Madge Bishop
| Madge Bishop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Anne Charleston | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1986–92, 1996–2001, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 20 January 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 20 March 2015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Reg Watson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Reg Watson (1986) Stanley Walsh (1996) Jason Herbison (2015) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Madge Ramsay (maiden name) Madge Mitchell (1st married name) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Secretary (1986) Barmaid (1986, 1997) Coffee shop owner (1990–92, 1997–2001) Councillor (1990) Grease Monkeys manager (2000) Columnist (2001) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family | Ramsay |
|---|---|
| Father | Dan Ramsay |
| Mother | Edna Ramsay |
| Brothers |
Max Ramsay Tom Ramsay |
| Husband | Fred Mitchell (1966–87) Harold Bishop (1988–2001) |
| Sons | Henry Mitchell |
| Daughters | Charlene Mitchell |
| Stepsons | David Bishop |
| Stepdaughters | Kerry Bishop |
| Grandsons | Daniel Robinson |
| Granddaughters | Madison Robinson |
| Grandfathers | Jack Ramsay |
| Aunts | Maud Ramsay |
| Nephews |
Shane Ramsay Danny Ramsay |
| Nieces | Gemma Ramsay |
Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop (also Ramsay and Mitchell) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986. Madge was the main matriarch of the Ramsay family. She departed in 1992, before making a return in 1996. Madge died on 6 April 2001 from terminal pancreatic cancer. Charleston reprised the role for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations and returned on 4 March 2015.
Actress Anne Charleston was appearing in the television series Possession when she auditioned for Madge. A few days later, she received a phone call to say she had won the role. Charleston shortly became one of the show's most popular actors. Charleston quit Neighbours in 1992, but when she suffered financial difficulties following a failed lawsuit and debts, she returned in 1996. Of her return, Charleston said "When Neighbours asked me back, I didn't have any option. It was the only way to get back on my feet."
Virgin Media describe Madge as being "strong, hot headed and tough". They compare her to other characters stating: "the husky voiced one was the opposite of prim and proper Harold and more than a match for anyone who crossed her path, like Mrs Mangle with whom she had a long running rivalry.
In December 2000, it was announced that Charleston had decided to leave Neighbours for a second time and that she had already filmed her final scenes. The official Neighbours website said Charleston had left the set on 24 November and details of Madge's exit storyline were being kept secret, but the door was not left open for a future return. Of her departure, Charleston said "Leaving this time around is certainly very different to the last time. Although I thought the last time was also final, I am now leaving knowing that the door will be closed and I won't be going back. I'm happy with the way Madge has been written out - it's very strong and dramatic."
The writers decided to kill off the character as they realised that Madge would never intentionally leave Harold. Smith commented, "because of the way the two have been portrayed, the way they feel about each other, one couldn't just walk away from the other. It would never work." On-screen, Madge was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she contracted septicaemia shortly afterward. With Harold by her side, Madge died in her bed.
...
Wikipedia