Martin "Ash" Ashford | |||||||
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Home and Away character | |||||||
Portrayed by | George Mason | ||||||
Duration | 2014– | ||||||
First appearance | 27 October 2014 | ||||||
Introduced by | Lucy Addario | ||||||
Spin-off appearances |
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Classification | Present; regular | ||||||
Profile | |||||||
Occupation | Waiter Mechanic Garage co owner |
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Home | Pier Flat | ||||||
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Brothers | Luke Ashford |
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Sisters | Billie Ashford |
Nieces | Luc Patterson |
Martin "Ash" Ashford is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by George Mason. The character made his first screen appearance on 27 October 2014. When Mason auditioned he believed Ash to be a "great character" and moved from Melbourne to accept the role. Ash is characterised as a tough, ex-prisoner who has a backstory of criminal activity. He was sent to prison after committing a robbery with Dean Sanderson (Kevin Kiernan-Molloy), but he framed Ash as the sole perpetrator and turned his sister Billie (Tessa de Josselin) against him. He is introduced into the show as an old prison friend of established character Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke) and they soon embark on a journey into the Australian Outback in search of Billie. His storyline continued to be centric to Brax's story. The show later developed a relationship storyline with Denny Miller (Jessica Grace Smith). Critics have stated that the character quickly assumed the role of the show's "hunk" and "bad boy".
New Zealand born George Mason had been residing in Melbourne when he secured an audition for the role. He recalled thinking that Ash was a "great character". He was about to sign a long-term lease on a property in the city when he discovered he had been awarded the role. Mason's casting was announced on 30 July 2014, after he was spotted filming with the cast and crew at Palm Beach in Sydney. A Woman's Day reporter commented that Mason would "bring an explosive plot line" to the show. Ash comes to Summer Bay looking for Darryl Braxton (Steve Peacocke). Mason's agent later confirmed that he would be playing Martin Ashford who goes by the nickname "Ash". The character was introduced on-screen during the episode broadcast on 27 October 2014.