Flynn Saunders
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Flynn Saunders is a fictional character from the Australian
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip to Kangaroo Point, N ...
'', played by
Martin Dingle-Wall Martin Dingle-Wall is an Australian actor, producer and screenwriter. He originated the role of Flynn Saunders on the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'' in 2001. He departed the show in 2002. Dingle-Wall has appeared in '' Satisfaction'', ...
from 2001 until 2002 and by
Joel McIlroy Joel McIlroy (born 8 August 1973 in Sydney) is an Australian actor, known for being the second actor to take on the role of Flynn Saunders, a character of the popular soap opera ''Home and Away''. McIlroy took over the role of Flynn in 2003 af ...
from 2003 to 2006 . He first appeared in the episode broadcast on 22 June 2001 and died on 13 February 2006.


Development

Flynn was a doctor and social worker, who arrived in
Summer Bay Summer Bay is the fictional coastal town featured in the Australian soap opera, ''Home and Away'', located in rural coastal New South Wales. Palm Beach, the northernmost beach in Sydney, is used for the show's exterior scenes to depict the B ...
after leaving the city in search of his missing sister
Ashley Saunders ''Home and Away'' is an Australian soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 2001, by order of first appearance. They were all introduced by the show's then exe ...
(Zoe Ella). When Flynn learns there is a job available at the local drop-in centre, he decided to take it and wait for his sister to pass through the town. Dingle-Wall told an ''
Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly soap opera and television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. The magazine is currently released every Tuesday. It covers storylines featured in British and Australian soap operas that are broadcast in t ...
'' writer, "Finding Ashley is number one on Flynn's agenda. She has a drug problem, and could have gone anywhere. But Flynn thinks she may have been heading for the Bay, and he's hoping to be there if, and when, she arrives."
Shelley Sutherland Michelle "Shelley" Sutherland (also Webb) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', portrayed by actress Paula Forrest. She first appeared in the episode airing on from 19 June 2000 and departed in the finale of ...
(
Paula Forrest Paula Forrest (born 14 July, c. 1965) an Australian actress, best known for playing the role of Shelley Sutherland on the long-running Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'' In ''Home and Away'' (1988), Forrest played the part of Shelley who ...
), who ran the centre, was pleased to have him working there. He got off to a bad start with
Shauna Bradley Shauna Bradley is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Kylie Watson. The actress received an audition for ''Home And Away'' in February 1999, but decided not to attend it as she did not th ...
(
Kylie Watson Kylie Watson (born 7 May 1978) is an Australian actress, interior designer and model. She is best known for playing Shauna Bradley in the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'' between 1999 and 2002. She is a former successful interior design ...
) and
Brodie Hanson Brodie Hanson is a fictional character in the Australian television soap opera ''Home and Away'', portrayed by actress Susie Rugg. She made her first appearance on 20 July 2000 and departed on 7 November 2002, she briefly returned in February 20 ...
(
Susie Rugg Brodie Hanson is a fictional character in the Australian television soap opera ''Home and Away'', portrayed by actress Susie Rugg. She made her first appearance on 20 July 2000 and departed on 7 November 2002, she briefly returned in February 20 ...
), whom he chased down the beach after mistaking her for Ashley.


Storylines

Flynn first arrives in the Bay to help Shelly Sutherland out at the Sarah McKay drop-in centre as a counsellor. It is soon revealed a few weeks after that he is also a trained doctor. Flynn soon falls for
Sally Fletcher Sally Fletcher (also Keating) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Kate Ritchie. She made her first screen appearance during the serial's pilot episode, which was broadcast on 17 January 1988. Sally ...
(
Kate Ritchie Katherine Leigh Ritchie is an Australian actress, radio presenter, and children's author. She is best known for her long-running role as original character Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera ''Home and Away'', for which she won two Go ...
) and on their first date, they share a picnic together. Shauna Bradley makes a pass at Flynn but he rebuffs her.
Jude Lawson Jude Lawson is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'' played by actor Ben Steel. He first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 30 October 2000 and departed on 12 September 2002. Storylines Jude is the e ...
(
Ben Steel Ben Steel () is an Australian actor and director who is most known for his regular role of Jude Lawson in Australian soap ''Home and Away''. Early life and acting training Steel's parents are Glenys Steel and Ray Steel. He has two older sis ...
), Shauna's boyfriend is upset and rides off on his motorcycle and crashes. When Jude is brought into hospital, Flynn works with fellow doctor Charlotte Adams (
Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen (born 1980), is a Hong Kong-born Australian actress. Early life and education Jacobsen was born in British Hong Kong. Her family moved to Australia when she was twelve years old. She is of Chinese, Portuguese, Norweg ...
) to save his life in surgery and they are successful. Flynn later searches for his younger sister, Ashley, when their father,
John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
(Bill Charlton), tells him she has gone missing. She is found living rough on the streets and after initial reluctance, returns home. Following a holiday, Flynn and Sally make engagement plans and marry in an outdoor ceremony conducted by
Donald Fisher Donald George Fisher (September 3, 1928 – September 27, 2009) was an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the Gap Inc. clothing stores with his wife Doris F. Fisher. Early life and education Fisher was born i ...
(
Norman Coburn Norman Coburn (born 6 March 1937) is an Australian former actor, playwright and writer best known for his television serial and soap opera roles. He started his early career in theatre, film and television in the United Kingdom in the mid-1950s. ...
). In 2004, The couple swap houses with
Beth Hunter Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Hunter (also Walters and Sutherland) is a fictional character from the Australian Seven Network, Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Clarissa House. She made her first on-screen appearance on 17 April 2003 ...
(
Clarissa House Clarissa may refer to: * Clarissa (given name), a female given name * ''Clarissa; or, The History of a Young Lady'', a novel by Samuel Richardson * ''Clarissa'' (film), a 1941 German film * ''Clarissa'' (TV series), a British television drama ser ...
) and move back into Summer Bay House, Sally's childhood home and take over the running of the caravan park. They then welcome the arrival of their first child, Pippa (Tameka and Bojana Main) via friend and surrogate
Leah Patterson Leah Patterson (also Poulos and Patterson-Baker) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Ada Nicodemou. She made her screen debut during the episode broadcast on 22 March 2000. Leah is one of the long ...
(
Ada Nicodemou Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent. She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial '' Heartbreak High'' as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in '' Police Re ...
). Flynn and Sally take in homeless teenagers
Ric Dalby Eric "Ric" Dalby is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Mark Furze. He appeared in the series from 15 September 2004 until 24 July 2008. Furze was cast into the role after an audition a ...
(
Mark Furze Mark Furze (born 7 May 1986) is an Australian actor and musician. Career Furze starred in several productions by the Orange Theatre Company, playing the lead role in a version of ''Oliver!'' aged 10. His first TV appearance was in the childre ...
) and
Cassie Turner Cassandra "Cassie" Turner is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Sharni Vinson. She debuted on-screen during an episode that aired on 18 March 2005. Vinson originally auditioned for t ...
(
Sharni Vinson Sharni Vinson (born 22 July 1983) is an Australian and American actress and dancer. She is known for her roles in the television soap opera ''Home and Away'', and in the films '' Step Up 3D'' (2010), ''You're Next'' (2011) and ''Bait 3D'' (201 ...
) and they form a close bond with them. In late 2005, Flynn is diagnosed with terminal skin cancer which has spread to other areas of his body and is told he only has three months to live. After deciding against
chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...
, Flynn faces a tough moment when he tells Sally that he wants to take his own life, in order to save himself the pain and humiliation of dying a slow death but Flynn realises how precious his final weeks are and decides to die naturally. When Flynn encounters runaway
Belle Taylor Belle Taylor is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Jessica Tovey. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 3 February 2006. Belle's storylines included finding her birth mother, ...
(
Jessica Tovey Jessica Tovey (born 10 November 1987) is an Australian actress. Tovey graduated from the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and has made appearances for various drama companies. She is best known for her role of Belle Taylor on the lo ...
), she knocks him over while fleeing, exacerbating his weakened state. Flynn spends his final hours reminiscing with Sally, Ric, Cassie and
Alf Stewart Alfred James "Alf" Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Ray Meagher. Alf was created as one of the show's eighteen original characters. Meagher auditioned for the role of Tom Fletcher, befo ...
(
Ray Meagher Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Ste ...
) over photos and memories. Flynn shares one last dance with Sally before dying in her arms.


Reception

For his portrayal of Flynn, Dingle-Wall received a nomination for the
Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent The Silver Logie for Most Popular New Male Talent was an award presented at the Australian TV Week Logie Awards. It was first awarded at the Logie Awards of 1999, 41st Annual TV Week Logie Awards ceremony, held in 1999. The award is given to hon ...
and the Inside Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2002. While McIlroy earned a nomination for Most Popular Actor at the
Logie Awards of 2006 The 48th Annual TV Week Logie Awards was held on Sunday 7 May 2006 at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, and broadcast on the Nine Network. The ceremony was hosted by Bert Newton, Ray Martin, Daryl Somers, Lisa McCune and Georgie Parker. The nom ...
for his portrayal of the character. McIlroy also received three nominations at the 2006 ''Inside Soap'' Awards for Best Actor, Best Couple (shared with Ritchie), and Best Storyline for Flynn's death. The episode featuring Flynn's death won writer,
Sam Meikle Sam Meikle (born 1971) is an Australian writer and director best known for his work in television. He has won several Australian Writers' Guild Awards. He is the son of actor Richard Meikle. Filmography Television *''Home and Away'' as Jame ...
, the
Australian Writers' Guild Award The AWGIE Awards are annual awards given by the Australian Writers' Guild (AWG), for excellence in screen, television, stage, and radio writing. History The AWGIE awards were conceived in 1967, with the first event being held in 1968. Bettina ...
for Best Episode in a Television Serial in 2006. Flynn's death was also voted the second most gripping storyline in a ''TV Week'' reader's poll in December 2006. An ''Inside Soap'' columnist branded the character "handsome" and "dashing". Of the recast, Matt Bramford of ''
What's on TV ''What's on TV'' is a weekly television listings magazine published by Future PLC. Overview ''What's on TV'' is a weekly UK television magazine. It publishes features, TV listings, news and gossip from soap operas, as well as puzzles and com ...
'' stated "It's quite obvious to everyone that ''Home and Away'' didn't even TRY to find someone who looked like Martin Dingle-Wall when he left Summer Bay in 2002. Instead they cast Joel McIlroy..." Debi Enker of ''
The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'' thought Sally and Flynn's wedding "could well be the soap wedding of the year."


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Flynn Home and Away characters Fictional physicians in soap operas Television characters introduced in 2001 Fictional foster carers Fictional characters with cancer Fictional social workers Australian male characters in soap operas