Chris Pappas (James Mason)

[Serena Williams]

I am not Australian, but I have read about the homophobia in Australia and I`ve got to say the gay storyline with Chris is terrible. I don`t think James Mason is a bad actor but I do believe that the writers don`t seem invested in the character being gay. Chris hardly kisses guys he did have one boyfriend Aidan but their relationship was so unromatic and very passionless. The writers basically just had Aidan and Chris be friends and not gay lovers. I have never seen a gay character be so ungay EVER.

I understand Neighbours is family oriented show, but the conservative nature of the program seems to be constraining the writers and it does hurt the charactrer Chris. Since Chris can`t be romantic, or have a real romance it means the character rings false something is terribly wrong. I doubt the Neighbours writers are going to address this though given the fact the spoilers indicate Chris is going to date a woman in the next few weeks. I guess the Neighbours writers made their decision.

[LostVoodoo]

I don't think he's a 'bad' gay character, he's just a character that happens to be gay. I like it, it's not like gayness defines him. And I thought him and Aidan were quite a normal couple and I also thought it was good that they had their first broadcast kiss as them just kissing at a party, rather than making a big deal out of the whole thing. They had normal relationship problems rather than it being all about sex.

[Ruffed_lemur]

I think Chris is a very good gay character.

[nz2013]

I agree.
Chris could easily be confused for being straight, I think his character is slightly almost abandoned in some ways we never really see too many storylines where Chris is directly the main part of that line. He is always just a part of someone else's storyline.

[nz2013]

I agree.
Chris could easily be confused for being straight, I think his character is slightly almost abandoned in some ways we never really see too many storylines where Chris is directly the main part of that line. He is always just a part of someone else's storyline.

[lizann]

chris is great i hate the over camped gays portrayed on soaps *coughs* sean from corrie

[nz2013]

You could easily confuse him for being straight... that's not being a good gay character.

[Bouncer's Ghost]

Not all gay people are flaming queens, you know! I like Chris, I think they have portrayed him sensitively and accurately, and most importantly AS A NORMAL GUY. If he's at all reticent about his sexuality, 1. It's still early days and he's shy, 2. he lives in a small place - you don't go shouting your business out in places like that, 3. he's getting on with his life and hoping love comes his way, rather than going out and shagging a different guy every night, which is a negative stereotype and one that doiesn't need perpetuating. I have known people like Chris, that's why his character is so endearing.

Would you prefer it if he was a bleached, shaved, permatanned flamboyant hairdresser? Because that stereotype belongs back in the last century.

[Bouncer's Ghost]

Not all gay people are flaming queens, you know! I like Chris, I think they have portrayed him sensitively and accurately, and most importantly AS A NORMAL GUY. If he's at all reticent about his sexuality, 1. It's still early days and he's shy, 2. he lives in a small place - you don't go shouting your business out in places like that, 3. he's getting on with his life and hoping love comes his way, rather than going out and shagging a different guy every night, which is a negative stereotype and one that doiesn't need perpetuating. I have known people like Chris, that's why his character is so endearing.

Would you prefer it if he was a bleached, shaved, permatanned flamboyant hairdresser? Because that stereotype belongs back in the last century.

[Serena Williams]

I don't think he's a 'bad' gay character, he's just a character that happens to be gay. I like it, it's not like gayness defines him. And I thought him and Aidan were quite a normal couple and I also thought it was good that they had their first broadcast kiss as them just kissing at a party, rather than making a big deal out of the whole thing. They had normal relationship problems rather than it being all about sex.

Soap operas are about love and romance and although Chris storylines shouldn't always be about his sexuality it is an important part of his life. The straight characters on neighbours get to kiss and have romance. So why can't Chris? Neighbours comes across as very homophobic, backwards and pedestrian.

The writers do everything in their power to AVOID giving Chris a proper love life. You mention Chris kissing Aidan of course it was to the side. I guess two gay men kissing is considered gross for the UK and Australian television audience. Chris and Aidan hardly kissed what's the point having a gay character on the show if he can't have a love life?

[Serena Williams]

I don't think he's a 'bad' gay character, he's just a character that happens to be gay. I like it, it's not like gayness defines him. And I thought him and Aidan were quite a normal couple and I also thought it was good that they had their first broadcast kiss as them just kissing at a party, rather than making a big deal out of the whole thing. They had normal relationship problems rather than it being all about sex.

Soap operas are about love and romance and although Chris storylines shouldn't always be about his sexuality it is an important part of his life. The straight characters on neighbours get to kiss and have romance. So why can't Chris? Neighbours comes across as very homophobic, backwards and pedestrian.

The writers do everything in their power to AVOID giving Chris a proper love life. You mention Chris kissing Aidan of course it was to the side. I guess two gay men kissing is considered gross for the UK and Australian television audience. Chris and Aidan hardly kissed what's the point having a gay character on the show if he can't have a love life?

[Serena Williams]

Not all gay people are flaming queens, you know! I like Chris, I think they have portrayed him sensitively and accurately, and most importantly AS A NORMAL GUY. If he's at all reticent about his sexuality, 1. It's still early days and he's shy, 2. he lives in a small place - you don't go shouting your business out in places like that, 3. he's getting on with his life and hoping love comes his way, rather than going out and shagging a different guy every night, which is a negative stereotype and one that doiesn't need perpetuating. I have known people like Chris, that's why his character is so endearing.

Would you prefer it if he was a bleached, shaved, permatanned flamboyant hairdresser? Because that stereotype belongs back in the last century.

I am not talking about Chris mannerisms I am talking about his lack of a sex life and a relationship. The writers have done a good job not to stereotype Chris as a gay hairdresser he's a mechanic which is good. However, the writers at Neighbours are deliberately AVOIDING giving Chris a love life just like the straight characters. The double standards and the homophobia are disturbing.

[tammyy2j]

I like Chris

[Perdita]

'Chris wants to find love again'



Neighbours star James Mason has helped to break new ground for the Aussie soap with his portrayal of Chris Pappas, Ramsay Street's first ongoing gay character.

More than three years after he arrived on screen, Chris remains a firm favourite with fans and looks set to remain in the thick of things in the coming months.

With Chris now single again and his closest friends having left the Street, Digital Spy recently caught up with James to hear about the next chapter for his character.

You've now had over three years at Neighbours. Are you still enjoying it as much as when you first started?
"I am! It's been about three and a half years now and it's been amazing. I suppose in any other job you might get bored after that length of time, but Neighbours is so different and it's always going to be the place where my acting career first started.

"The thing that keeps it interesting is that we've probably had two major 'renovation' periods in the show during that time, in terms of cast coming in and out. There was a period when I first joined Neighbours where a lot of regular cast members left and a lot of new people came in, including myself. That always keeps things interesting and changes things up.

"More recently, we've had new producers and a new story team come in, so the show is always being renewed in some way. As a cast member, it's great to watch those changes unfold and it motivates you to keep going and be part of this new direction of Neighbours."

Chris was originally introduced as a guest character. Did you have any idea then that he'd be around three years later?
"I had absolutely no idea! When you come in as a guest character, you never know what your future will be on the show. I came in and for all I knew at that point, I'd be around for three or four weeks. I was really surprised when they kept calling me back.

"One funny thing is that when I was first cast, I knew right away that Chris was going to be a gay character, but in the first three weeks when I received my scripts, I noticed that there wasn't any mention of it. I wondered whether they'd decided to avoid it altogether, but much to my surprise, they were a bit sneaky and held onto the secret for a long while.

"It was nearly a year into my guest contract when the viewers found out that Chris was gay, so they drew it out, which was a fantastic thing for me because it gave me a journey on the show and we could see the response to Chris. A lot of guest cast have already gone by the time their episodes air, so I guess by dragging it out like that, I was able to get a response from the audience. That possibly led to the fact that I'm still on the show now!"

As Chris is the first ongoing gay character for Neighbours, do you still get a lot of feedback from fans?
"Yeah, I do. The fans have been fantastic with the way that they've backed Chris up. It's great that what we're doing with the character is being supported so much by the audience. I think that's because it's something that Neighbours has never done before and a lot of Australian shows have never done before. That's really why Chris was introduced, as there'd been a high demand from Neighbours viewers to see a character like him.

"It's also great that people can be so passionate and defensive about the character! I don't want to give away too much, but at the moment in Australia we're broadcasting a storyline where Amber Turner starts developing feelings for Chris. We're getting all these people saying, 'If Chris turns straight, I'm not watching it anymore!' It's great to see that people are really for the character - there a lot of people out there who really want to see a gay character that they can relate to."

As this had never really been done before on the main two Aussie soaps, were you nervous about the response?
"I guess it was a bit of a worry at the start. I wondered whether there'd be negative feedback, but in another sense, we approached this character very carefully.

"Susan Bower, who was the executive producer at the time, wanted the storyline to be as genuine, sensitive and as real as possible. We didn't want to sensationalise it by jumping straight into a kiss or anything like that, so it all unfolded very slowly. I think a lot of people could relate to that and we had a lot of faith that we were handling the story in the right way."

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© Channel 5
Chris with first boyfriend Aidan Foster.


A lot of fans were sad to see Chris and Aidan split earlier this year. Would you like Chris to have another long-term boyfriend?
"I really loved working with Bob Morley who played Aidan. Right from when we first met, we had a friendship which seemed to translate well on screen. We have quite similar personalities and that just makes it so much easier to work with someone, especially when we're doing something which is very different to our own lives.

"We shot some scenes on Neighbours that have never been done on the show before, in particular the first male gay kiss. A lot of people really loved that relationship, so it just goes to show that if we want to deliver what the fans want, then another long-term boyfriend is certainly an option down the track."

What's coming up for Chris in the next few months?
"There are potential relationships coming up for Chris. There are a couple of different guys who come in and out, so I guess Chris is really just assessing his relationship status and how he wants to go about things.

"Chris is cautious of how his last relationship has ended, so he doesn't want to get hurt again. You'll see that Chris does want to find love, but he doesn't want to jump straight into it. He's willing to sit on the outer and assess things until he finds someone that he's really compatible with.

"Aside from that, there's a great bond between Chris and Amber - they form a really great friendship. With Mason working at the garage, Chris doesn't really trust him and the way he goes about things, because he's a little bit sneaky! There's a bit of stuff to work through with those two. We'll also see the Willis family come into the show, and Chris has quite a bit to do with them.

"I actually think Chris is a really interesting character because he's the only person on the street who's not related to anyone else at the moment. I think that makes him the link between a lot of people on the street, as he mingles in with everyone."

You worked very closely with Valentina Novakovic (Tash), Jordy Lucas (Summer) and Jordan Smith (Andrew), who've all left Neighbours. Are you missing having them around?
"Definitely. It's certainly a different dynamic because not only do they bring a spark to the scenes that they're in, they also bring something special to work every day because of their personalities off-camera. Every time somebody leaves, there's a personality missing in the room.

"But even though it's sad, you're also happy for them because you know they're going onto other things they want to pursue. It's an inevitable process when the show has been going on for so long. It does feel like a new generation now because Chris was part of the Tash/Summer/Andrew group, but he now gets a new friendship group with the new cast members coming in. He also steps up into the world and goes into the slightly older group. It's a new chapter of my time on the show."

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© Channel 5
Chris with former characters Tash and Summer.


Do you share the same US ambitions as some of the departed cast members?
"I tend to keep my options pretty open. As long as I'm acting, I don't care where I am or what I'm doing - whether it's Australia, US or the UK - or even whether it's stage or TV. I just want to build a career around acting. I haven't really decided how long I want to stay at Neighbours - it's something that I'm going to take one step at a time. You can't really think 12 months or two years ahead, because things constantly change all the time.

"In terms of goals and aspirations, I would like to try my luck overseas at some point, take to the stage a little more, and get involved in different areas of the art. To me, it's about experience and adventure, and if I get to do that for the rest of my career, I'd be pretty grateful!"

Earlier this year, you swapped the screen for stage by starring in a play called Flame Trees. Does Neighbours give you time off to pursue other things?
"Well, in this case, the part was offered to me through a friend of mine who used to storyline at Neighbours. He wrote and produced the play. It was the perfect time of year and the perfect role. It was more of a supporting role, but it was still a significant part of the play.

"We were rehearsing at night and it was during the time of year where we don't do any night shoots on Neighbours, so that worked really well for me because I had the time to do it. It was great to experience something that I haven't dived into before.

"I have since spoken to the people at Neighbours and if you give enough notice, they will give you time off to pursue other things. Theatre is such an art and you can bring so much back to Neighbours after doing it.

"Through doing Flame Trees I've learned so much, not only about theatre but my acting in general. It helps to refresh the character of Chris and bring new skills back into the show. The producers at Neighbours can see that and are happy for the cast to develop their skills. There's never a point in your career where you know too much!"

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© Channel 5
Chris with recently-departed character Sophie.


Away from Neighbours, you do a lot of charity work, including being an ambassador for mental health charity Headspace in Australia. How did you get on board?
"Headspace really got me involved in the homophobia side of their work, obviously based around my character. I haven't been through these experiences myself, but through Chris, I can get an understanding of how people who experience homophobia feel and how hard it must be for them.

"I was also bullied when I was at school so I'm very passionate about stopping bullying. It can have such an effect on people, especially young people who don't really know who to turn to or how to deal with it. If you keep it locked inside, it can really damage you.

"Having experienced that first hand, I can understand where homophobia victims are coming from because it's a form of bullying and it needs to be stopped. There are so many people who are damaged and suffering in their later lives from things that happened to them when they were younger. It's really disappointing to see that this is still going on in this day and age.

"Getting behind Headspace helps to get the word out there that help is available if you need it. People shouldn't be ashamed to come out and say they're being bullied or that someone is being homophobic."

You've also been doing the Live Below The Line charity challenge which has meant living on $2 a day for five days. How have you found it?
"I didn't expect it to be quite so hard, but it's been really good because it's been such a challenge. I've been living on nothing but oats for breakfast, pasta for lunch, rice for dinner and a bit of frozen veggies scattered around those meals! I also managed to get hold of a couple of bananas and a loaf of bread which fitted into my budget.

"I've been feeling a bit flat while I've been doing it, but I'm managing to survive! I love following through with a challenge, and it's also great to raise money and awareness for Live Below The Line. They're working to provide food, textbooks, education and scholarships for communities around the world who are in extreme poverty. I'm very lucky to only be doing it for five days, while people around the world experience this all the time."

Out of the established cast members at Neighbours, you're one of the only ones who hasn't been flown over to the UK for promo work and TV interviews. Would you like to come over?
"I would love to come to the UK - but unfortunately, I don't think it's in my control! I guess I just have to wait my turn! People are being sent over in sets of two by the Neighbours production and they've been doing that for about two years now. I'm waiting to get the nod, but I'd be over there in a flash.

"You guys over in the UK are pretty much our biggest audience, and you're probably the reason that we're still going. You provide us with a job and we provide you with a television show! The UK supports us so well, so the least we can do is provide you with a bit of time and a bit of thanks. I'd love to be over there, and if my time doesn't come soon, I might just have to make it soon!"

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas takes a risk on UK screens later this month as he decides to make a go of things with his new love interest Hudson Walsh.

Chris (James Mason) had been enjoying getting to know the new guy in his life until he discovered that Hudson had been taking performance-enhancing drugs to help with his swimming.

Although Hudson (Remy Hii) starts to turn his life around in upcoming episodes, Chris thinks that it's far too early for him to be pursuing romance and insists that they should just be friends.

However, when Chris finds himself fiercely defending Hudson to an unforgiving Josh Willis at Charlie's, he starts to realise that perhaps his feelings run deeper.

Back at Number 26, Hudson is delighted when Chris admits that there could be a future for them after all.

As the pair share a kiss, are they finally back on track?

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Chris and Hudson get to know each other.
© Channel 5
Chris and Hudson get to know each other.

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Chris kisses Hudson.
© Channel 5
Chris kisses Hudson.

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Chris and Hudson kiss.
© Channel 5
Chris and Hudson kiss.

Neighbours airs these scenes on Wednesday, August 21 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas shocks his loved ones on UK screens next month as he starts behaving completely out of character.

Chris, played by James Mason, shows a whole new side to his personality as he continues to struggle following Hudson Walsh's arrest for killing Robbo Slade.

Although Chris has been feeling bad for a while, he is pushed to breaking point when he discovers that Josh and Brad Willis have both been asked to provide character references for Hudson, while he hasn't been contacted at all.

Deciding that he needs to move on from his romance with Hudson once and for all, Chris has a one-night stand with a random guy, ignoring warnings from Kate Ramsay that he's making a mistake.

The next morning, Chris feels awkward as his new man insists on sticking around for breakfast. Chris quickly looks for a way to get rid of him, but it won't be the last time that he seeks comfort in the arms of a stranger…
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Sheila meets Chris's 'new guy'
© Channel 5
Sheila meets Chris's 'new guy'

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Chris's guy is shocked to see Sheila
© Channel 5
Chris's guy is shocked to see Sheila

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Chris introduces Sheila to his 'new guy'
© Channel 5
Chris introduces Sheila to his 'new guy'

Neighbours airs these scenes on Friday, November 8 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas goes off the rails over the next few weeks, as he continues to struggle with his split from Hudson Walsh.

With Hudson (Remy Hii) facing a bleak future in jail, Chris feels downbeat and depressed until he starts indulging in self-destructive behaviour and one-night stands to cheer himself up.

Digital Spy recently caught up with James Mason, who plays Chris, for his thoughts on exploring a whole new side to his popular character.

What was this storyline like for you to film?
"It was really interesting. I think we all, every now and again, look for something a little bit different - and for me this was that storyline. It was a chance to find a side of Chris that isn't necessarily shown all that often, if ever. It's very refreshing to have these little episodes where Chris does show the other side of himself, which people might not have known was in him. I really enjoyed exploring it."

As Chris is clearly depressed in this story, we've heard that you drew on some of your experiences with Headspace, a charity you're an ambassador of.
"Yes, Headspace is a national youth mental health foundation here in Australia. Recently we've been working with people who are dealing with homophobia, depression and anxiety. It was great to use some of my knowledge of that in the storyline, as obviously by getting involved I'm learning more about these sorts of issues.

"It's actually really surprising to see the number of people out there who are suffering from this kind of thing. Our biggest aim right now is to create awareness, because I think people don't always understand that this is going on around them. You don't necessarily know when someone is going through depression - it can be something that just slips by you. The whole idea is just to create the awareness that it's not going to jump out at you and there may only be subtle signs.

"In terms of acting, every little bit of information I learn about people and the human mind is another thing that I can put towards my work. Acting really is just understanding people and emotions, so the more I understand the psychology of people, the better I can portray that."

Were any of the scenes challenging to film?
"I guess Chris's sleepwalking was in particular. I tried to portray it as best as I could. I've been known to have bouts of sleepwalking myself, but obviously in those cases you're not conscious enough to really know how it works! The next best thing is to try and research it, but unfortunately there wasn't a lot of information about sleepwalking that I could find.

"It was a big challenge and very different, because it's a different style of acting and there really is no standard or single way of looking at it. At the end of the day, it was just down to how I saw Chris's situation, so I kept it fairly basic, but I think I got across the reality of it too."

Did you know all along that Hudson would be Robbo's killer?
"For a certain amount of time, it was kept back from the cast as a surprise. The producers tend to tell us these things at the last minute, just to keep the suspense! Remy's total time on the show was about three months, so it was probably a good six weeks into it that he found out. He knew first, which was kind of fitting.

"Remy came to us in the green room one day with a big smile on his face and said, 'I know who killed Robbo!' We said, 'What? Come on, you've got to tell us!' Before that, it was nice to have a bit of a surprise and a few of us were even hoping that we'd be the killer.

"It was a big shock when we found out it was Remy, because there were people who were leaving the show at the time and we thought it could potentially be them. Like the audience, we were all guessing who was the killer, which was fun."

We haven't seen the last of Remy as some future scenes see Chris visit Hudson in prison. Can you tell us about those?
"Chris has gone off the rails by this point, so Kate, Sheila and Kyle have all had enough of his behaviour. He's not just destroying himself, but also destroying his relationships with everyone around him. His friends are all fed up, but they also care for him and want to do the best by him.

"Kate decides to take Chris to see Hudson. This is against his will of course, because Chris won't co-operate, but she forces him to go to the prison to get some closure. In the storyline, there's a letter that Hudson has left for Chris, but he is determined not to read it because he is scared of what it might say."

What happens next?
"When Chris finally sees Hudson, he finds out the truth behind why Hudson has been avoiding him and cutting him out of his life. Once he gets that closure, it changes the way Chris now feels about Hudson. He's no longer angry, but he's still pretty sad that Hudson is in jail.

"After a chat with Kyle, Chris suggests to Hudson that they should have a long-distance relationship while he's in prison. It takes a bit of persuading, because Hudson is looking out for Chris and doesn't want to put them both in a situation where they're going to get hurt again down the track. In the end, they agree and decide to see how it goes."

Are you missing working with Remy?
"Yeah, definitely. Remy is such a fantastic guy and we get along really well. Any on-screen relationship needs to also be based on a genuine connection in real life, otherwise it doesn't tend to come across very well. Lucky for us, it's not like we had to try.

"Remy and I are quite similar in our personalities, much like Bob Morley (Aidan) and myself were. We had that chemistry there already, which was really good and it made it really comfortable to do things that might not usually be so comfortable. When you trust and enjoy working with the person you're acting opposite, it makes it a lot easier and more fun.

"Remy is really talented and fun to work with, so I really hope that there's a bit more stuff coming up with us in the future. Whether it's on screen or off screen, we'll still be a part of each other's lives for a long time to come."

Neighbours' executive producer Richard Jasek recently promised some "big family stories" for Chris next year. Are you excited by what's coming up?
"We really don't know too much about what's coming up, unfortunately for us as we're always ever-interested to find out what's next! The reason we don't know too far ahead is that the story team and producers don't release information too soon, just in case there are potential changes which need to be made. There's a certain timeframe in place before they tell us things.

"In saying that, I have heard that Chris's parents will be coming back into the show at some point, which is fantastic as Chris is the only permanent character on the street who doesn't have any family on screen. It'll be great to have those guys in - Lliam [Amor] and Katerina [Kotsonis] who play Chris's parents were really great in the stuff they've done previously. As they're a family to me on screen, I feel like we've made a connection, which is nice.

"I'm not too sure what that storyline will involve yet, but I know that they'll hopefully be in for a while. I'm interested to find out a bit more about it myself!"

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas takes his anger out on Josh Willis later this month, as he continues to behave out of character.

Josh, played by Harley Bonner, is horrified when he sees that an article that he was interviewed for has been turned into a salacious piece about Hudson and Chris.

Chris (James Mason) is already causing concern for his friends due to his erratic behaviour ever since Hudson was arrested for the hit and run incident that killed Robbo Slade.

Worried about how Chris will react to the article, Josh tries to put his fears aside as he joins the search for Rhiannon Bates's son Jackson, who has gone missing.

However, Chris is already in a foul mood after another run-in with his boss and when he catches Georgia reading the article online, he's enraged by the intrusion into his privacy.

He tracks down Josh for an explanation but when Josh tries to justify his actions, Chris snaps and punches him in the face...
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Chris confronts Josh over the article.
© Channel 5
Chris confronts Josh over the article.

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Chris is furious about the article.
© Channel 5
Chris is furious about the article.

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Chris punches Josh.
© Channel 5
Chris punches Josh.

Neighbours airs these scenes on Friday, November 22 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas will find himself in further jeopardy on UK screens later this month as he is arrested for assaulting Josh Willis.

Kate, Kyle and Shelia are horrified to discover that Chris, played by James Mason, has lashed out at Josh after finding an offensive article in the newspaper about him and Hudson.

Although Chris does regret his act of violence, he shows no signs of giving up his destructive behaviour, and the police soon arrive to charge him with assault.
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Chris is arrested for punching Josh.
© Channel 5
Chris is arrested for punching Josh.

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Matt arrests Chris.
© Channel 5
Matt arrests Chris.

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Chris is arrested.
© Channel 5
Chris is arrested.


Kyle (Christopher Milligan) is becoming increasingly fed up with Chris and warns him that if he doesn't change his ways soon, everyone will give up on him.

Kate isn't ready to give up, though, and tries to convince Brad to drop the assault charges against Chris. However, Josh refuses to let it go and remains anxious after being told that he can't train until he's had another CT scan as a result of his injury.

Later, Chris considers reading the letter Hudson sent to him, knowing that it could help him move on, but he eventually decides that he is still too angry and decides to burn the letter instead...

Neighbours airs these scenes on Monday, November 25 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Serena Williams]

Not all gay people are flaming queens, you know! I like Chris, I think they have portrayed him sensitively and accurately, and most importantly AS A NORMAL GUY. If he's at all reticent about his sexuality, 1. It's still early days and he's shy, 2. he lives in a small place - you don't go shouting your business out in places like that, 3. he's getting on with his life and hoping love comes his way, rather than going out and shagging a different guy every night, which is a negative stereotype and one that doiesn't need perpetuating. I have known people like Chris, that's why his character is so endearing.

Would you prefer it if he was a bleached, shaved, permatanned flamboyant hairdresser? Because that stereotype belongs back in the last century.

I never said Chris had to be a queen to be gay work on your reading comprehension skills. My argument is, Chris is BORING he isn't allowed a REAL LOVE LIFE like the heterosexual characters on the show. Chris hardly kisses other men and he certainly doesn't get to have a passionate kissing either.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas finally faces Hudson Walsh when he visits him in prison next month.

Chris's behaviour has been spiralling out of control in recent weeks, which results in Kate Ramsay taking him to the jail so he can clear things up with Hudson once and for all.

When they initially arrive, Chris (James Mason) refuses to get out of the car and admits his fears that Hudson will continue pushing him away.

Chris eventually agrees to confront him, but he's shocked to learn that Hudson (Remy Hiii) didn't lose interest - he was only pushing him away because he loved Chris too much to watch him spend the next four years waiting for him.

Unable to convince him to change his mind, Chris is forced to let Hudson go and returns home. Upset but calm, he thanks Kate and Kyle for putting up with his recent behaviour.

However, as his friends are hopeful of a return to normality for Chris, it is evident that he is still struggling to close the door on Hudson.

Chris then decides to go back and visit Hudson the follow day, determined to change his mind...
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Chris visits Hudson in prison.
© Channel 5
Chris visits Hudson in prison.

Neighbours airs these scenes on Monday, December 2 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Also ahead on Neighbours, Chris Pappas gets a nasty surprise as he learns that his mother Patricia has a gambling addiction.

Patricia (Katerina Kotsonis) is forced to confess the truth to Chris (James Mason) after she has been arrested for stealing a watch from an antiques shop in order to fund her habit.

When Chris sees his mum being hauled into the police station by Matt Turner (Josef Brown), he demands to know what is going on and is stunned when Patricia reveals her secret.
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Patricia is arrested after stealing
© Channel 5
Patricia is arrested after stealing
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Patricia confesses her secret to Chris
© Channel 5
Patricia confesses her secret to Chris

Sonya Rebecchi immediately bears the brunt of Chris's anger as he realises that she already knew the truth but failed to tell him.

Although Sonya points out that she couldn't breach confidentiality after meeting Patricia at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, there's no reasoning with Chris as he's clearly looking for someone to blame…

Neighbours airs these scenes on Thursday, March 20 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[LostVoodoo]

Surely Chris is surprised to discover he even has a mother - she's only been on screen about once before and never gets mentioned!

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas has been brought back to the forefront of the soap this week with a new family-centric storyline for the character.

Chris's neighbour Sonya Rebecchi is currently trying to help his mum Patricia (Katerina Kotsonis) after learning that she has a secret gambling addiction. However, Sonya's efforts have brought her into conflict with Chris, who doesn't know the full story and believes that she is trying to expose his own secret over Hudson.

As the storyline continues over the next few weeks, viewers will also see George Pappas (Lliam Amor) return to screens as he must deal with the big secrets that his wife and son have been keeping from him.

James Mason, who plays Chris, recently caught up with Digital Spy to discuss the new storyline and share some gossip on where things are heading for his character in the longer-term.

How did you feel about Chris's family being brought back into Neighbours?
"I was really happy. Chris is actually the only character on the Street at the moment who isn't related to anybody else, except of course for Mark Brennan who has recently come back with us. I really enjoy working with Lliam who plays Chris's dad George and Kat who plays his mum Patricia. There's a great bond and relationship that I have with both of the actors because they're such great people to work with.

"When somebody joins the show who your character is related to, you know that there has to be a certain chemistry which is different to any friendship. For me that's something that has been scarce over my time on the show, so I'm always happy to work on a storyline that's a little bit different. It's not up to me, but I'd love to have Chris's parents on board full-time if we could."

We'll see Chris discover his mum's secret next week. Before that, does he have any inkling that Patricia has been hiding something?
"Chris has no idea that this has been an issue for Patricia. She's been hiding her gambling addiction not just from Chris but also from George for the past 20 years. That's all of Chris's life and the majority of Patricia's marriage with George. It's something that's really big and something that nobody has expected at all.

"For Chris there was no reason to ever think that this was a possibility, but it all starts to unravel once Sonya starts to meddle in his business…"
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Chris tells Sonya to butt out of his life.
© Channel 5
Chris's recent row with Sonya

We'll see Chris continue to get quite angry with Sonya, won't we?
"Yes. Because Chris is so oblivious to any issues with his mum, the only thing that he can see is that Sonya is meddling with his relationship with his parents. From Chris's perspective, Sonya is threatening to tell his parents about Hudson being in jail.

"Chris just doesn't see it coming that Patricia has a gambling addiction and that this is the reason for Sonya's behaviour, because he's so caught up in his own dramas. Also from Patricia's perspective, she doesn't see it coming that Hudson is in jail, because she's caught up with her problems. Chris and Patricia are both doing the exact same thing - there's two storylines going on at the same time where they're both lying to each other."

Would you say Chris is being unfair with his attitude towards Sonya, or is she overstepping the mark?
"Well, I've got to be biased and say that I think Sonya is definitely overstepping it! From my perspective as an actor, I obviously understand where Sonya is coming from and that makes perfect sense. But from Chris's perspective, he doesn't understand because he doesn't know that there's another side to the story.

"Chris just sees that Sonya is meddling in his business and he's really quite shocked at why she's suddenly so interested in his life. She's only known Patricia for five minutes, but all of a sudden she's trying to contact her all the time. Chris constantly tells her that it's not her business, but by her going against that, he feels a bit betrayed. He loses a lot of trust in Sonya because of that."
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Patricia confesses her secret to Chris
© Channel 5
Patricia confesses her secret next week

Eve Morey (Sonya) is one of the best actresses on Neighbours, but you hadn't worked with her much before this. Were you glad to finally get a storyline with her?
"Yeah, definitely. Eve is fantastic and I definitely agree - she's one of my favourite actresses in Australian television. She delivers such an energy to a scene and she brings these little nuances that make her stand out. Getting to work with that first-hand is special, because I think that it brings something out in me as well.

"Eve's had a lot of experience, so to pick up a bit of how she works is really essential for me in a job like this. I think if younger actors can come into Neighbours and take something away from the more experienced cast members, that's such a great way to learn - you're learning from the best there is out there."

When George is back on screen, how will he react to Patricia's secret?
"About as well as when Chris told his parents that he's gay! That's what both Chris and Patricia are fearful of - George's reaction. Chris has just got to a point now where he's started to craft a really nice relationship with his dad. I think that's part of the reason why Chris has not told his parents sooner about Hudson being in jail.

"Now on top of that there's a problem with Patricia, so it's like a double whammy for George, really. Chris and Patricia are both scared that George won't react very well to their secrets and that it could destroy the peace in the family."

Further on down the line, Neighbours have promised that we'll see Remy Hii back on screen as Hudson. What can we expect from those scenes?
"Hudson is still in jail, so there are some more scenes coming up at the prison. There will be some resolution between Chris, his parents and Hudson. Obviously Chris and Hudson are still dating and they haven't finished their relationship, so there's no end at this point and it leaves it open.

"I think the producers love Remy so much, so they don't want to create an end at this point. But I guess the thing about Neighbours is that there's always the chance to bring back characters no matter what happens, so in the future I think they'd love to bring Remy back for even more scenes. It just depends on what his plans are and what his availability is."
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Chris visits Hudson in prison.
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Chris and Hudson

Neighbours' new producer Jason Herbison has said that one of his priorities for this year is to find a more permanent love interest for Chris. Are you pleased with that?
"Definitely. I've spoken to Jason myself and I think it's really great. At the end of the day, Chris's relationships need to be put against anyone else's on the Street. At this stage, Chris has only ever had relationships that last for about three months - about the length of a guest actor's contract! (Laughs.)

"I think it's really important that Chris now finds a stable relationship - not only for the character, but also to show that gay people can have long relationships.

"Another thing for me as an actor is that having someone come in for three months can be limiting. You get to do some great work, but the next challenge for me would be to work with someone for a lot longer and create a prolonged relationship. I think it'll be great for the character and I hope the audience respond positively to that."

A picture was recently released online as a bit of a teaser, showing Chris in a hospital gown! Can you give us any hints on what's wrong?
"There's a big event coming up shortly and it involves Chris quite heavily. Chris gets closely involved in the story for good reasons - and this is where his courage really comes out, which is really nice.

"Chris really stands up and delivers, but unfortunately during the event he winds up in hospital… There's mixed emotions throughout the story - there's a lot of hurt and guilt. But it does lead to some happiness - it just takes a while!"
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© Instagram / @neighbourstv
Chris in hospital

Chris's housemate Sheila Canning will be reunited with her daughter Naomi soon. Are there many Chris and Naomi scenes coming up?
"We've only had a couple so far, but I've been speaking to the writers and the producers and they really want to create a relationship between Naomi and Chris. I guess it's quite reminiscent of Tash and Chris, so it'll be a light and fun friendship. I really hope that's the way it goes.

"Morgana [O'Reilly] who plays Naomi is such a great actress who brings a great energy and a lot of fun to the show. She's so funny, and Chris and Naomi are the perfect pairing. Naomi is this wild, crazy woman and I suppose you would say Chris is the handbag! When she first comes in, there's a lot of stuff with Naomi and Sheila and also Naomi and Kyle. Once she's settled in, hopefully we'll have some more stuff together."

Neighbours will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. Would you still like to be part of the show for that?
"Definitely. It's such a special time for this show. Every five years marks a real milestone for Neighbours. I remember being at the 25th anniversary and it was just such a hype. I'm so proud of the show for lasting this long, and to be part of something like that is so special. You don't want to miss out on something like that, so I'd definitely love to be a part of that celebration."


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s14/neighbours/interviews/a557279/neighbours-james-mason-on-chriss-family-woes-future-romance.html#ixzz2voYsDcS5

[Perdita]

Also ahead on Neighbours, it's the end of the line for Chris Pappas and Hudson Walsh as they break up for good.

Hudson (Remy Hii) initiates the split when a visit from Georgia Brooks makes him suspicious that Chris has met someone else.

Calling Chris (James Mason) to the prison, Hudson insists that their relationship is over and doesn't give him any time to defend himself.

When Georgia makes Chris aware of the reason for Hudson's drastic move, he returns to the jail with the intention of fighting for his relationship.

However, after a heartfelt talk, both parties eventually agree that the break-up is for the best. Does this pave the way for Chris to get together with his new love interest Will Dempier?


Neighbours airs these scenes on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas will start dating newcomer Nate Kinski when he arrives on Ramsay Street later this month.

Show bosses have previously announced the casting of Meyne Wyatt in the role of Nate, a new regular character who will be moving in with Susan and Karl Kennedy in an upcoming storyline.

When Nate turns up in Erinsborough, Chris (James Mason) develops an instant connection with him and asks him out, only to be left humiliated when he is rejected by the mysterious newcomer.

Fortunately for Chris, Nate changes his mind after he decides to stick around on the Street for longer than planned.

The pair end up opening up to each other over a casual picnic date, although a nervous Chris has invited his friends to come along too for moral support.

Things seem to go well during the first date, but the atmosphere quickly turns sour when Chris's friends start playing tennis and a drunken yob tries to take Paige Smith's racket.

Not prepared to stand for any nonsense, Nate completely overreacts to the situation by attacking the troublemaking stranger - leaving Chris startled by his sudden escalation into violence.
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Meyne Wyatt as Nate Kinski in Neighbours
© Channel 5
Meyne Wyatt as Nate Kinski

A Neighbours source told Digital Spy: "The more time Nate spends on Ramsay Street, the more it becomes clear that he has a short fuse and a troubled past. Will Chris stick with him for long enough to find out more?"

As previously revealed, Nate's link to the Kennedy family is that Susan was once married to his uncle Alex.

His introduction to the show comes following the Neighbours team's promises to bring in a more regular love interest for Chris, after his previous relationships were all with guest characters.

[Perdita]

Also ahead on Neighbours, Chris Pappas shares a kiss with the Kennedys' new houseguest Nate Kinski, but their romance could be short-lived as Nate prepares to leave Erinsborough.

After spending time with Chris (James Mason), Nate's odd behaviour raises suspicion with Mark Brennan and he later warns Susan over his concerns.

Despite dismissing Brennan's suspicions, Susan is thrown when she goes to answer Nate's phone and stumbles across a combat knife in his bag.

When Nate (Meyne Wyatt) arrives home to find a disturbed Susan and Karl demanding an explanation for the knife they found, Nate refuses to give them one and instead decides to leave.

On his way out of town Nate crosses paths with Chris, who is evidently sad to see him go and they end up sharing a kiss.
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Nate prepares to leave Erinsborough
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Nate prepares to leave Erinsborough
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Chris doesn't want Nate to go
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Chris doesn't want Nate to go
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Nate and Chris kiss
© Channel 5
Nate and Chris kiss

Later, Chris encourages Nate to open up and be honest with Susan and Karl about his reasons for carrying the knife, but what will Nate decide to do?

Neighbours airs these scenes on Wednesday, September 10 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours is lining up a busy few months for nice guy Chris Pappas as his relationship with newcomer Nate Kinski develops further, his baby discussions with Lucy Robinson are revisited and he becomes the victim of a shocking attack.

James Mason, who plays Chris, is currently on holiday in the UK and took time out this week to chat to Digital Spy about all of the drama to come.

Do you feel like this is your busiest time on screen for a while?
"Yeah, I do actually. You probably notice that we tend to go through periods where things are a bit quieter, but then it gets pretty busy for us again and we're on screen a lot more. There's a bit of a rotation like that!

"I think it's been fairly quiet for Chris for a while, but now there's some big juicy storylines where there's so much going on. It's really great to be at the forefront of it again and to get some really challenging material to work with."

Are you pleased with Chris's new romance with Nate?
"Yeah, I really like it. All of Chris's relationships have been so different from each other, and here he's taking a new approach. Chris and Nate dive in head-first from the get-go. It's really quite tense and dramatic as there's so much going on. Obviously Nate is dealing with a lot of things at the moment, and Chris also has some problems coming up.

"You've got to look at that and see that there's a reason why these guys are going to sit through all of these problems together and work them out. It'd be so easy to just go, 'Okay, it's not going well, I'm just going to walk away from it'. They don't do that, and to their credit, their relationship continues.

"There's obviously more drama down the line that they have to deal with, but there's also some light at the end of the tunnel, which I think is really important. We start to see that these guys are actually having fun together and they can form a relationship which they both benefit from. Hopefully that will continue and we can see more of it."

Nate seems reluctant to confide in Chris, but could that change?
"I think Nate does start to open up a little more, but it's all about feeling comfortable. Nate has never really been close to his family back home and he's only recently out of the army. He's not really had anyone to share his problems with, apart from the guys in his regiment. As you can imagine, he's not really great at communicating and being emotional.

"Susan encouraging Nate to come out of his shell a little bit really helps him. The more he invests in Chris, the more he knows that Chris is worth confiding in and someone who it's worth getting advice from."

Nate did recently become violent with Chris, but will that just be a one-off?
"Chris has made it pretty clear to Nate that this is not to ever happen again, and that's something Nate really takes on board. I think it's a really good sign that Nate does listen to that. It's a hurdle in their relationship which they've jumped over. They'll have new hurdles, but that's one that is definitely left in the past."

All of Chris's previous relationships have been with guest characters. Does it feel different to be exploring something more permanent this time?
"Yeah, it does. Obviously for me as an actor, I know that this relationship is going to continue on for hopefully some time. We don't really know where the end is. I think the hard thing with the previous guests coming in and out is that you could always foresee an end happening, which was a bit of a shame.

"I think it's really nice to finally have a bit more stability in a relationship for Chris. I think he deserves it and the show deserves it too. I guess we'll wait and see what the journey is and how it unfolds, but it's great to know that it carries on for a while."

Chris and Lucy's recent baby discussions took everyone by surprise! How did you react when you heard this story was coming up?
"Probably the same as everyone else! I first found out at a cast meeting. They sit us down usually once every three months and give us the upcoming storylines. That's really valuable for us because we then have an idea of what's coming up.

"When this story came up I was like, 'What?! My God, I can't believe that!' I think it's great though, because it's something that is rarely discussed but is quite common out there. I think it's a really good storyline as we're exploring the challenges of Chris working out if he wants his independence, whether he wants to be a father or whether he wants to do it just for Lucy.

"There's that and then Nate comes into the scenario as well, so that just adds on top of it. I think it's a really interesting avenue to go down and I'm really excited to see where it goes."

Have the producers told you whether Chris will go ahead and agree to have a baby with Lucy?
"It's not set in stone. At this stage, we're still waiting to find out. As much as they write about three months ahead, they're very selective about what they tell us and what they don't! In one aspect that's really great because then it's a surprise when it comes up, but sometimes you want to know so you can plan ahead and know what the result of the story is. Hopefully we'll find out really soon what happens!"

Do you have a preference? It might be nice to see Chris tied in with the Robinsons!
"Oh, I reckon it'd be amazing if Chris was related to Paul Robinson! Chris is one of the only characters who's not related to anyone else on the Street, so I think it would bring him into that community just a little bit more.

"It'd be nice to be part of a name that's been floating around the show since it started. That would be really special. It'd also be really good for the characters too if they could get what they want - and especially for Lucy to get what she wants in the end."

In Australia this week, a storyline has been airing which sees Chris get rushed to hospital when he becomes the victim of a 'coward punch', when Josh drunkenly attacks him. How did you feel about taking on that storyline?
"I think it's a fantastic story. This is an issue that's really topical in Australia at the moment. The whole moral of the story is that one little mistake can have really dire consequences. I like to think that we can use this story to really educate people and get the word out there that this is something really serious that we're battling against at the moment.

"It's not a joke and what's really great is that whether people can relate to it or if they have no idea about it whatsoever, it's informative for everybody and it shows all aspects of it."

Can Chris ever forgive Josh for what he's done?
"I think it's a long process. I like to think that later on down the track, there is room for forgiveness. Obviously there's so much going on before that, so Chris needs to deal with the fact that he'll never be the same again following the attack and his life is going to change forever.

"It'll also be difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that someone like Josh would do something like this, even though it's a mistake. There's so much to go through and Chris needs to come to terms with all of this before he can forgive Josh for what he's done."

Do you have any gossip you can share about Neighbours' upcoming 30th anniversary?
"I wish I did! We haven't heard much but I know that they're hoping to get a whole bunch of past cast members back for the 30th, which will be really great for the show. Obviously that's great for the loyal viewers who have been watching since the beginning, but it'll also be great for us new actors to meet some of the older cast and get a bit of a history lesson in Neighbours!"

Is there anyone you'd love to see back?
"Harold's always the favourite, isn't he? Whenever we talk about Neighbours we always get onto Harold, so it'd be great to see him back and all of the guys who made the show what it is.

"We've recently had Benjie McNair who plays Malcolm on set and we've had Kym Valentine back as Libby, so it'd be great to see Jesse Spencer back who played Billy - but I think he's busy playing a fireman in America! Guy Pearce would also be a great addition to the 30th anniversary cast, but again, I think he might drive a hard bargain!"

Neighbours really seems to be getting back to its best this year. Have the cast noticed a change in the show?
"It's always a funny one, because after five years, there's been so much that's happened since I've been there. Sometimes the changes are so subtle that you don't notice them, but then when you look back you think, 'That really changed!' You don't notice something changing overnight, but then you do realise that the structure has changed a little bit, the format of the scenes have changed or the style of the show has changed a little bit as well.

"Our producer Jason Herbison did approach us the other week and told us that we had really great ratings not only in the UK but in Australia too, which is fantastic. It's obviously reflective of the work we're doing. It does make sense, because I feel like I'm in the best place in the whole time I've been on Neighbours. Right now we've got the best cast, the best crew and some great stuff to work with, so it's just reflective of that and it is really evident."

Your on-screen love interests always seem to go onto great things, with Bob Morley joining The 100 and Remy Hii winning a Logie! Does their success inspire you when you think about the future?
"Yeah, I reckon I must be a good luck charm - if you end up with me on the show, you'll go on and be really successful! It's not only those guys as we've also got Margot Robbie who's doing really well in LA, and Ashleigh Brewer is now on The Bold and the Beautiful. Other previous cast are doing really well too.

"That just goes to show that anybody can do it - including myself and the rest of the cast who are on the show at the moment. It doesn't matter where you are or where you've come from, you've always got a chance. It is inspiring and when I look at these guys doing really well, I'm so happy for them because I know most of them personally and know how hard they work. It's a credit to them."

Do you have a time limit for how long you'd like to stay on Neighbours?
"I just play it by ear. You can't have too much structure. I change my mind every five minutes, so I don't try to plan too far ahead. I'll just see how I feel at the time and when it comes to make a decision I'll take it from there. I'm not in any hurry or stressed about the future or anything like that - everything happens for a reason. We have seen those other guys go on and do some fantastic work, so I'm just taking it in my stride and seeing what happens."

You're currently in the UK for two weeks. Are you enjoying it?
"I love it - it's fantastic! The weather's turned up for me as well, which is really nice - it's been really sunny! There's a bit of cloud but not too much! I've been settling into it after the long flight, but it's a fantastic part of the world and I'd definitely be inclined to spend more time here."

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas will be left fighting for his life next month after he is attacked and left for dead.

As all of the Ramsay Street residents embark on Georgia and Kyle's Great Gatsby-themed hen and stag do, Chris (James Mason) finds himself having a challenging evening when he is caught in the middle of two separate dramas.

Chris's evening initially takes a bad turn when an old contact of Brennan's reports back with some disturbing news on Nate's background, leading to an edgy exchange between Chris and the boyfriend he seems to know so little about.

Later, after a mix-up with the entertainers, the two groups come together at The Waterhole where Georgia and Kyle make a very public declaration of love.

Daniel is so inspired by the couple that he makes an impulsive announcement about his and Amber's own engagement, leaving Matt and Lauren shocked and Josh devastated.

Having faced further upset earlier in the evening when Naomi called time on their fling, Josh takes Amber's news particularly badly and drowns his sorrows by drinking beer.

However, when Josh starts having a go at the happy couple, Chris is forced to drag him outside and send him home.

Feeling exhausted, Chris sends Nate away as well, but the evening takes a very dark turn when Chris is attacked by an unseen assailant whilst alone and left in a very serious condition.
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Chris is left unconscious
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Chris is left unconscious
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Sheila and Kyle are shocked when they find Chris
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Sheila and Kyle are shocked when they find Chris
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Georgia checks on Chris
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Georgia checks on Chris
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Georgia desperately hopes Chris will be okay
© Channel 5
Georgia desperately hopes Chris will be okay

When Chris is discovered unconscious and abandoned outside The Waterhole, the community immediately comes together to try to save him.

As it becomes evident that Chris has a serious head injury, he is put into an induced coma, with no clear path to recovery.

Later, there is further upset for his loved ones when they discover that Chris was the victim of a 'coward punch' and they are all left wondering who could be responsible.

As Matt (Josef Brown) immediately launches an investigation into who would attack Chris and why, Nate instantly draws attention to himself with his strange behaviour.

Wanting answers, a furious Kyle directly confronts Nate but when he flees, everyone is left more suspicious than ever.

While Susan struggles to comprehend Nate's response to the emergency, her doubts increase when Brennan emerges with new information about Nate's past.

As all of the evidence continues to point to Nate, he finds himself firmly in the spotlight for the attack on Chris until Josh makes a shocking confession.

Wanting to face up to his actions, Josh reveals to Matt that he was the one who attacked Chris, and later arrives home to inform his stunned family.

After visiting Chris in hospital to apologise, Josh heads to the police station where he is formally charged, but what lies ahead for him now?
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Josh confesses to the attack on Chris
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Josh confesses to the attack on Chris
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Josh is full of remorse
© Channel 5
Josh is full of remorse

Neighbours airs these scenes on Monday, October 6, Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 8 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas loses his temper with Josh Willis next month as he becomes increasingly frustrated by the length of his recovery.

Viewers know that Josh (Harley Bonner) recently attacked Chris (James Mason) while he was drunk, leaving him with a long-term brain injury.

Chris initially feels optimistic with his recovery progress and after paying a visit to the garage, he decides he is ready to go back to work there.

Despite Brennan and Nate's caution, Chris enthusiastically throws himself into helping out, but soon finds his injury holding him back.

After a couple of incidents when both his hand and his memory fail him, Chris is eventually sent home for the day, leaving him frustrated.
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Chris feels frustrated over his injuries.
© Channel 5
Chris feels frustrated over his injuries.

As Danni and Chris discuss when he will be able to return, Chris desperately tries to pretend that it won't be long, but Danni tries to be realistic and points out his recovery could be a long haul.

When Danni explains that it is too dangerous for him to work at the moment, Chris feels the pressure of not only losing his job, but also the reality of never making a full recovery.

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed, Chris throws himself into his exercises, but when he sees Josh delivering a food package, it pushes him over the edge.

Deciding to confront him, a vulnerable Chris unleashes all the frustration and anger he feels with himself onto Josh, accusing him of ruining his life...
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Chris lashes out at Josh.
© Channel 5
Chris lashes out at Josh.
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Chris accuses Josh of ruining is life.
© Channel 5
Chris accuses Josh of ruining is life.
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A frustrated Chris takes his anger out on Josh.
© Channel 5
Chris is left furious.

Neighbours airs these scenes on Monday, November 3 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Neighbours mechanic Chris Pappas is faced with the repercussions of his recent head injury when he has a seizure later this month.

Viewers know that Josh Willis (Harley Bonner) punched Chris (James Mason) whilst drunk, leaving him with a long-lasting brain condition.

When Nate finds Chris having a seizure, he deals with the situation competently and rushes Chris to hospital.
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Chris has a seizure.
© Channel 5
Chris has a seizure.
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Nate finds Chris.
© Channel 5
Nate finds Chris.
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Nate helps Chris.
© Channel 5
Nate helps Chris.

At the hospital, Chris wakes up to find Karl and Nate keeping a watchful eye on him but he becomes overwhelmed with fear of possibly having epilepsy.

Haunted by memories of Paul Robinson's son Andrew suffering with the illness, Chris is left further disappointed when he has to stay in hospital overnight as it means his romantic evening with Nate has to be put on hold. However, Chris is surprised and delighted when Nate sneaks in to stay the night with him instead of going clubbing.

As the pair spend a cosy night in the hospital together, Nate tells Chris that he loves him. Has Chris's health scare brought him closer to Nate?

Neighbours airs these scenes on Monday, November 17 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

Chris is faced with further difficulty as the day of Josh Willis's sentence hearing looms.

With the Willis family on tenterhooks. they are temporarily distracted when Doug (Terence Donovan) arrives wanting to support Josh.

While Chris is furious when he receives another package, believing it is from Josh, things take another turn for the worse when Josh learns from Toadie that the judge he is facing in court is particularly tough.

A terrified Josh then starts to worry that because of Doug's Alzheimer's his last memories of Josh could be him on trial.

Wanting to reassure his grandson, Doug reminds Josh of his childhood passion of cricket, promising him that he will never forget that.

Keen to hold onto those memories, Josh takes Doug to the park for a gentle game of cricket before heading to the trial. However, when Chris also heads to the park to walk off his anger, he comes face to face with Josh.
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Doug supports Josh.
© Channel 5
Doug supports Josh.
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Josh and Doug play cricket on the morning of his hearing.
© Channel 5
Josh and Doug play cricket.

Josh worries that he has angered Chris once again and his fears are raised when Toadie reveals that Chris has written an addendum to his victim impact statement.

As the Willis family all fear what this could mean for the hearing, has Chris made things better or worse for Josh?

Neighbours airs these scenes on Wednesday, November 19 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[gillyH1981]

James Mason's exit has been confirmed. He will leave Neighbours in the spring.

[lizann]

James Mason's exit has been confirmed. He will leave Neighbours in the spring.

with nate?

[lizann]

James Mason's exit has been confirmed. He will leave Neighbours in the spring.

with nate?

[kayuqtuq]

Noooo! Chris is my favourite!

[gillyH1981]

with nate?

Nate isn't leaving. Just Chris.

[tammyy2j]

James Mason's exit has been confirmed. He will leave Neighbours in the spring.

That is a shame, great character well played by James

[Ruffed_lemur]

James Mason's exit has been confirmed. He will leave Neighbours in the spring.

That's a shame. I wonder if he will leave to be near Lucy, if they have a child together?

[LostVoodoo]

That's a shame. I wonder if he will leave to be near Lucy, if they have a child together?

That would be a nice exit for him, I hope it's something like that. I will be sad to see him go though!

[LostVoodoo]

That's a shame. I wonder if he will leave to be near Lucy, if they have a child together?

That would be a nice exit for him, I hope it's something like that. I will be sad to see him go though!

[Perdita]

It has actually not been confirmed that he is leaving

[lizann]

is lucy preggers by him

[gillyH1981]

It has actually not been confirmed that he is leaving

James has left. it has been confirmed. He leaves screens in April.

[Mirjam]

You constantly "forget" to mention where you get your info from. I haven't seen or read anything that Chris is leaving.

[pulminaria]

It would be sad ( if the gossips r us are to be believed) I don't believe in gossip ( as was the case in my office some time ago about something, it turned out to be untrue!!) to see James leave I really grew to like Chris over the years.

[pulminaria]

I do hope he doesn't leave , what would Nate do?

[pulminaria]

I hope that he doesn't leave what would Nate do?

[gillyH1981]

I hope that he doesn't leave what would Nate do?

Chris is leaving.

Chris gets a phone call this week and finds out Lucy is pregnant, so he goes to New York.

[Mirjam]

I will believe it when I see it announced. It would be very nice if you post a link that states James is leaving, otherwise stop posting stuff without legitimate back up!

[Perdita]

Neighbours bids farewell to a popular character on UK screens next week as Chris Pappas departs Erinsborough after splitting from his boyfriend Nate Kinski.

Chris heads off to New York after Nate is finally honest with him about his true feelings, admitting that he doesn't want to be part of Chris's parenting arrangement with Lucy Robinson now that she is expecting his baby.

In real life, actor James Mason chose to bow out from his role as Chris last year to pursue other career opportunities. Digital Spy recently caught up with him for his first chat about his exit and future career plans.

How are you feeling now that your time on Neighbours has come to an end?
"It's a lot of mixed emotions! I finished up in December, so I've been away from Neighbours for three months now. I had a five-year journey on the show and it was one that I never foresaw when I first started. It was a really amazing time there.

"Looking back now, I miss the people, the work, the experiences and everything about Neighbours. It was very sad to end that big part of my life after five years, but at the same time, I'm really excited to be out in the world and looking forward towards the next project."

Chris's departure from the show plays out on screen in quite an open-ended way. Is there a chance we could see him back?
"I think there's always a possible chance, as we've just seen with the 30th anniversary which had lots of characters coming back. I like to think that I'm a special part of the show, as is everybody else who has come through Neighbours in its time. Chris is one of the lucky ones that hasn't died in Erinsborough, so he could well and truly come back.

"It is open-ended and I wouldn't rule out ever returning, it just depends on other factors. I've heard there were a couple of people who really wanted to come back for the 30th anniversary but couldn't for contractual reasons and things like that, so it does just depend on timing and what production have in store."

Was there a part of you that was sad to see Chris's relationship with Nate break down?
"Yeah, I think there was! I guess everybody wants to see the happy ending if that's ever possible, but unfortunately it was one of those times when it didn't work out that way. Chris obviously leaves Erinsborough for great reasons because he's essentially leaving to be part of his child's upbringing, so it's a bittersweet departure.

"Unfortunately it didn't work out with Nate and Chris, so I guess it wasn't your typical 'skip off into the sunset' ending. But hopefully Chris is off somewhere having a great time, finding new love and doing everything that he needs to do."

Did you enjoy exploring the baby storyline with Melissa Bell (Lucy) and Meyne Wyatt (Nate)?
"Yeah, it was such an intertwined storyline. Throughout the whole story, Chris was really playing tug-of-war with Nate and Lucy and trying to keep everyone's best interests at heart - including his own. It was really fun to be part of that story because it was filled with so much content and it spanned over a vast period of time as well, which is always nice.

"I really enjoyed working with Melissa. She keeps coming back into the show and I hope she continues to. I would consider her royalty of Neighbours, so it was an honour to work with her. Her character also brought something completely new to Chris's life. It's always great to get something new to play with and Melissa definitely brought that.

"Meyne also brought a lot to the role of Nate that was very different to Bob Morley and Remy Hii as Aidan and Hudson, so again, it's great to have a different dynamic. It was fantastic to work with Meyne for my final few months on the show."

Chris will always have a legacy as the first regular gay character on Neighbours. Are you proud of everything you've achieved with the role and the impact he's made?
"Absolutely. It's made more of an impact than I ever imagined and I really owe that to the people who were working on the show at the time that Chris was introduced. Susan Bower, who was executive producer at that point, really gambled with that. It was unfortunately a big-risk storyline, especially at the time.

"What's interesting is that when I first started on the show, as far as I was aware, I was only going to be there for two weeks! I thought, 'What could they possibly do with this character in two weeks that's going to make a massive change in Australian television?!' Little did I know that five years later I'd be taking my steps out the door!

"When Chris was first introduced, they were very conscious of exploring his story in a truthful and real way, but also a sensitive way. It's one of those things where you have to build it up, look at the audience reaction and see how they're taking to it.

"Another great thing is that some of Chris's stories came personally from the stories of the writers. One in particular, Paul Gartside, pretty much is the soul behind Chris. I'm very grateful to him for what he's been able to give me to work with. I haven't been in this situation myself, so for him and others to bring their realities to the character definitely helped."

Are you glad you had the chance to be part of the 30th anniversary before you left?
"Definitely - it was really great to be part of the milestone. I was lucky enough to come into Neighbours just before the 25th anniversary, which really shows the length of my time there and also the capacity of Neighbours as it's still going strong after all this time.

"For the 30th, it was really fun to meet some of the masterminds behind the original characters and to welcome some back. Obviously there were also some faces that I knew from not so long ago, like Scott Major and Alin Sumarwata, who play Lucas and Vanessa.

"More recently there have been some 30th celebrations among the cast and crew and I was a little bit sad that I wasn't there for that as I'm not in Australia at the moment, but I know that I'll get back to the set at some stage and say hi to everyone.

"Neighbours was a big part of my life and it will always be very special to me. I owe the show a lot, as they've essentially given me a career and something to work with here. I definitely would be in a very different place right now if those guys hadn't come into my life, so I'm very grateful for what they've given to me."

We know that you've been out in LA since leaving, so have you enjoyed that experience?
"Definitely. I do have to go back home in about four weeks from now due to my visa requirements, but it's been fantastic in all aspects. From an industry perspective, it's been my first time out here auditioning and looking for work. It's been a great learning experience and there's been some great things coming my way. It's also been a good chance to see how Los Angeles works as a town and get a cultural point of view as well.

"There are also lots of Australians out here too, and they really make you feel that there's a little bit of home here! It's been an amazing experience from all angles, really."

Are you expecting to keep in touch with many of your colleagues?
"Oh yeah, of course - most of the cast and crew I think! Unfortunately we're in an industry where everyone is moving around and you're not always going to be in the same town as everybody, but here in Los Angeles there are former cast members and you see them around. It's really great and a novelty to see somebody in a completely different town and be able to appreciate your work history together.

"I'll definitely keep in touch with a lot of people, and you do see people on other jobs too. The industry can be pretty small in some ways, so I'm certainly looking forward to seeing some familiar faces around."

Will you think carefully about the next role or just go where the work is?
"I think it's a bit of both! I'm approaching it from a very careful angle, as I'm very conscious of what kind of roles I want to pick up. I'd love to take on projects that are going to benefit me as an actor for my career and also attract my general interest. There are going to be things out there I'm really interested in, some things I'm maybe not so interested in, but I'm also conscious that I can't be too fussy at this stage with turning down roles!

"Another point of view is that I want to be doing things that benefit the audience as well. I have a strong belief in using media as a strong platform for education and getting through certain messages, so I'm very conscious of that as well. It's a case of taking it step by step and when something comes at me, I'll weigh up the options of whether it's worth a go or not."

After five years playing a nice guy, would you like to play a nasty character at some point?
"Yeah, maybe I'll come back as the new Paul Robinson one day! (Laughs.) For sure - I'd like to see the different hats I could put on by trying things that challenge me. At the end of the day, for both myself and others, I don't want to be seen as the guy who can only play one character.

"I'm very adamant that I'm going to give different things a shot, so maybe the next thing will be completely different to Chris in terms of style and character. I have played Chris for the last five years so it'd be lovely to get out there and see where I land."

The Neighbours producers didn't announce your exit beforehand, so it may have surprised some fans when it aired in Australia last week. What kind of reaction have you seen?
"I think it's a very unorthodox exit! For the weeks prior to me leaving, I was counting down the weeks until I read my last scene. I have a little folder where I keep all my scripts, so when I did get to the last page I thought, 'Wow that's it, there's going to be no more coming'. It was really emotional, but it wasn't a big huge storyline or a cliffhanger - it's a really standard exit. I read it and said, 'Wow, that's it, that's Chris and he's gone'.

"The funny thing is that it's very open - much more open than most other characters' exits. When I started thinking about it, I realised that's life, isn't it? Sometimes you go away and you leave and it's not always a big thing - sometimes life is just open-ended. I like that it's very different and very lifelike. It's an ease-out and we'll see what happens - Chris could come back and we don't know.

"Chris's exit is obviously going to get a different reaction from the audience compared to Kate's death, for example, where that was final and everybody knew that she wasn't coming back - well, apart from a few who still have hope! (Laughs.) I guess at first there's going to be a few people wondering if Chris will return. There's been a few nice messages from fans, and as more people realise that I have left the show, they'll realise that Chris won't be coming back anytime soon.

"There hasn't been much publicity surrounding Chris's exit, but that was kind of the point from the Neighbours perspective - they always try to hold off until the end to stop the storylines from being ruined."

Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans who have supported you for the last five years?
"I can't thank people enough for the support that they've shown me and my character, but also the show as a whole. It was so interesting starting out playing this character, because I had no idea where we were going or how the audience were going to respond. The feedback has just been great and every time someone approaches me in the street or sends me a tweet, it reinforces the fact that I made the right decision in taking this on.

"I say it all the time, but it's the fans who keep us in work and without the fans there would be no show. The way I see it is that I owe everything to Neighbours and especially Chris Pappas, because if the character didn't get a warm welcome in the beginning, I probably wouldn't have walked out of there last year - I would have been gone long ago!

"I also thank everybody for their true emotions, as people often speak to me and say that these storylines have affected them personally because of them going through similar things. For me that's the most important thing - being able to relate to these characters as if they're really human, which is as it should be. That's something really special."


Neighbours airs Chris's exit on Friday, April 10 at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5.

[Perdita]

James Mason/Melissa Bell as Chris Pappas/Lucy Robinson - One-episode guest return - On Australian screens on 6th November 2015/UK screens on 20th November 2015

[Dazzle]

James Mason/Melissa Bell as Chris Pappas/Lucy Robinson - One-episode guest return - On Australian screens on 6th November 2015/UK screens on 20th November 2015

It'll be good to see them again.

[gillyH1981]

There return is only via Skype.

[Ruffed_lemur]

There return is only via Skype.

Bit disappointing, but still good to see them.