Editing Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell

{{short description|Fictional couple from the soap opera Neighbours}}
{{For|the Australian indie band|Scott & Charlene's Wedding}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

'''[[Scott Robinson (Neighbours)|Scott Robinson]] and [[Charlene Robinson|Charlene Mitchell]]''' are fictional characters and a [[supercouple]] from the Australian soap opera ''[[Neighbours]]''. Scott was portrayed by [[Jason Donovan]], and Charlene was portrayed by [[Kylie Minogue]].

==Development==
Scott Robinson is one of ''[[Neighbours]]''' twelve original characters conceived by [[Reg Watson]]. He was originally played by [[Darius Perkins]], but following his dismissal from the role, it was recast to [[Jason Donovan]], who made his debut in January 1986, as the serial moved to [[Network Ten]].<ref>[[#refmercado|Mercado 2004]], p.205–206.</ref> In April of that year, [[Kylie Minogue]] was introduced as Charlene Mitchell, daughter of established character [[Madge Ramsay]] ([[Anne Charleston]]). Her arrival coincided with Ten's efforts to publicise and revamp the serial to appeal to its strong teen demographic.<ref name="Mercado207">[[#refmercado|Mercado 2004]], p.207–208.</ref> Scott was the first character to interact with Charlene, as he mistakes her for a burglar and confronts her. Charlene then punches Scott in the mouth. Minogue ended up punching Donovan for real during the filming of the scene.<ref name="Mercado207"/> Producers soon created a relationship [[story arc]] for the characters.<ref name="Mercado207"/> Andrew Mercado, author of ''Super Aussie Soaps'', wrote that ''Neighbours'' would have been "dead in the water" if it had not capitalised on the popularity of Donovan and Minogue. Their characters' relationship helped boost ratings, and the show's publicist [[Brian Walsh (television executive)|Brian Walsh]] used their rumoured off-screen romance to continue the rating success.<ref name="Mercado207"/>

Minogue thought the romance between Scott and Charlene also helped them become fan favourites. She explained, "In the storyline, they break up and get back together. People like Scott and Charlene being a couple. It's probably the most normal relationship in the show."<ref name="Winning">{{cite magazine|last=Bourne|first=Kelly|date=18 April 1987|title=Kylie's winning ways|magazine=[[TV Week]]|pages=4–5}}</ref> ''[[TV Week]]'''s Kelly Bourne also noted that Scott and Charlene had struck a chord with fans, who felt that they could identify with them and share their "joys, the pain of their fights and their fears of breaking up."<ref name="Bourne">{{cite magazine|last=Bourne|first=Kelly|date=16 May 1987|title=The romance that rocks Ramsay St|magazine=[[TV Week]]|page=4}}</ref> Bourne also observed that viewers were "keenly" following the development of how a scripted romance led to Minogue and Donovan's real-life relationship.<ref name="Bourne"/> On-screen, as their romance progresses, Charlene's mother tries to persuade her to date other boys, while Scott repeats his final year of school. He realises that he wants to be with Charlene and the characters were seen declaring their love for each other.<ref name="Bourne"/> Scott also declares that they will move in together and buys Charlene a gold friendship ring. Minogue said Charlene is flattered by the gesture, while Donovan thought it settled the matter that they are not going to break up.<ref name="Bourne"/> Various characters voice their shock and disapproval at how serious the couple have become in 12 months.<ref name="Bourne"/>

In May 1987, Australian television magazine ''TV Week'' ran a competition asking for reader's opinions on the controversial issue of whether the teen couple should live together. The publication thought the plot development would provoke a heated response from fans of the show, and wanted to know if they felt strongly for or against the idea.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=16 May 1987|title=Should these teens become live-in lovers?|magazine=[[TV Week]]|page=73}}</ref> The magazine received thousands of responses and 70 per cent were in favour of seeing the couple live together.<ref>[[#refmercado|Mercado 2004]], p.210.</ref> But there was concern about Scott and Charlene's ages, which, at the time, were seventeen and eighteen respectively. A critic suggested that their parents should give them "a firm smack on the backside with orders to grow up."<ref name="Oram92">[[#reforam|Oram, James 1988]], p.91–92.</ref> Minogue thought the characters were a bit young to be living together, but she did not see anything morally wrong with it. She explained, "Viewers should not see the live-in relationship as sinful because we are really trying to prove how difficult life is for teenagers when they leave the security of their parents' home."<ref name="Oram92"/> Donovan had friends who were living together, and he thought it was "a very true picture of today's teenagers."<ref name="Oram92"/> After "stuffier viewers" expressed their outrage about the young, unwed couple moving in together, producers decided the couple would marry instead.<ref name="Blackman">{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=Kylietown&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SAG0610081LAC17QUNBF|title=Kylietown|last=Blackman|first=Guy|date=8 October 2006|newspaper=[[The Age]]|access-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822063140/http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=Kylietown&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SAG0610081LAC17QUNBF|archive-date=22 August 2017}}</ref>

The wedding allowed a discussion about teenage sexuality, and Donovan pointed out that since [[AIDS]], there had been "a swing back" to romance and institutionalised relationships. Minogue thought the marriage would bring controversial subjects, such as pre-marital sex and AIDS, into focus.<ref name="Oram92"/> Scott and Charlene's [[Episode 523 (Neighbours)|wedding episode]] was broadcast on 1 July 1987 to two million Australian viewers.<ref name="OneMoment">{{cite journal|title=One moment in time|last=Burfitt|first=John|author2=Miller, Erin|author3=Walker, Lucy|journal=[[TV Week]]|date=7–13 April 2012|issue=14|pages=1–10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&kw=Vow+power&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=news960608_0216_6807|title=Vow power|last=Southward|first=Jane|author2=Browne, Rachel|date=8 June 1996|newspaper=[[The Sun-Herald]]|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref> The episode aired in the UK on 8 November 1988, and was watched by 20 million viewers.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=Jon|title=It's been 30 years since Scott and Charlene's Neighbours wedding: 10 things you may not know|url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/07/03/its-been-30-years-since-soctt-and-charlenes-neighbours-wedding-10-things-you-may-not-know-6752009/|date=3 July 2017|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> Minogue said the wedding was what Scott and Charlene's romance had been building up to.<ref name="OneMoment"/> While Donovan said the producers thought a wedding would be "the perfect climax" to the character's relationship, as well as an instant ratings winner.<ref>[[#refdonovan|Donovan 2007]], p.99.</ref> As the couple went away on honeymoon, Donovan and Minogue toured Australia to promote the wedding and ''Neighbours''. Their appearances caused riots among fans.<ref>[[#reforam|Oram, James 1988]], p.93.</ref>

In 2014, Scott and Charlene's son, [[Daniel Robinson (Neighbours)|Daniel Robinson]] ([[Tim Phillipps]]), was introduced to ''Neighbours''.<ref name="Shar">{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/10338427/The-Oz-family-Robinson|title=The Oz family Robinson|last=Shar|first=Keith|date=4 August 2014|publisher=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|access-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> Phillipps confirmed that Scott and Charlene are still together and living in Brisbane. He said they were "really loving, supportive parents" to Daniel and his sister, [[Madison Robinson (Neighbours)|Madison Robinson]] (Sarah Ellen), who was introduced in 2016.<ref name="Shar"/><ref name="Byrnes">{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/kylie-minogue-sends-welcome-message-to-sarah-ellen-her-new-tv-daughter-joining-neighbours/news-story/10196196d743fe2e538fb15c7e3a750c?nk=0eab8bae55640ef1bcde309cdf4afe26-1455986533|title=Kylie Minogue sends welcome message to Sarah Ellen, her new TV daughter, joining Neighbours|last=Byrnes|first=Holly|date=20 February 2016|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=20 February 2016}}</ref> To prepare for the role, Ellen watched footage of Scott and Charlene, and thought her character shared a number of similarities to her mother.<ref name="Byrnes"/>

Following the planned cancellation of ''Neighbours'' in March 2022, both Donovan and Minogue reprised their roles as Scott and Charlene for what was then thought to be the serial's finale. They filmed their guest appearance on [[Vermont South, Victoria|Pin Oak Court]], which is the outdoor location for [[Ramsay Street]].<ref name="Byrne">{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/the-most-famous-couple-in-neighbours-history-will-reunite-to-grace-our-screens-a-final-time/news-story/8d1be64fe73b94c5728344b3a227b096|title=Fairytale ending for Neighbours as beloved couple reunites|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|date=1 May 2022|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=1 May 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Of their return, executive producer [[Jason Herbison]] stated: "Scott and Charlene are the ultimate ''Neighbours'' couple and it would not feel right to end the show without them. We are thrilled that Jason and Kylie have come home to play a very special part in our series finale. It has been an emotional experience for them, for us and I'm sure it will be for our viewers."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a39869969/neighbours-kylie-minogue-jason-donovan-finale-return/|title=Neighbours confirms Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's return for finale|first=Joe|last=Anderton|date=1 May 2022|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=1 May 2022}}</ref>

==Storylines==
Scott meets Charlene when he mistakes her for an intruder at his neighbour Madge Ramsay's house. He soon remembers that Charlene is Madge's daughter, who has just arrived from [[Queensland]]. After an initially rocky start, the two develop a relationship despite the respective opposition of their two families, the [[Ramsay family|Ramsays]] and the [[Robinson family|Robinsons]], who have been feuding for years. The two get engaged and marry. Their marriage is tested by financial struggles and infidelity. Charlene is offered a mechanic apprenticeship in Brisbane, and her grandfather [[Dan Ramsay]] (Syd Conabere) buys the couple a house there. Charlene is forced to leave without Scott, who has to stay behind and wait for a job transfer. He joins her ten months later. They later two have children; a son, Daniel  and a daughter, Madison, respectively and return to Erinsborough themselves more than thirty years later for a street party following the wedding of [[Toadfish Rebecchi]] ([[Ryan Moloney]]) and [[Melanie Pearson]] ([[Lucinda Cowden]]). They visit their old marital home, Number 24 Ramsay street, reunite with old friends [[Mike Young (Neighbours)|Mike Young]] ([[Guy Pearce]]) and [[Jane Harris (Neighbours)|Jane Harris]] ([[Annie Jones (actress)|Annie Jones]]) and also reconnect with Charlene's stepfather, [[Harold Bishop]] ([[Ian Smith]]) and Scott's brother, [[Paul Robinson (Neighbours)|Paul]] ([[Stefan Dennis]]).

==Reception and impact==
The couple were hugely popular with ''Neighbours'' fans in both Australian and the United Kingdom, helping the show to gain high ratings after an initial rocky start.<ref name="Mercado207"/> Melissa Field of ''TV Week'' said their "teenage love story captured hearts across the world" and she noted that viewers in Australia and the UK "couldn't get enough of their wholesome love".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/neighbours-top-ten-couples-of-all-time-51471|title=Neighbours: The top ten most iconic couples of all time|last=Field|first=Melissa|date=27 September 2018|work=[[TV Week]]|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> Eleanor Sprawson and Robert Fidgeon of the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' included Scott and Charlene in their list of the Top 50 TV characters. They stated "Acid-wash jeans and mullet cut did not stop ''Neighbours''' feisty mechanic-next-door from winning Scott's heart in the definitive soapie love match of the '80s."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A104751927/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=52bfabf2|title=Top 50 TV characters|last=Sprawson|first=Eleanor|last2=Fidgeon|first2=Robert|date=29 August 2001|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=9 March 2024|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Scott and Charlene have been named one of television's best couples by a number of media outlets. Keith Shar of [[Stuff.co.nz]] called Scott and Charlene "the show's most famous couple".<ref name="Shar"/> A reporter for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' branded them "a supercouple and a bit of a Romeo and Juliet as their two families had an ongoing feud."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10402779/The-20-best-TV-couples.html?frame=2721150|title=The 20 best TV couples – Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=4 February 2020}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[Heart (radio network)|Heart Radio]] placed them at number one on their list of Iconic TV Soap Couples, saying "Everyone's favourite teenage sweethearts had us rooting for them throughout their time together in the Australian soap. Heartthrob Scott Robinson and the gorgeous Charlene Mitchell go through their fair share of teething problems as any young couple do, but go on to get hitched and going on to having two kids together."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/photos/iconic-tv-soap-couples-eastenders-30th-anniversary/|title=Iconic TV Soap Couples|publisher=[[Heart (radio network)|Heart Radio]]|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

Writing for [[BBC Online]], Fraser McAlpine included Scott and Charlene in his feature on 30 years of much-loved TV couples, written shortly after Minogue and Donovan sang their duet "[[Especially for You]]" at 2018 [[Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park]].<ref name="McAlpine">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5Q94MGQ3D6bX8QL9tjRjXBs/from-scott-and-charlene-to-dani-and-jack-30-years-of-much-loved-tv-couples|title=From Scott and Charlene to Dani and Jack: 30 years of much-loved TV couples|last=McAlpine|first=Fraser|date=14 September 2018|publisher=[[BBC Online]]|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> McAlpine called them "one of television's most iconic romantic pairings".<ref name="McAlpine"/> He also wrote: "They were too young to handle their feelings, the archetypal teenage couple who found it hard to control the avalanche of emotions they were exposed to. Scott had to fend off pressure from his family to put his education first, while Charlene was a trainee mechanic with a short fuse and very little patience. Their arguments were frequent, the bickering constant, but through it all they formed a lasting bond."<ref name="McAlpine"/>

The couple inspired the name of Australian indie rock band [[Scott & Charlene's Wedding]]. Singer-songwriter Craig Dermody explained: "I remember sitting down and watching it with my mum. I just watched it as a kid and then stopped watching it. I remember [the wedding] being massive, it was as if it was a real wedding. Like a royal wedding, but in Australia."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-monitors.com/2013/08/28/scott-charlenes-wedding-interview/|title=Scott & Charlene's Wedding – Interview|last1=Burman|first1=Nicholas|last2=Carnihan|first2=Kier Wiater|date=28 August 2013|publisher=the-monitors.com|access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref> In 2014, the couple's wedding came first in a poll to find 50 unforgettable moments in Network Ten's history. Siobhan Duck of the ''Herald Sun'' wrote "No moment in Network Ten's 50-year history has made more of an impact on Australia than the 1987 wedding of a pair of teenage bogans. To the strains of Angry Anderson's Suddenly, a young Charlene (Kylie Minogue) clad in the laciest gown that the 1980s had to offer, married her golden mullet-haired groom, Scott (Jason Donovan) before a riveted nation."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A377073759/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=90b636a6|title=How Charlene and Scott changed TV|last=Duck|first=Siobhan|date=3 August 2014|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=26 April 2024|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 2020, the couple's wedding was voted 5th "most unforgettable moment in Australian TV history" by readers of ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/feb/07/julia-gillard-misogyny-speech-voted-most-unforgettable-moment-in-australian-tv-history|title=Julia Gillard's misogyny speech voted 'most unforgettable' moment in Australian TV history|last=Harmon|first=Steph|date=7 February 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> Writing for the same newspaper, [[Anna Spargo-Ryan]] included the couple in her list of the 10 best characters, admitting that she felt some "peer pressure" to have them on the list. She also stated "Scott and Charlene are the beating heart of ''Neighbours''! They are the reason Erinsborough exists! No woman had ever been a mechanic before Kylie Minogue arrived on the street. Here's my proposition: Scott and Charlene only work as a couple. They're your co-dependent Facebook friend with a name like 'BenAnd SarahJones'. Yes, adorable teenagers in love, but we have Baz Luhrmann for that. More drama, please."<ref>{{cite news |last=Spargo-Ryan |first=Anna |date=24 July 2022 |title=Neighbours: the 10 best characters from Australia's beloved soap – sorted |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/jul/25/neighbours-the-10-best-characters-from-australias-beloved-soap-sorted |access-date=25 July 2022}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=B1-_BAAAQBAJ&dq=Scott+Robinson+and+Charlene+Mitchell&pg=PT51 Kylie - Naked: A Biography] by Jenny Stanley-Clarke, Andrews UK Limited (2012)

==See also==
* [[List of supercouples]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite book|title=Super Aussie Soaps: Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows|last=Mercado|first=Andrew|year=2004|publisher=Pluto Press Australia|isbn=978-1-86403-191-1|ref=refmercado}}
*{{cite book|title=Jason Donovan: Between the Lines: My Story Uncut|last=Donovan|first=Jason|year=2007|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|isbn=978-0-00-726147-5|ref=refdonovan}}
*{{cite book|title=Neighbours: Behind the Scenes|last=Oram|first=James|year=1988|publisher=[[Angus & Robertson]]|isbn=978-0-207-16075-2|ref=reforam}}

==External links==
* [https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/scott-and-charlenes-30th-wedding-anniversary-the-heartbeat-of-two-people-in-love-20170703-gx386i.html Scott and Charlene's 30th wedding anniversary: "the heartbeat of two people in love."], Sydney Morning Herald, 3 July 2017
* [http://perfectblend.net/magic/1987/0523.htm Review and screen grabs from the wedding]

{{Neighbours}}
{{Neighbours characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Scott and Charlene}}
[[Category:Neighbours characters]]
[[Category:Soap opera supercouples]]