chris fictional character australian soap opera neighbours played mason told character gay successfully auditioned role began filming scenes october year screen appearance episode broadcast february executive producer said character storyline created requests young viewers neighbours website online forums storyline based real life experiences writers chris prominent ongoing male homosexual character year history second ongoing homosexual character overall following introduction chris departed march cameo appearance november chris high school student befriended soap teens captain school basketball team began dating lucas chris developed crush subsequently revealed gay chris initially struggled sexuality reactions friends family team mates finding employment local garage chris faced customer august love interest chris introduced form formed neighbours gay couple break reunion chris split good january chris focus punch storyline agreed baby friend expected chris coming storyline receive criticism media commentators called obvious ratings grab mason script producer defended storyline saying ploy boost ratings explored chris coming affected people television critics lgbt websites given character storyline development positive reception mason earned nomination awards creation casting neighbours executive producer said creation character storyline result requests young viewers neighbours website forums said featured lesbian love scenes men taboo australian dramas added chris coming storyline based real life experiences shows writers mason agent got audition neighbours originally read role given offer play role chris arrived days later mason told okay knowing chris gay character mason major television role began filming scenes october making screen debut february later revealed thirds boys auditioned role chris backed discovered character gay said disappointing surprising mason said excited opportunity like added writers helped script coming straight experiences praised mason saying wonderful job october reported neighbours writers producers unsure chris connected street said writer character story time mason filming reported known given new contract january network spokesperson told mason role expanded april chris screen time chris seen taking issues gay teenager regular cast member mason told love time spend neighbours feel learning time thing industry hard find stable work stability extremely grateful development coming chris neighbours second ongoing homosexual character following introduction neighbours featured short term minor male gay characters plot points small story arcs chris male gay character given prominent role minor male gay characters appear taylor following year gay victim dismissal campaign pupils hinted gay mason said hints chris sexuality way august chris finally revealed gay girlfriend summer week described chris deeply conflicted decision tell sexuality mason said hard chris girlfriend time try tell situation difficult summer initially takes news plays fellow student discovers classmates gay goes way find expose mason said realise sees game life mason said nervous filming chris coming describing scene said stand group people tell character gay little intimidating actor felt storyline handled realistic manner said shows coming difficult thing mason spoke friend coming experience gain information long took come people reacted storyline follows chris struggle sexuality depicts reactions friends family deals issue sport australian gay lesbian newspaper said chris captain school basketball team word gay gets teams turns nasty previous sex storylines led criticism conservative groups said storyline come fire saying believe alive doubt complaints australian lgbt website said story attracted attention media commentators called obvious ratings grab attempt gay rival soap home away script producer defended storyline said ploy grab ratings said particularly proud way chris storyline handled added wanted story affects people different ways wasn chris story think interesting sexuality affected friends relationships mason said hoped storyline draw viewers responsible way feedback stay positive mason added like chris happy future hopes viewers warm added know sensitive topic think difference encounters looking depth gay kiss relationships affects people backed saying wanted gay chris character chris gay character typical gay stereotype shows like play basketball team girlfriend time think good job portraying way character discovering relationship foster october mason stated romantic interest chris introduced future said confirmed chance chris find mason admitted find awkward perform male kissing scene following year mason revealed writers plans romance chris radar weeks later announced joined cast love interest chris chris formed serial gay couple called storyline natural progression chris noting needed meet stage told digital spy chris romance handled sensitive way treated character explained chris naturally shy person person sexuality heart according character relationship character bob playing older track relationship testing relationship story gay male romance mason said chris relationship slow build chris meets brought hospital following vicious beating provides source kindness support chris later takes car local garage serviced chris initially unaware going attempts help chris asking gay straight leads embarrassment appearance chris father george makes situation worse asks chris drink turns mason told inside soap writer george starting accept son gay invites chris drink chris turns fear dad think chris intrigued unsure boyfriend new urges chris face fears decides play attending chris bonds thinks missed chance goes date mason revealed leads new tension characters chris later arrange date turns complete disaster chris initially anxious edge realises having fun calls chris help problem leave assumes chris set thing date chris date marks beginning relationship neighbours gay couple april chris shared screen kiss couple shown sign physical affection point shared passionate embrace house party told week chris share intimate moment couple thought kiss awkward kiss previously performed mason spent lot time effort getting right characters chris kiss marked serial male gay kiss seven year history previously promised token low key scene earned praise viewers social networking sites took break neighbours led writers screen break chris break occurs learns chris told parents relationship mason said chris fine friends knowing relationship different story comes parents father things easy past mother chance know chris parents throw birthday party decides invite learns party andrew feels hurt chris actions makes clear chris relationship mason added gravity situation hits chris left shock thinks come things falling place chris learns parents accepted relationship realises lost assumption chris later got weeks chris broke good chris ended relationship honest things chris learned keeping andrew suspension hospital secret got fight hid chris end things mason said chris love tough later desperate suggestion chris realised bad idea mason chris pretty happy lucky guy don think self pity long mason added miss enjoyed working storyline september chris meets customer garage warren makes prejudice gay people clear chris mason said chris unsure respond situation met adult speaks gay people way warren chris tells boss warren disappointed lucas chris situation mason explained confronting guy wasn pointing remarks directly chris lucas didn understand chris offended didn appreciation deep comments hurt chris storyline divided opinions viewers understanding lucas want confront warren chris mason said pleased viewers discussing storyline admitted appreciated sides actor said lucas wasn customer saying things didn understand chris point view story went saw lucas change respect chris grew mason added storyline showing understanding person coming willing change ideas months later warren returns garage lucas shows support chris defends chris meets befriends warren son blake oliver warren learns blake friends chris decides stop situation warren threatens kill chris stops spending time blake mason told week thinks shame chris blake continue friendship warren views soon clear chris warren clear mason added big happen end chris february digital_spy reported chris shocked realises romantic interest charity camp organised girlfriend georgia visits chris tent says makes chris believe making mason commented storyline believes straight especially girlfriend added funny moments lead big revelation long camp incident lets attraction chris better tries kiss chris explained hitting chris chris doesn kicks house doesn realise kiss means shocked chris kiss decide need tell georgia soon learn proposed georgia decide remain silent stop having heart broken punch september chris focus punch storyline kyle georgia joint night chris forced drunk caused scene shortly returned hit chris punch causing fall hit head rock kyle georgia found chris unconscious rushed hospital critical condition mason pleased given storyline explaining issue australia time said moral story little mistake dire consequences like think use story educate people word battling moment mason thought chris able forgive future long process deal fact life changed forever attack mason added chris difficulties accepting like attacked chris faced trouble suffered sudden seizure mason explained things changed chris attack seizure compounded fear struggling rest life chris worried developed like andrew doctors informed seizure temporary brain injury chris kept hospital overnight meant romantic plans partner hold turned hospital mason said time chris realises relationship told chris loved time departure years role mason decided leave neighbours chris departed march chris exit storyline saw decide time father child new_york told chris want new_york decided end relationship commented long time coming chris decided wants new_york staying chris departed november chris cameo appearance announce birth daughter storylines buying manual win girlfriend chris befriends chris joins basketball team later elected captain begins dating summer makes harry jealous andrew gets chris fired job local swimming pool throws party gets control things chris andrew helps job local gym summer annoyed chris andrew easily allows influenced school chris ends fight defends andrew concerned chris behaviour chris later tells confused andrew leading michael realise chris gay michael daughter spreads year student gay people believe summer rumours start affect chris comes class andrew realises chris feelings annoyed chris suspended school gets fight rival basketball captain parents find fight gay throw chris stays summer later breaks reveals struggling sexuality chris fault gay friendship stronger chris befriends helps summer fall receiving lower grades expected chris attending university gets job father george wants university george happy chris begins attending customer makes comments gay people makes chris feel uncomfortable warren son blake befriends chris father warren witnesses playing pool warns chris stay away blake chris later attacked working lucas takes hospital chris leaves getting rays later collapses perform emergency surgery chris breathing nurse assigned look chris chris later turns offer drink encourages spend time chris jealous goes date guy eventually manages ask chris begin dating encourages chris tell parents chris admits struggling worries father react chris chooses invite birthday party hosted family breaks chris tells parents relationship assure accepted car journey city chris friends find hiding boot car andrew pressures chris allowing sit summer lap argument andrew breaks arm loses control car crashes chris blames accident andrew father paul dennis tries sue police fine chris loses license months chris chris moves street chris frustrated feelings accept help goes promise open honest chris breaks chris suffers flashback crash damages car car return asks chris vehicles chris comes clean lucas calls police threatens chris gets rid boyfriend makes sexual advances chris georgia finds starts avoiding chris later chris befriends sees bullied amber develops crush chris forced tell happen chris begins dating competitive swimmer chris breaks hudson learns taking performance enhancing drugs chris hudson later hudson confesses running amber boyfriend chris refuses trouble sleeping chris gets sleeping pills kyle grandmother later find chris collapsed garden tells chris stop taking sleeping pills chris ignores advice starts chris series night stands gets warnings work new boss chris arrested punches spoke journalist chris hudson relationship drives chris prison hudson sort things hudson tells chris cut contact needed time prepare prison chris asks hudson relationship agrees chris keeps hudson secret parents angered inadvertently reveals secret mother later arrested theft chris learns gambling knew chris knee badly injured boyfriend stephen hill attacks undergoes surgery nurse suffers reaction chris frustrated hudson questions relationship feel decides ask drink later chris collapses complications surgery hospital tells hudson chris visit hudson appears distracted hudson asks seeing chris hudson breaks chris tells hudson lonely hudson want chris date guilt goodbye chris spends time begin dating relationship ends dog napoleon bites kyle dog refuses accept responsibility chris befriends asks father child chris replies needs time decide chris meets arrange picnic date chris shocked attacks drunk guy convinces second chance chris asks open time army afghanistan gets physical promises happen asks chris push opening ready georgia kyle joint night chris punched unseen hits head kyle georgia find rushed hospital placed induced coma later confesses punching chris chris wakes struggles remember words right weakened chris allowed leave hospital attend georgia kyle wedding discharged hospital chris chris decides return work garage unable work sent home chris later suffers seizure admitted hospital forced quit job longer handle workload injuries mother offers chris job manager persuades accept returns chris rejects offer father child confesses want children chris changes mind supports later helps chris need think idea thoroughly draw contract detailing child raised learn carriers spinal muscular chris tells find donor chris sees changes mind ahead couple weeks later calls chris tell pregnant chris plans visit new_york scan confesses banned states previously agrees help lift ban misses meeting chris accuses taking seriously returns visit chris decides wants split time new_york baby comes idea realises want different things break chris decides new_york leaves farewell party months later amber contacts chris video learning daughter chris introduce anne chris asks amber hello reception portrayal chris mason nominated popular new male talent awards mason won punch storyline character inclusion neighbours storyline received positive reaction public television critics lgbt websites chris coming episode broadcast august seen viewers australia said inclusion chris positive step juvenile audience added following gay kiss scandal home away test neighbours coming remains storyline chris news said simply dismiss gay character simply plot line denying significance especially enduring mainstream neighbours small reflection changing attitudes society praised neighbours focusing chris coming issue instead letting chris explode closet leave said chris coming praised way handled added decision play school viewers similar situation identifying storyline university film television professor said usually subscription television channels risks portraying storylines like chris added risk taking entertainment possible audience attitudes changed commercial networks like reflect holy soap said chris memorable moment announcing entire class gay website said found humorous neighbours emphasizes gentleman chris compared andrew said like saying nice guy girlfriend gay television usually case hoped chris relegated monitoring relationship andrew summer having romance later said neighbours fairly decent job chris coming story wished viewers got chris thoughts feelings situation affected people added like chris isn perfect kid shows tend gay teens near saints instead fairly average kid makes mistakes like starting fight basketball game july revealed seen comments people thinking lucas chris paired opined hint romance wondered people assumed gay character shares scene guy revealed liked chris lucas mentor relationship writer commented introduction chris father said delighted chris finally getting drama pretty realistic added nice father son dynamic play feeling lot chris dad issues stem fact son gay hope issues writing said love chris boyfriend guy mason revealed positive reaction character viewers receiving mail people similar experiences appreciate neighbours added interesting lot feedback fact character coming wasn warm experience rough spots appreciated authenticity story think comes character storylines based people real life experiences branded token gay added good neighbours having gay character listening britney_spears inside soap staff said wait chris added high time boyfriend chris storyline sun herald wrote good neighbours having ongoing gay character explore interesting issues
Chris Pappas (Neighbours)