Other storylines explored a friendship with Stonefish Rebecchi (Anthony Engleman), a career as a handyman and later, coffee chain salesman, and marriage to Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell).

In 1994, the Neighbours' storyliners decided to introduce the "solid" Kennedy family as they felt that they needed to take the show back to its roots when it seemed that all the houses on Ramsay Street were populated with misfits and distant relatives.

[1] McNair joined the cast as eldest sibling Malcolm, brother to Libby (Kym Valentine) and Billy (Jesse Spencer).

[1] In a bid to increase ratings, producers plotted a Romeo and Juliet-style romance between Malcolm and Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert).

"[6] Malcolm was initially shown to be attracted to Bianca Zanotti (Annie Gagliardi), but when he makes a romantic advance, she slaps him and he turns to Danni for comfort.

[7] The relationship continues to develop quickly, and is soon tested by a pregnancy scare after Malcolm and Danni forget to use contraception while they spend the night at a hotel.

[4] The pair later live with Malcolm's best friend Stonefish Rebecchi (Anthony Engleman) after they struggle with the rent, and his mother also comes to stay.

[2] Malcolm decided to go travelling, shortly after he discovered his girlfriend Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell) was having an affair with Darren.

Malcolm found it "tough" to forgive Catherine, as he was hurt by her betrayal, but he eventually agreed to her offer and they reunited as they left the country.

[13] Malcolm is no longer easygoing, instead he has become a ruthless entrepreneur and has his eyes on Harold Bishop's (Ian Smith) coffee shop.

He comes back to Erinsborough to open up a franchise, and he thinks that Harold's coffee shop is the perfect venue to launch it.

Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) is the first to notice that Malcolm's ego "has grown to the size of Anson's Corner" and his reasons for returning are not all personal.

McNair revealed "Mal gets this phone call, and from the tone of his voice, it's clear he's under pressure from London to close the coffee shop deal.

[14] McNair returned again in 2004 and 2005, where he joined many former cast members reprising their roles for the show's 20th anniversary episode, "Friends for Twenty Years".

"[15] During an interview with Digital Spy, McNair explained that Malcolm returns to Ramsay Street to see his parents after sensing that there is a problem between them.

[18] McNair revealed that he thinks Malcolm does have what it takes to get things back on track for his parents as he has a lot of compassion and maturity to deal with both sides of the story.

[20] Due to his father's history of infidelity, TV Week said Malcolm proves to be "a chip off the old block" when he kisses Jade.

His return was incorporated into a week of flashback episodes designed to showcase to viewers stories that occurred whilst Neighbours had ceased broadcasting.

Malcolm gets a part-time job at a local surf shop and, after passing his HSC, enrolls at Eden Hills University to study Human Movement.

The police decide to stage a stakeout, which results in a shootout that leaves Cody Willis (Peta Brady) dead.

Malcolm briefly dates Debbie Martin (Marnie Reece-Wilmore) and decides to leave university to work as a handyman for Sam Kratz (Grieve).

Malcolm returns to Erinsborough five years later, to meet his new nephew, Ben (Noah Sutherland) and to find a suitable location for Cuppa Diem's first Australian branch.

Cuppa Diem remove Malcolm from the Coffee Shop takeover job because it was taking too long to secure the deal.

Malcolm catches up with both Lou and Toadfish Rebecchi and notices Andrew Robinson (Jordan Smith) renting his house out to backpackers.

Malcolm tells Toadie about Andrew's scheme and then warns Summer Hoyland (Jordy Lucas) to end it, before she gets his parents into trouble.

Jade tells Malcolm that her sister, Sonya (Eve Morey), and Kyle Canning know about their affair and she is leaving.

The following day, as revealed in a flashback, Malcolm discovers that his half-sister, Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall), is secretly in town and he agrees to keep it from Karl and Susan.

"[29] In 1996, the BBC censored the programme, when it edited out scenes involving Karl agonising over Malcolm's sexual activity with Danni.

[30] The Daily Mirror said that "things were looking up" for Malcolm when he started dating Shona (Bryony Price) and branded him as "the heartthrob handyman.

"[32] Michael Cregana of Inside Soap called Malcolm "the prodigal son" and said he was a "rotter" when he tried to get his hands on the Coffee Shop.