Save Our Charlie! (Home and Away)

When Home and Away’s Charlie Buckton first arrived on our screens in 2008, she was a feisty, strong and capable woman. Even as we watched her mellow, she was still inspirational and pivotal to the show. She was opinionated and dedicated to her job and her family and friends.

Since the show decided to resume the relationship between Charlie and Angelo in 2009, the character that we came to know and love has changed dramatically - and not for the better. Currently, she is weak, submissive and has no personality or opinions of her own. It has made for awful viewing and no matter how many people seem to rant in as many forums as they can find, begging the show to bring back the old Charlie, nothing is done.

A character that was once so interesting and likeable, is now devoid of redeeming qualities and the character of Angelo has become unbearable. They are being pegged as the soap’s ‘golden couple’ but their relationship is horrific. It’s both dangerous and irresponsible for a programme watched by impressionable people, to pitch this as a positive relationship. So far, Angelo has been forgiven for all manner of lies and manipulation, a storyline involving him stalking Charlie was laughed off as ‘romantic comedy’ and we have also seen Charlie shrug off all her morals and legal duty by proposing to use illegal money to save her boyfriend’s business. And now spoilers have revealed that Angelo will be tempted to cheat on her and she will react by proposing that they move in together.

While Esther Anderson, the actress who plays her continues to be absoltuely outstanding, Charlie is completely unrecognisable from the character she used to be, a character that viewers had come to care about. She clings to Angelo like her life depends on it and her self-esteem is depleting further as each episode passes.

Should the show be presenting this situation as something negative to be escaped from, it would be interesting to watch. However, the insistence that this is a good relationship to be celebrated, is worrying and offensive. The show needs to fix things, stop portraying Charlie as a doormat and break up this damaging and awful pairing. It has a responsibility to explain that being treated in the way Charlie is being treated is not acceptable.

So many fans rant and rave about this, and they have done for a long time but are continually ignored. My hope would be that if enough people sign up, it can be presented to the producers of Home and Away and something can be changed. They created an amazing character in Charlie and it is sad that they have been so intent on destroying her.

Please, Home and Away, Save Our Charlie! Give her a backbone again, let her break free and start afresh with courage and determination. Use your programme to reach people that are or have been stuck in similar situations and encourage them. Let them know that they deserve better than being controlled by a partner. You could do so many good things with your show and you could reach so many people, if you would only try.