TV Soap, Vol 2, #8
8 Great Years at Ross Street
Eight years on, GP is still just what the doctor ordered! Craig Bennett takes a timely stroll down Ross Street's memory lane and recalls its very famous guest stars ...
On July 31 (1996) the ABC's top-rating medical drama GP celebrates its eighth anniversary and to help blow out the birthday candles, TV Soap looks back at the famous guest stars who made the series such a hit. Just about every well-known Aussie actor has popped up on an ep of GP since its debut back in 1989.
Ross Street first appeared with Michael O'Neill as Dr Steve Harrison, William Zappa as Roger Marriot, Sarah Chadwick as his fiancee Dr Catherine Mitchell, British veteran Michael Craig as crusty Dr William Sharp, Denise Roberts as receptionist Julie Winters and teen actor Brian Rooney as her son, Michael. Says Denise : "I think strong storylines, good writing and great guest stars are some of the reasons for GP's enormous success."
Blue Heelers' John Wood featured on a memorable ep as the father of a Down's boy. The Sullivans and Carson's law veteran Lorraine Bayly was on an early ep as Dr William's friend, Sylvia, with a drug-addicted son. Law of the Land and Brides of Christ star Lisa Hensley appeared on this ep as Michael's penpal, Roseanne. Ex-A Country Practice star Di Smith later guested as Gail, a mum with a problem son. Prisoner's Peta Toppano was Dr Sharp's (John McTiernan) love interest on the first series.
Heartbreak High's Sarah Lambert starred on a particularly moving episode when Julie accidentally runs over and kills a young mother's toddler, Bess. And former Sons and Daughters' hunk Peter Phelps played a male rape victim on one of GP's most controversial eps.
Heartbreak High hunk Alex Dimitriades' character was all set to marry when his ex-wife appears and beats up the bride-to be! Prisoner and Richmond Hill star Maggie Kirkpatrick guested as the ungrateful sister of Janus' Pauline Terry-Beitz who was suffering motor neurone disease.
A Country Practice and E Street stalwart Penny Cook appeared on several episodes as Dr Steve Harrison's fiancee, Beth.
The show reunited two former Sons and Daughters stars, Rowena Wallace and Antonia Murphy, as mother and daughter. Another ex-Sons and Daughters actor, Chantoozies' Ally Fowler played in a harrowing episode about lesbian love. Antonia also appeared later as Sue, a woman with breast cancer, in the same week that Correlli's Deborra-Lee Furness played Ally's sister Kate. (Correlli is the brainchild of GP's Denise Roberts.) And veteran actor Melissa Jaffer - now resident at Ross Street as Dr Maureen Riordan - appeared on the first series as a woman contemplating euthanasia.
