Inside Soap, Issue 43, February 1996

Daddy Dearest!

Annalise is in for a big shock when her sequin-clad dad Tony turns up in Erinsborough

When Annalise Hartman finally meets her long-lost father this month, she's in for a big surprise. For dad Tony, works as a drag artiste called Sequin Tarquin and Annalise finds herself upstaged!

While her sister Joanna has a good rapport with her dad, poor Annalise feels totally uncomfortable with his outlandish appearance. Matters go from bad to worse when Tony tries to recite some of her poetry and totally messes it up. Annalise thinks he's making fun of her and hates him being around even more!

Michael Carman, 44, who plays Tarquin, says his character left Annalise's mum, because as a builder, he couldn't give her the high life she wanted.

"It was his second wife who saw his talent for impersonation and she encouraged him to work part-time in showbusiness. At first the writers had wanted his real name to be Tarquin," says Michael, "but I argued he'd be laughed off the building site!"

"He's just a normal bloke, who does other impersonations like Elvis too," he stresses.

On his over-the-top scenes Michael says: "I actually quite enjoyed them, the outfits were amazing and once I had my long red nails on the rest came naturally!"

So finally, how did Michael get on with his screen daughters Kimberley and Emma?

"Kimberley's lovely and totally unpretentious, and Emma, who plays Joanna, is a dream."

Jason Herbison