Chris Warner

For the comic book writer and artist, see Chris Warner (comics).

Chris Warner
Michael Galvin as Chris Warner in 2011.
Shortland Street character
Portrayed by	Michael Galvin
Created by	Bettina Hollings
Introduced by	Caterina De Nave (1992) Simon Bennett (2000)
Duration	1992–96, 2000—
First appearance	25 May 1992 episode 1
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Date of birth	22 November 1965
Home	The Warner Mansion
Occupation	Doctor, Surgeon HOD of Surgery at Shortland Street (2005-06, 2010-present) Chief Executive Officer of Shortland Street (2002-03, 2006-08)
Alternative image(s)
Chris upon his return in 2001.
Family Wife Melanie Kirk (1989–91) Tiffany Pratt (1996–97) Alison Raynor (1997–2001) Antoinette Thompson (2005–08) Father Sir. Bruce Warner Mother Lady Margot Warner Sisters Amanda Warner Half brothers Guy Warner Sons Frank Burton Finbar Burton Phoenix Raynor Harry Warner James Warner Daughters Sarah Burton Uncles Desmond Worthington Garth Worthington Aunts Cecile Worthington Cousins Isaac Worthington Joseph Worthington (adopted)

Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show.

The character arrived to the show in the first episode where he indulged in a affair with the married Jill (Suzy Aiken). The characters "Dr. Love" persona has since escalated and by 2005 the character had been married 4 times, with his marriages to Melanie Kirk (Tina Regtien) and Alison Raynor (Danielle Cormack) occurring off screen and his marriages to Tiffany Pratt (Alison James) and Toni Thompson (Laura Hill) being the focus of many of his storylines. Since originally appearing as a single bachelor, the character went on to have 6 children over the next 13 years and for Chris to participate in over 20 relationships and affairs. The character is a trained surgeon and has worked as CEO of Shortland Street Hospital twice, currently heading the surgery department.

Chris has been a relatively successful character with many reviewers and critics praising Galvin and landing him with a nomination for "Best Actor" at the Qantas Awards in 2008. The character has also participated in numerous high profile, highly rated storylines, namely the arrival of psychotic brother in law Dominic Thompson (Shane Cortese) and the return of his drug riddled brother Guy (Craig Parker).

Creation and Casting

Michael Galvin auditioned for the role in 1992 alongside his flatemate Marton Csokas, he won the role with Csokas later going on to play Leonard Dodds. Chris' actor, Michael Galvin predicted the show would only last 12 months.

Audiences were introduced to Dr. Chris Warner in the very first episode of Shortland Street in May 1992, as the playboy doctor, with the only thing he prioritised more than sex, being that of his job at the clinic. Chris' first scene featured him having sex with his aerobics instructor with his first line being: "That's exactly what I had in mind".

Galvin soon grew sick of portraying Chris, being quoted as saying "after four years on Shortland Street there was so much of me in Dr Warner I wasn’t sure where he ended and I began." Galvin resigned after 4 years on the soap, with Chris being written out with the storyline he was starting fresh in America. His final line was: "Course you do, lets go".

Return

With declining ratings throughout 2000, producers decided to reinvent the show, which meant 14 characters were written off and many more introduced. The revitalized show also saw the hospital set receive a makeover. To top it off, the reinvention also saw fan favorites; Chris and Rachel return after 4 years and 2 years, respectively. Galvin was at first hesitant to accepting the role as it was an entirely new cast, but remembering the good times he had on the show, he accepted. It was announced to the public in October 2000 that Chris and Rachel would return and be significantly different than when they left. Chris' storyline featured Chris purchasing the clinic and shifting it to the public sector. Upon his return in 2000, Galvin had to re-audition to prove he could still accurately portray the character. Chris made his return on 22 December 2000, with his first line being; "Sophia Martinez? Sophia, I've heard so much about you, I'm Chris Warner."

Storylines

Chris' first appearance on Shortland Street. This is moments before the raunchy sex scene.

1992—

In May 1992, Chris had an affair with Jill (Suzy Aiken) whilst in a relationship with Alison Raynor (Danielle Cormack) who he ended up getting engaged to. However he called off the wedding to reconcille with ex wife - Melanie Kirk (Tina Regtien). The reconciliation was short and Chris ended up back with Alison, however the night before their wedding Chris was drugged by Darryl (Mark Ferguson). He ended up missing the wedding and losing Alison. He started to date Katherine (Margaret Umbers) but discovered she was a murderer and had a brief flirtation with Jo (Greer Robson). The flirtation led to a car crash that caused Chris to temporarily become addicted to painkillers. Chris briefly dated Rebecca (Luisa Burgess) but ended up falling in love with Tiffany Pratt (Alison James). The two married and Chris left with brother - Guy (Craig Parker) and niece - Tuesday (Uncredited actress) to live in America in 1996. The following year Chris and Tiffany divorced when she discovered him in bed with Alison. He and Alison ended up marrying offscreen.

Chris returned in late 2000 and purchased the clinic to transition it to the public sector. He revealed that he cheated on Alison and they had divorced. He became engaged to Samara (Jodie Rimmer) but realized she was a fraud and ended up in a relationship with Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield). A one night stand with nurse - Toni Thompson (Laura Hill) resulted in Chris becoming a father to Harry (Joshua Thompson) in mid 2002. His relationship with Rachel suffered with her alcoholism and he turned to Donna (Stephanie Tauevihi). The arrival of Chris' illegitimate half brother Dom (Shane Cortese) ended his and Donna's relationship and it turned out Dom was not Chris' brother at all. Chris and Toni reunited in Fiji and after Dom nearly murdered Chris, he ended up marrying a pregnant Toni. The baby miscarried and while the couple briefly separated, Chris had an affair with the prostitute Greta Saunders (Meryl Maine), who tried to poison Toni. Chris developed an anxiety disorder but an affair with Justine Jones (Laurie Foell) cured it, but ended up ending his marriage to Toni, losing her to brother - Guy.

The 2007 storyline that saw Chris plead with wife Toni (Laura Hill) to return for their son's sake was a ratings success with 624,000 viewers tuning in.

She kidnapped Harry and after returning 6 months later, Chris and Toni eventually reconciled, only for Toni to die of illness. Chris briefly dated both Brooke Freeman (Beth Allen) and Libby Jeffries (Fleur Saville) before finding love with Gabrielle Jacobs (Virginie Le Brun) in 2009. The relationship broke down however and Chris ended up nearly dying in a fire after starting an affair with Rachel once again. The two moved in together but Chris was fazed when Gabrielle returned in early 2011. Fighting attractions, the two ended up having an affair in late 2011.

Development

Viewer's were introduced to Dr. Chris Warner in May 1992 when the character slept with his aerobics instructor in a particularly heated scene, setting the tone for the character and the fast paced soap itself.

Dr. Love

When viewers were introduced to Chris in the first episode that aired in May 1992, the character's personality was already highly on show, with his first scene featuring Chris having sex with a married aerobic instructor. His multiple affair's, marriages and mindless flings over the next few years caused Chris to affectionately become known as "Dr. Love" both on and off screen. He soon starts to date Alison Raynor and the two start a serious relationship. Not known to the audience, at this stage, Chris is married to Melanie Kirk, a fellow doctor he wed prior to the show in 1991. Alison and Chris become engaged and despite this commitment, Chris returns to Melanie who he eventually leaves again for Alison. Earning a bad name due to his constant juggling of women, Chris becomes shunned in his work environment, attempting to settle down with Katherine Blake only to discover she is a murderer. Chris did eventually settle down with Tiffany Pratt, marrying her. But once again Chris cheats on Tiffany with Alison, who he marries and again cheats on. Galvin was curious as to why Chris had adopted the nickname, stating Chris was only sleazy for the shows first 6 months. Upon his return, Chris dates several women before starting to date Rachel McKenna who he cheats on with Donna. After having a one night stand with Toni Thompson, Chris finds himself a father and soon marries Toni. He cheats on her however with both Justine Jones and Rachel. While being separated from Toni, he has a fling with Lara Wade. He later dates Libby Jeffries but falls in love with Gabrielle Jacobs and leaves her.

In 2010 the tables are turned on Chris when his partner, Gabrielle Jacobs breaks up with him. She returns in 2011 to a shocked Chris, who is in a steady relationship with Rachel. Chris admits to Rachel he still has feelings for Gabrielle. Chris is further tormented when Gabrielle starts to date Rachel's brother, Jonathon. In September Chris refers to himself as a "former player".

Chris is shown to blame his father for his womanizing ways and lack of commitment, yet when embarking on an affair in 2007, Chris shows remorse and tries hard not to full for Rachel's charms, yet does not succeed and ultimately ends his marriage to Toni.

Reception

In 2002, Chris was named the 10th best character to ever feature on the show. Popular both with fans and critics alike, Michael Galvin has got praise throughout his time on the show getting nominated for Best Actor at the 2008 Qantas TV and Film Awards and numerous nominations in the TV Guide Best on the Box Awards. Reviwer Hugh Sundae of the New Zealand Herald praised Galvins acting in the 90 Minute episode saying he was "good" and "consistent". For marketing for Galvin's play "Station to Station", Chris was described as; 'perennially popular'.

Chris received negative backlash upon his return in 2000 for not showing the same characteristics as he had when he left and for being "boring" and no longer a "rouge".

Due to the characters longevity on screen, Chris has earned himself comparison to Coronation Street's Ken Barlow.

Chris' major storyline of 2010, his relationship with Rachel, had mixed reception upon airing with some fans finding it "boring" and other saying they "love" the storyline.