Neighbours

Ringo Brown has often drawn the short straw in life… and not just by being the youngest in a line of siblings named after The Beatles. As a kid, Ringo adored his older brother George and was devastated when George left home, changed his name to Frazer Yeats and left Ringo trapped with their small-minded parents and tedious brother Johnny.

Now that Ringo’s older he still resents George for leaving but also quietly worships him too. Ringo desperately wants to be a part of Frazer’s cool, edgy world which is why he turned up on Frazer’s doorstep and why he refused to take no for answer when Frazer tried to send him home. The way Ringo sees it, Frazer owes him for six years of unmitigated Brown-family boredom.

Although Frazer is fond of his little brother, his first instinct was to get rid of him. Firstly, Frazer (wrongly) saw Ringo as a guileless kid and had no interest in playing dad. Secondly, he didn’t want Johnny and/or his parents back in his life, let alone on his case for taking in Ringo. Finally, and most importantly, Frazer was terrified that Rosie would recognise Ringo as Johnny’s brother and all of his lies will be exposed. However, proving that professional gambler Frazer isn’t the only smooth operator in the family, Ringo was quick to pick up the situation and seamlessly joins the lie, introducing himself to Rosie as Rick Yeats.

Ringo faced another sending-home when Frazer had the accident that left him in a wheelchair. While Ringo just wanted to be there for his older brother, Frazer was busy pushing everyone he loved away. Terrified of becoming a burden, he insisted it was time for Ringo to go back. However, with a little help from Lolly, Ringo hid out in the General Store until Frazer was ready to welcome back to Number 30.

Ringo isn’t an academic by any means but he has a smart mouth and he’s clever at reading people and getting what he wants out of them. Just like Frazer, he’s a good boy at heart but he isn’t averse to bending the rules to score a win. With the world at large he’s cocky, cheeky and good-humoured. Older women love him, and he loves them, but when it comes to actual romance he’s never had much luck with the girls he fancies. Once Ringo gets a crush, he’s left nervous, tongue-tied and always likely to say completely the wrong thing.

It took him ages to start communicating clearly with intimidating Rachel Kinski but his maturity shone through when he ably supported her through Stingray’s death. Acknowledging Rachel’s need for space to grieve for her first love, Ringo handled the situation immaculately and was rewarded when he and Rachel began a genuine romance. However, things fizzled out and Ringo found himself attracted to housemate and part-time boss Carmella.

Their relationship was scandalous and Ringo resisted Carmella’s repeated attempts to put some distance between them. Their discomfort at being thrown together at Frazer and Rosie’s wedding paled into insignificance when their minibus crashed on the way home and Ringo was trapped in the wreckage. Genuinely believing that they might be the last words he ever heard, Carmella told Ringo she loved him.

As Ringo recovered he refused to believe that Carmella hadn’t meant what she said, leading to a dramatic public confrontation that left his hopes dashed and his ego crushed. Not long afterwards, Ringo began over-exercising and starving himself in an attempt to exert some control over his life. Quickly descending into the grip of a full blown eating disorder, Ringo was lucky to have the support of well-meaning friends and family. He remains in recovery.

The new coping skills that he learnt through his sessions with Counsellor Dan Fitzgerald were invaluable when Ringo was involved in the dance party roof collapse. Trapped in the rubble with Jessica Wallace, he held her hand as she died.

Ringo was profoundly affected by the experience but is slowly learning to move on and is thrilled at the prospect of becoming an uncle. Hopefully the future is looking a bit brighter for Ringo Brown.