Jesse McGregor
Encyclopedia
Jesse McGregor is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera
Home and Away
. The character was played by actor Ben Unwin
between 1996 and 2000 and again between 2002 and 2005.
(Tempany Deckert
), Shannon
(Isla Fisher
) and Curtis Reed
(Shane Ammann
) from a group of criminals. Jesse settles into the area and begins a relationship with Selina. Selina becomes suspicious when Chloe Richards
(Kristy Wright
) tells her Jesse mentioned the name Rachel as true love while under hypnosis. When confronted, Jesse reveals that Rachel (Kelly Glaister) is his daughter and he has not seen her in several years. When Jesse's ex-girlfriend Kylie Burton (Roslyn Oades) is arrested, he becomes Rachel's guardian. Jesse later moves in with Travis Nash
(Nic Testoni
) and Lachlan Fraser (Richard Grieve
, during this time Jesse goes into partnership with Alf Stewart
(Ray Meagher
) at his bait shop.
When Kylie returns, Jesse is reluctant to let Rachel go and plans to flee the state with her during the custody battle. After Selina and Irene flag down the bus, Jesse sees sense and returns for the hearing which he loses. Jesse is devastated when Selina dumps him for her former flame, Steven Matheson
(Adam Willits
).
After a few short flings, Kylie and Rachel reappear. Jesse and Kylie fall in love again and become engaged to be married. The event is marred when Kylie is arrested and later imprisoned. Tragedy strikes when Kylie dies in custody of a drug overdose, leaving a devastated Jesse to raise Rachel alone.
After the bait shop is burned to the ground and he accused for it, Jesse opens his own business - a garage. Jesse at first refuses to do any illegal work but is forced to when Mick O'Dwyer persistently threatens him. When constable Joel Nash
(David Woodley
) gets wind of this, Jesse and Mick flee and a high-speed car chase ensues. The cars crash and Joel is left trapped, Jesse acts quickly to save him but is nearly shot for his trouble. Jesse handcuffs Mick to the steering wheel and Joel lets him get away. After saying goodbye to Rachel and arranging for her to live with Joel and his family, Jesse flees into the night. Several months later, Jesse gives himself up and is sentenced to two years in prison. He is later joined by former housemate Vinnie Patterson
(Ryan Kwanten
) who is serving after being framed for fraud. Upon his release, Jesse makes a promise to Vinnie that he will look after his wife Leah Patterson-Baker
(Ada Nicodemou
).
(Lynne McGranger
) Hayley Smith (Bec Cartwright), Sally Fletcher
(Kate Ritchie
). However some other locals are not so keen on Jesse's presence in the area, Hayley's boyfriend Noah Lawson
(Beau Brady
) is immediately suspcious, Josh West (Daniel Collopy) takes an instant like to him and Leah's brother Alex Poulos
(Danny Raco
) is initially wary of him. During his first month back in the bay, Jesse has two brushes with the law when he beats up Jason Edwards (Benj Daddario) and Kelvin Matthews (James Donnellan), respectively in two incidents involving harrassment of Alex and Hayley. Unable to control his anger, Jesse turns to Flynn Saunders
(Martin Dingle-Wall
) for help. Jesse later visits Rachel in Queensland
and tries to get her to return home with him. After He realises she is happy with the Nashes, Jesse returns to the Bay alone.
Jesse develops romantic feelings for Leah and they become closer when news of Vinnie's apparent death in a prison fire is broadcast. Jesse proposes and Leah rejectes him at first but later agrees.
When Jesse's former flame, Angie Russell
(Laurie Foell
) is found dead in her home, he is one of many suspects but is cleared. The real culprit later revealed as her son, Dylan (Brett Hicks-Maitland)
Leah and Jesse's relationship is tested when Sally and Flynn ask Leah to be a surrogate mother for them. After learning Leah and Flynn shared a brief kiss, Jesse's jealousu gets the better of him and he and Leah break up.
Hayley's brother Will (Zac Drayson
) retuns to Summer Bay for Hayley and Noah's wedding, He asks Will for permission for him and his with Gypsy (Kimberly Cooper) to officially adopt Rachel. Jesse is reluctant at first but agreees to it.
Jesse has brief relationships with Alf's granddaughter, Martha MacKenzie and Angie's cousin Josie but neither last very long.
When Chloe returns to town for Alf's 60th birthday party, Jesse's old feelings from a kiss they shared several years earlier resurface but when he makes is rebuffed by Chloe who only wants to be friends and he leaves the party early. After Chloe is killed in a hit and run car collision, Jesse realizes he was the driver and responsible for her death. He hands himself into the police. Alf and Irene are both disgusted with him and after an emotional goodbye with, Sally, Leah and Martha, Jesse is transferred to a city jail. It is unknown how long Jesse is sentenced to in prison.
.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian 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,...
Home and Away
Home and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
. The character was played by actor Ben Unwin
Ben Unwin
Ben Unwin is an Australian actor. He is best known for portraying the character Jesse McGregor on the Australian soap opera Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and 2002 to 2005....
between 1996 and 2000 and again between 2002 and 2005.
1996-2000
Jesse is first seen when he rescues Selina RobertsSelina Roberts
Selina Roberts is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Tempany Deckert. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 30 March 1994. Deckert was given the role of Selina after her third audition for the show. In 1996, Deckert...
(Tempany Deckert
Tempany Deckert
Tempany Deckert is an Australian actress and author. She is best known for her role on popular soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:...
), Shannon
Shannon Reed
Shannon Reed is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Isla Fisher. She made her first on screen appearance on 16 September 1994. She departed on 6 August 1997.- Character development :Shannon was bisexual...
(Isla Fisher
Isla Fisher
Isla Lang Fisher is an actress and author. She began acting on Australian television, on the short-lived soap opera Paradise Beach before playing Shannon Reed on the soap opera Home and Away...
) and Curtis Reed
Curtis Reed (Home and Away)
Curtis Reed is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Shane Ammann. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 16 September 1994 and departed on 15 April 1997.-Character development:...
(Shane Ammann
Shane Ammann
Shane Allen Ammann, born 8 October 1979 in Switzerland is an Australian Television actor most famous for his role as Curtis Reed in Home and Away from 1994 until he decided to leave the series in 1997. Amman also starred in short-lived soap opera Paradise Beach.-External links:...
) from a group of criminals. Jesse settles into the area and begins a relationship with Selina. Selina becomes suspicious when Chloe Richards
Chloe Richards
Chloe Richards is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kristy Wright. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 28 June 1995. Chloe left in 1999, making a short return stint in 2005 when she died from the resulting injuries of a car...
(Kristy Wright
Kristy Wright
Kristy Wright is an Australian actress.Wright was born in Sydney, Australia, the oldest child in her family, with three stepbrothers and two half-sisters. Hoping to win a contest for acting lessons, she sent in her photograph and ended up with a full year's paid tuition...
) tells her Jesse mentioned the name Rachel as true love while under hypnosis. When confronted, Jesse reveals that Rachel (Kelly Glaister) is his daughter and he has not seen her in several years. When Jesse's ex-girlfriend Kylie Burton (Roslyn Oades) is arrested, he becomes Rachel's guardian. Jesse later moves in with Travis Nash
Travis Nash
Travis Nash is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by actor Nic Testoni. He made his first on screen appearance on 10 April 1995 and departed on 11 August 1999.-Backstory:...
(Nic Testoni
Nic Testoni
Nicolas John Testoni is an Australian actor and producer most notable for his Logie Award winning role of Travis Nash in Home and Away from 1995 to 1999. Testoni wrote the film Mr. Patterns depicting the life of Geoffrey Bardon, which was released by his production company "Reel World Productions"...
) and Lachlan Fraser (Richard Grieve
Richard Grieve
Richard Grieve is an actor, currently living in England. He was born in Hong Kong. He has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre, but is perhaps best known for his roles in the British soap Emmerdale, and two Australian television series, Neighbours and Home and...
, during this time Jesse goes into partnership with Alf Stewart
Alf Stewart
Alfred Douglas "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ray Meagher. The character debuted on-screen during the serial's pilot episode on 17 January 1988...
(Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher
Ray Meagher surname pronouned "Marr" , is a veteran Australian character actor. He has appeared regularly in Australian film and television since the mid 1970s, and is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, as Alf Stewart on Home and Away, having played the...
) at his bait shop.
When Kylie returns, Jesse is reluctant to let Rachel go and plans to flee the state with her during the custody battle. After Selina and Irene flag down the bus, Jesse sees sense and returns for the hearing which he loses. Jesse is devastated when Selina dumps him for her former flame, Steven Matheson
Steven Matheson
Steven "Stevo" Matheson is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Adam Willits. Steven was created by Alan Bateman as one of the serial's original characters and he first appeared in the pilot episode. Willits received the role after being one of...
(Adam Willits
Adam Willits
Adam Willits is an Australian actor, best known for being an original cast member of the television soap opera Home and Away as Steven Matheson from 1988 to 1991...
).
After a few short flings, Kylie and Rachel reappear. Jesse and Kylie fall in love again and become engaged to be married. The event is marred when Kylie is arrested and later imprisoned. Tragedy strikes when Kylie dies in custody of a drug overdose, leaving a devastated Jesse to raise Rachel alone.
After the bait shop is burned to the ground and he accused for it, Jesse opens his own business - a garage. Jesse at first refuses to do any illegal work but is forced to when Mick O'Dwyer persistently threatens him. When constable Joel Nash
Joel Nash
Joel Nash is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. Portrayed by actor David Woodley, he was a regular on the show from 1998 until 2000.-Character's background:...
(David Woodley
David Woodley
David Eugene Woodley was an American football player and quarterback for Louisiana State University , the National Football League's Miami Dolphins , and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
) gets wind of this, Jesse and Mick flee and a high-speed car chase ensues. The cars crash and Joel is left trapped, Jesse acts quickly to save him but is nearly shot for his trouble. Jesse handcuffs Mick to the steering wheel and Joel lets him get away. After saying goodbye to Rachel and arranging for her to live with Joel and his family, Jesse flees into the night. Several months later, Jesse gives himself up and is sentenced to two years in prison. He is later joined by former housemate Vinnie Patterson
Vinnie Patterson
Vincent 'Vinnie' Patterson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He made his first on-screen appearence on 14 July 1997 and departed on 1 March 2002...
(Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Kwanten
Ryan Christian Kwanten is an Australian actor. He played Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002 on the Australian soap-opera Home and Away...
) who is serving after being framed for fraud. Upon his release, Jesse makes a promise to Vinnie that he will look after his wife Leah Patterson-Baker
Leah Patterson-Baker
Leah Helena Adara Patterson-Baker is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Ada Nicodemou. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 22 March 2000...
(Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou
Ada Nicodemou is a Greek Cypriot-born Australian actress, best known for her role as Leah Patterson-Baker in the soap opera Home and Away.-Early life:Nicodemou was born in Larnaca, Cyprus. She has been an Australian resident since 1987....
).
2002-05
Jesse returns to Summer Bay and is welcomed by old friends Irene RobertsIrene Roberts
Irene Roberts is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lynne McGranger. She was previously played by actress Jacqui Phillips from 1991 until 1992 when McGranger took over the role. Irene was originally a recurring character, in 1993 McGranger...
(Lynne McGranger
Lynne McGranger
Lynne McGranger is an Australian actress best known for her role as Irene Roberts on soap opera Home and Away. She is the second-longest serving cast member as she joined in 1992 in the show at the moment, taking over from Jacqui Phillips.-Life and career:McGranger was originally a primary school...
) Hayley Smith (Bec Cartwright), Sally Fletcher
Sally Fletcher
Sally Louise Fletcher is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Kate Ritchie...
(Kate Ritchie
Kate Ritchie
Katherine "Kate" Ritchie is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988–2008...
). However some other locals are not so keen on Jesse's presence in the area, Hayley's boyfriend Noah Lawson
Noah Lawson
Noah Lawson is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Beau Brady. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 6 September 2000.-Characterization:...
(Beau Brady
Beau Brady
Beau Brady is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Noah Lawson on the drama Home and Away.-Biography:Brady was educated at Oakhill College in Castle Hill, Sydney....
) is immediately suspcious, Josh West (Daniel Collopy) takes an instant like to him and Leah's brother Alex Poulos
Alex Poulos
Alexi "Alex" Poulos is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Danny Raco. He made his first on screen appearance on 26 February 2001 and departed in 2004...
(Danny Raco
Danny Raco
Danny Raco is an Australian actor and director, known for his television work.Raco was born in Rome, Italy. He got his start playing Marco Vialli on the teenage soap opera Heartbreak High from 1998 to 1999. In 2001, he joined the cast of a primetime soap opera, Home and Away, playing Alex Poulos...
) is initially wary of him. During his first month back in the bay, Jesse has two brushes with the law when he beats up Jason Edwards (Benj Daddario) and Kelvin Matthews (James Donnellan), respectively in two incidents involving harrassment of Alex and Hayley. Unable to control his anger, Jesse turns to Flynn Saunders
Flynn Saunders
Dr Flynn Saunders is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Joel McIlroy. The character was originally played by Martin Dingle-Wall from 2001 until 2002. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 July 2001....
(Martin Dingle-Wall
Martin Dingle-Wall
Martin Dingle-Wall is an Australian actor, best known for being the first to play the role of Flynn Saunders on the Australian soap opera Home and Away in 2002...
) for help. Jesse later visits Rachel in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and tries to get her to return home with him. After He realises she is happy with the Nashes, Jesse returns to the Bay alone.
Jesse develops romantic feelings for Leah and they become closer when news of Vinnie's apparent death in a prison fire is broadcast. Jesse proposes and Leah rejectes him at first but later agrees.
When Jesse's former flame, Angie Russell
Angie Russell
Angela "Angie" Russell was a fictional character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Laurie Foell from 2002 until the character's death in 2003.Angie subsequently appeared as a ghost in her daughter Tasha's dreams....
(Laurie Foell
Laurie Foell
Laurie Foell is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayal of both Angela "Angie" Russell and her cousin Josie, on the successful Australian television soap opera Home and Away. Foell also starred as Dr...
) is found dead in her home, he is one of many suspects but is cleared. The real culprit later revealed as her son, Dylan (Brett Hicks-Maitland)
Leah and Jesse's relationship is tested when Sally and Flynn ask Leah to be a surrogate mother for them. After learning Leah and Flynn shared a brief kiss, Jesse's jealousu gets the better of him and he and Leah break up.
Hayley's brother Will (Zac Drayson
Zac Drayson
Zac Drayson is an Australian actor.He is best known for the role of Will Smith, one of Irene Roberts' many foster children in the soap opera Home and Away...
) retuns to Summer Bay for Hayley and Noah's wedding, He asks Will for permission for him and his with Gypsy (Kimberly Cooper) to officially adopt Rachel. Jesse is reluctant at first but agreees to it.
Jesse has brief relationships with Alf's granddaughter, Martha MacKenzie and Angie's cousin Josie but neither last very long.
When Chloe returns to town for Alf's 60th birthday party, Jesse's old feelings from a kiss they shared several years earlier resurface but when he makes is rebuffed by Chloe who only wants to be friends and he leaves the party early. After Chloe is killed in a hit and run car collision, Jesse realizes he was the driver and responsible for her death. He hands himself into the police. Alf and Irene are both disgusted with him and after an emotional goodbye with, Sally, Leah and Martha, Jesse is transferred to a city jail. It is unknown how long Jesse is sentenced to in prison.
Reception
For his portrayal of Jesse, Unwin was nominated for "Most Popular New Talent" at the 1997 Logie Awards. In 1999, he received nominations for "Best Actor" and "Sexiest Male" from the Inside Soap AwardsInside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...
.