Henry Ramsay (also Mitchell) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Craig McLachlan.
Following the departure of Peter O'Brien (Shane Ramsay), producers began a search for a new "hunk" to keep the female viewers interested.
I thought, if I can make them fall in love with me and tell some funny stories, what I lack in technical, you know, ability they might think, "Oh, no, the kid's got something.
[5] However, the owner of the network had tried to make an offer for MGM studios and when it fell through he fled Australia and McLachlan's new contract was cancelled.
"[9] In December 2014, McLachlan announced that he was unable to return as Henry for Neighbours' 30th anniversary due to scheduling conflicts and his involvement in The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
[10] However, McLachlan agreed to take part in the documentary special Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.
[11][12] Upon his arrival in Ramsay Street, Henry was described as "living under a cloud of suspicion" from the other neighbours after they learnt about his criminal record.
[14] This led to him being called the "Punk who turned Hunk" by John Kercher in his 1989 Neighbours: facts, features, interviews with your favourite TV stars book.
[15] He added "he always has a head full of plots and schemes which rarely pay off, but we are led to believe that beneath Henry's flirtatious banter there lies a guy who is genuinely lovable".
Upon his eventual release in 1987, Henry decides to go to his mother's house in Erinsborough after she pays off a gambling debt he racked up while in prison.
After struggling to find a job due to his criminal record, Henry takes over Shane's gardening business when he leaves Erinsborough.
After Charlene's wedding to Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan), Henry and Madge change their surnames from Mitchell to Ramsay after Fred's debts begin to be passed on to them.
Henry dates both Sue Parker (Kate Gorman) and Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) before falling for Sally Wells (Rowena Mohr).
Henry buys a metal detector after his grandfather Dan (Syd Conabere) tells him there is gold in the creek at the bottom of the Ramsay garden.
Henry finds a gun in Mrs. Mangel's (Vivean Gray) garden that belonged to her estranged son, Joe (Mark Little).
Henry helps Mrs Mangel's granddaughter Jane Harris (Annie Jones) track Joe down.
The couple find it difficult to be alone together, especially as Bronwyn's sister Sharon Davies (Jessica Muschamp) is staying with her and Harold's daughter Kerry (Linda Hartley) and granddaughter Sky (Miranda Fryer) have moved into the Ramsay house.
[19] In a 1990 poll ran by Woman magazine, readers voted McLachlan as the top male soap actor for his portrayal of Henry.
[21] Entertainment website Virgin Media hosted a special feature on 'retro soap hunks', profiling select fictional characters they believed were popular.
[23] Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture gave Henry a four out of five for his contribution to Neighbours, during a feature called "A guide to recognising your Ramsays and Robinsons".
[24] Deller said "Long before Toadie, Ramsay Street's favourite DJ, prankster and most frequently caught in the nude resident was poodle-permed Henry (although, arguably before him it was Clive Gibbons).