Jenny Harrison (character)
Encyclopedia
Jenny Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. She was portrayed by Maggie Harper and was part of the original cast.
(Karl Burnett
).
. Jenny's ex-husband Barry returned to town late in 1992 and Jenny reconciled with him. However viewers quickly discovered why Jenny had left Barry in the first place when Barry beat Jenny up. Jenny made the decision to kick him out and Jenny told Nick that the real reason why she and Barry had divorced was because Barry had regularly beat her when they were married. Nick and Jenny later fell out when Nick became involved with a punk girl named Serena Hughes.
In 1993 Jenny developed a crush on Michael and made several attempts to date him but this was thwarted when Michael got back together with his ex wife Alex
. Jenny still voted for Michael however when Bruce Warner attempted a takeover of the hospital. Jenny started to get on with Steve
's father Declan but he was more attracted to Carrie
and ended up marrying her. Jenny did soon get together with Chris
' younger brother, Guy
. However Guy was already in a steady relationship with Meredith
and this scandal shocked the hospital and turned many against the usually popular Jenny. Meredith forgave Jenny however and invited her to her leaving party. Towards the end of the year, Nick and Jenny's lives were rocked with a bombshell by a boy named Adam Brady, who claimed he was Jenny's real son! Adam appeared and claimed that he and Nick were born on the same day in 1976 at the same hospital and that they were mixed up as babies.
In 1994, Nick suffered a huge identity crisis after Adam Brady's shock introduction to his life claiming they were swapped at birth. Jenny accepted this but preferred Nick in her life. Nick adopted the persona of Slash, a leather wearing rebel. Jenny was devastated when he ran away from home and hid in the Toroa. Nick soon returns home and forgives his mother. The two decide to embrace Adam into their lives but are shocked when he turns out to be delusional and not Jenny's son at all. Nick is pleased to have his mother back. Johnny moved in with Jenny after falling out with Ellen and they shared a kiss. He left but returned later in the year and he and Jenny began a relationship. At the end of 1994, Jenny was shocked to learn she was pregnant.
knew about at first. Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting Johnny to return to her. However Jenny eventually discovered the affair and broke up with Johnny once and for all. Jenny was shocked when she learnt Nick had misplaced Ramonas baby.
The mysterious Dr. Ian Seymour arrived in Ferndale and after Jenny had overcome her cancer, they began a relationship. Nick suspected Ian of being dodgy, causing a tense Christmas dinner.
In 1998 Jenny received news that her fugitive husband Dr. Ian Seymour had apparently drowned and was devastated. However, as jenny's son Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett) shot a short film at Ian Seymour's old house with Minnie Crozier and James Thornton, a number of spooky things began happening. Soon enough it was revealed that Ian had faked his death. Ian tried to convince Jenny to run away with him and she was willing to go. However Nick saw Ian and the two had a confrontation which ended up with Ian almost drowning Nick in the pool! When Jenny learned that Ian had almost killed her son, she informed the police, but Ian managed to escape once again. Jenny soon became disillusioned with the health system and was delighted to see good friend Marj return to the clinic. Marj offered her a job as her personal assistant, Jenny soon agreed and left Ferndale.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. She was portrayed by Maggie Harper and was part of the original cast.
Creation
Shortland Street sought to reflect the growing numbers of single parent families so Michael's secretary Jenny Harrison (Maggie Harper) was made a solo mother to her teenaged son NickNick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
(Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett is a New Zealand actor born 27 February 1976 best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on the popular New Zealand soap Shortland Street in 1992...
).
1992-1994
Jenny was introduced as hard working personal assistant to CEO Michael McKenna and mother to teenager NickNick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
. Jenny's ex-husband Barry returned to town late in 1992 and Jenny reconciled with him. However viewers quickly discovered why Jenny had left Barry in the first place when Barry beat Jenny up. Jenny made the decision to kick him out and Jenny told Nick that the real reason why she and Barry had divorced was because Barry had regularly beat her when they were married. Nick and Jenny later fell out when Nick became involved with a punk girl named Serena Hughes.
In 1993 Jenny developed a crush on Michael and made several attempts to date him but this was thwarted when Michael got back together with his ex wife Alex
Alex McKenna (character)
Alexandra "Alex" McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Liddy Holloway from 1993 until 1995 and again for a guest role in 2002.-Creation and casting:...
. Jenny still voted for Michael however when Bruce Warner attempted a takeover of the hospital. Jenny started to get on with Steve
Steve Mills (Character)
Steve Mills was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Andrew Binns and was part of the original core cast....
's father Declan but he was more attracted to Carrie
Carrie Burton
Carrie Kennedy was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Lisa Crittenden and was part of the original cast.-1992:...
and ended up marrying her. Jenny did soon get together with Chris
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
' younger brother, Guy
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
. However Guy was already in a steady relationship with Meredith
Meredith Fleming
Dr. Meredith Fleming was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portaryed by Stephanie Wilkin. She was part of original cast and the shows first lesbian relationship.-1992-1993:...
and this scandal shocked the hospital and turned many against the usually popular Jenny. Meredith forgave Jenny however and invited her to her leaving party. Towards the end of the year, Nick and Jenny's lives were rocked with a bombshell by a boy named Adam Brady, who claimed he was Jenny's real son! Adam appeared and claimed that he and Nick were born on the same day in 1976 at the same hospital and that they were mixed up as babies.
In 1994, Nick suffered a huge identity crisis after Adam Brady's shock introduction to his life claiming they were swapped at birth. Jenny accepted this but preferred Nick in her life. Nick adopted the persona of Slash, a leather wearing rebel. Jenny was devastated when he ran away from home and hid in the Toroa. Nick soon returns home and forgives his mother. The two decide to embrace Adam into their lives but are shocked when he turns out to be delusional and not Jenny's son at all. Nick is pleased to have his mother back. Johnny moved in with Jenny after falling out with Ellen and they shared a kiss. He left but returned later in the year and he and Jenny began a relationship. At the end of 1994, Jenny was shocked to learn she was pregnant.
1995-1996
In 1995 Jenny decided that she did not want to have another child and had an abortion, much to her son Nick and lover Johnny's dismay. Johnny grew closer to his estranged wife, Ellen, once again and soon they were having an affair behind Jenny's back, a fact that only SamSam Aleni
Sam Aleni was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Rene Naufahu and was part of the original cast.-1992-1993:...
knew about at first. Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting Johnny to return to her. However Jenny eventually discovered the affair and broke up with Johnny once and for all. Jenny was shocked when she learnt Nick had misplaced Ramonas baby.
The mysterious Dr. Ian Seymour arrived in Ferndale and after Jenny had overcome her cancer, they began a relationship. Nick suspected Ian of being dodgy, causing a tense Christmas dinner.
1997-1998
In 1997 Ian and Jenny prepared to get married, Ian's mother turned up and also threatened to expose him. One day as they were arguing, Ian's mother had a heart attack and collapsed. Ian stood there and watched his mother die. Ian and Jenny married shortly afterwards. Finally Ian was able to take over the clinic. Kirsty and David teamed up to expose Ian, and finally found the evidence that they were looking for. Kirsty confronted Ian, and he attempted to drown her in his swimming pool. Jenny saved Kirsty, but Ian fled the scene.In 1998 Jenny received news that her fugitive husband Dr. Ian Seymour had apparently drowned and was devastated. However, as jenny's son Nick Harrison (Karl Burnett) shot a short film at Ian Seymour's old house with Minnie Crozier and James Thornton, a number of spooky things began happening. Soon enough it was revealed that Ian had faked his death. Ian tried to convince Jenny to run away with him and she was willing to go. However Nick saw Ian and the two had a confrontation which ended up with Ian almost drowning Nick in the pool! When Jenny learned that Ian had almost killed her son, she informed the police, but Ian managed to escape once again. Jenny soon became disillusioned with the health system and was delighted to see good friend Marj return to the clinic. Marj offered her a job as her personal assistant, Jenny soon agreed and left Ferndale.