Ringo Brown

Ringo Brown
Neighbours character
This file may be deleted after Tuesday, 18 May 2010. File:SamClark.jpg
Portrayed by	Sam Clark
Duration	2007-
First appearance	24 January 2007
Classification	Current, regular
In-universe information Occupation Trainee Paramedic Father Graham Brown Mother Prue Brown Brothers Frazer Yeats Johnny Brown Paul Brown Sisters Pauline Brown Grandfathers Stuart Brown Grandmothers Astrid Brown Nephews Marco Yeats

Ringo Brown is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Australian actor, Sam Clark. Following a magazine competition, Clark was cast as Brown and made his first on-screen appearance on 24 January 2007. Brown's storylines have included an eating disorder, a bus crash, a relationship with an older woman, and the collapse of a warehouse roof at an illegal warehouse party.

Casting

In 2006, Australian teen magazine, Dolly, held a competition offering readers a chance to win a three-month contract appearing on Neighbours. Dolly received 7,000 entries for the competition. Clark subsequently won the competition and was signed to a three month contract to play the part of Ringo Brown. Compared with other Neighbours cast members who were cast through more traditional casting processes, Clark ultimately went through a longer audition process, auditioning four times before being cast, compared to the two auditions most cast members were required to go through before being cast. Just before the episode in which the character of Ringo Brown made his Neighbours debut was screened, Clark's contract was extended from the three months to nine months. When his first episode went to air, Clark described Brown as a "a good-hearted kid, he doesn't want to hurt anyone, and he does the normal things that a 16-year-old kid does".

In 2009, it was announced that Clark would be taking a three month break from Neighbours to focus on his music career. When Clark returned to filming in February 2010, it was announced that he would perform one of his songs for departed character, Bridget Parker, played by Eloise Mignon.

Storylines

Background

Ringo is the youngest in a line of siblings named after The Beatles. As a child, Ringo idolized his older brother George and was distraught when George left home and changed his name to Frazer Yeats, leaving Ringo alone with their small-minded parents and elder brother Johnny. Ringo resented his brother for leaving and desperately wanted to become a part of Frazer's cool, new world.

2007-present

Ringo arrives in Ramsay Street to see Frazer (Ben Lawson) and is mistaken for an intruder by Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister). Frazer explains to Ringo that he came to Erinsborough to win the heart of their brother's ex-fiancee, Rosetta Cammeniti (Natalie Saleeba). Ringo then decides that his name would ruin Frazer's plan and he changes it to 'Rick Yeats'. Frazer then allows him to stay in Ramsay Street and he later enrolls at Erinsborough High. Ringo quickly develops a crush on Zeke's sister Rachel Kinski (Caitlin Stasey) and turns to Lolly Allen (Adelaide Kane) for advice. However, he finds himself helping her out when she admits that her stepmother, Sandy, has been abusing her. When Sandy falls into the pool, Ringo rescues her and Rachel is impressed that he pulled her out from the side. Ringo then admits that he cannot swim and Rachel decides to teach him. After their first lesson, Ringo and Rachel share their first kiss and begin a relationship. Rachel asks Ringo to put their relationship following the death of Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), but they later reconcile.

Ringo then began working as a delivery boy for Carmella Cammeniti's (Natalie Blair) Fruit and Vegetable company. Ringo grew close to Carmella as she listened to him and treated him as an adult. Ringo helped her to overcome her addiction to anti-depressants and helped her through her relationship with Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin). After finding themselves alone one day, Carmella and Ringo almost kiss, but Carmella backs off and Ringo later breaks up with Rachel. He then asks Carmella to meet up with him, when she doesn't show, he goes home to confront her and they almost kiss again. The night before Frazer and Rosetta's wedding, Ringo decides to go to Lassiter's pool, Carmella joins him and they share a kiss. However, Carmella realises that it was wrong and she walks away. After the wedding, some of the residents are being driven back home in a minibus by Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). During the journey, Ringo moves to the back of the bus to talk to Carmella. The minibus is hit by a removal van, causing it to crash. Ringo is trapped in the wreckage and he tells Carmella that he loves her. Carmella tells him that she loves him too. Ringo is rushed to hospital where he suffers a cardiac arrest and the medical staff decide to put him into a coma. When he is brought out of the coma, he remembers what Carmella said to him and confronts her. Carmella tells him that she doesn't love him and she lied. Ringo's mother, Prue (Penny Cook) then gave him the option of continuing his recovery at home and he decided to take it.

On his return, Ringo became very body conscious and he began to lift weights, running and not eating properly. Pepper Steiger (Nicky Whelan) realises that these are the signs of an eating disorder, but when she confronts Ringo, he denies he has a problem. Pepper eventually gets through to him and he begins to eat normally again. Just before Pepper leaves Erinsborough, she tells Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker) and Rosetta about Ringo's problem. Rosetta soon discovers that Ringo is using appetite suppressants and tells Frazer about Ringo's condition. After nearly drowning during a swim trial, Ringo is confronted by Daniel and Frazer and refuses counselling. When Ringo learns that Rosie and Frazer are expecting a baby, only to find out it was a wrongly diagnosed phantom pregnancy, the stress causes his eating disorder to flare up again. Ringo admits that he is struggling and Rachel begs him to tell Frazer. Ringo goes to the beach for a swim, but he swims out too far and struggles to get back to shore. His disappearance leaves everyone worried and a search party is organised. He is found unconscious on the beach by Bridget (Eloise Mignon) and Steve Parker (Steve Bastoni). While recovering in hospital, Ringo eventually decides to take control of his life and moves in with the Kennedy/Kinski family. During a surprise 18th birthday party for him, Ringo confesses to everyone that he has an eating disorder. On the same day as the party, Ringo said goodbye to Frazer and Rosetta who leave for Italy.

Upon meeting Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie), Ringo is instantly attracted to her and he tries to set up a date with her, but is rebuffed. The pair eventually develope a strong relationship, despite a few hiccups along the way. Following Zeke's disappearance after the rafting accident, Susan finds some photographs of Donna in Zeke's draw. Despite Susan telling Ringo that Zeke had a harmless crush on Donna, Ringo believes that they were having an affair and broke up with Donna. She later explains that nothing was going on between her and Zeke and Ringo apologized. Ringo becomes jealous as Zeke and Donna spend time together. However, Zeke and Donna realise that they would only ever be friends and Ringo and Donna made up. Following Bridget's death, Ringo decides that he wants to become a paramedic. Karl introduces Ringo to some of his paramedic friends and Ringo enjoys learning about his potential career. Declan Napier (James Sorensen), Bridget's husband, tells him that she would have been proud of what he is doing. Ringo is offered a chance to attend a paramedic course in Sydney, but he gives it up to stay in Erinsborough with Donna. When Ringo finds out that Donna has been cheating on him with Andrew Robinson (Jordan Smith), he makes the decision to leave for Sydney to see if he can still get on the course. Ringo returns to Erinsborough after Rebecca Robinson (Jane Hall) calls him asking if he'll help support Declan through Bridget's birthday. He tells Donna that he just wants to be friends with her. On his first day as a trainee paramedic, he messes up his first job. However, he later diagnoses a collapsed young woman's condition as anaphylaxis. He goes to visit her in hospital and she tells him her name is Naomi (Kate Bell). Ringo then begins a relationship with her, but he breaks it off after discovering that she stole his ID card.

Reception

Clark's portrayal of Brown led to him receiving a nomination for the "Most Popular New Male Talent" award at the 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards.

External links

• Character profile on the Neighbours Official AU website
• Character profile on the Neighbours Official UK website