later sent her to stay with some of Doreen's relatives.

Tom came to Ramsay Street to live with Madge and take over Max's plumbing business, both Madge and Tom constantly argued. Tom announced to Madge that he wanted to sell Number 24 to a property developer. Max had given Tom his half of the house and Tom was going to go ahead with the sale until Madge convinced him it was the Ramsay family home. Tom recognised Mike Young's (Guy Pearce) potential as a swimmer and began training him. However, Tom's adoptive nephew, Danny Ramsay (David Clencie), began to feel left out and wanted Tom to teach him how to play golf. Tom mostly concentrated on training Mike and failed to recognise that he was neglecting Danny.

When Jean Richards (Margot Knight) came to Erinsborough, Tom and Jean began seeing each other and Tom proposed. However, Jean turned him down and she was later killed in a car accident. Her death was particularly painful for Tom as his other nephew Shane Ramsay (Peter O'Brien), had been driving the car. Tom was happy when his mother Edna came to visit and showed him a photo of his new granddaughter Holly. Having been unaware that Moira had been pregnant, this encouraged Tom to get in touch with her. Tom then decides to go and live with Moira in Queensland. Tom briefly returns to Ramsay Street to visit Madge and Gemma, who had come to stay with her aunt. Tom's visit was stressful as Gemma had recently been involved in a motorbike accident. Tom used his fiery temper to confront Gemma's boyfriend, Matt Robinson (Ashley Paske), who had been riding the bike. Tom soon left to go back to Queensland.

In 2015, Tom returns to Erinsborough for his great-nephew Daniel Robinson's (Tim Phillipps) wedding. He meets Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan) in the Waterhole bar and when he sees a picture of Daniel's ancestor Agnes Robinson, he tells her that Agnes was said to have thrown her engagement ring down a well on the site of Lassiters. Tom then visits Daniel who is living with his uncle Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) in his penthouse. After catching up with Paul and Daniel, Tom tells Daniel about the story of Agnes's ring, prompting Daniel to go and look for it. Tom then goes home to Queensland.

Reception

Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture gave Tom a 2 out of 5 for his contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons".[4] Deller said "When Max left for Brisbane, brother Tom was brought in to fill the gap. He, conveniently, was also a plumber and – would you believe it? – a bit of a hothead. He had a wife WHO WAS DEAD and later on, a fiancee WHO WAS KILLED which would have made him Ramsay Street's most likely to win The X Factor until Harold came along".[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://perfectblend.net/reference/charactercounts/index.htm
  2. ↑ "The Greatest Scandals". TV Week: 3. 23–27 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "More Neighbours icons return for 30th Anniversary". Tenplay. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 Deller, Ruth (23 July 2009). "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons". Lowculture. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
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