Martin "Ash" Ashford is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by George Mason.
When Mason auditioned he believed Ash to be a "great character" and moved from Melbourne to accept the role.
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.
Ash 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.
Critics have stated that the character quickly assumed the role of the show's "hunk" and "bad boy".
[2] A Woman's Day reporter commented that Mason would "bring an explosive plot line" to the show.
Prison has hardened him, made him wary and often suspicious, but it hasn’t dampened his spirit or his resolve to clear his name.
And it certainly hasn’t stopped him from having a wicked sense of humour and an almost hyperactive energy... he rarely sits still, and he’s hardly ever idle.Ash is portrayed as a tough male character that has had to survive prison.
[4] Mason told a TV Week reporter that Ash behaves like a "mystery man".
"[10] Ash's first storyline sees him heading into the Australian Outback with Brax in search of his sister Billie (Tessa de Josselin) and her violent boyfriend Dean Sanderson (Kevin Kiernan-Molloy).
Mason told Sarah Ellis (Inside Soap) that "Billie is the only family Ash has left, and he feels they need to make amends now he's out of jail.
[13] Mason later told an Inside Soap reporter that there is no plan but they do find Sam and have their suspicions confirmed.
[14] Sveen added that with the evidence incriminating Brax, his lawyer advises him to accuse Ash of murdering Dean.
Sveen told Erin Miller (TV Week) that Ricky is "deeply wary" of Ash's continued presence.
Sophie Dainty of Digital Spy stated that "sparks fly" when they meet, adding that "the chemistry between the two is obvious.
[19] The show's producer Lucy Addario told TV Week's Downie that they had planned a romance storyline for Ash, "but in typical Summer Bay style, it won't be easy and things will get in the way.
Mason told Downie (TV Week) that Ash is understanding of her situation and "he knows he's walking on shaky ground with her.
When Brax loses his temper with his brother, Ash realises that he is not coping and urges him to open up to his family about his time inside.
He meets Denny and flirts with her, causing Brax to warn him off as she was dating his younger brother Casey before his death.
The duo are fooled and locked in a cellar by Neive Devlin (Jolene Anderson) who drugs Phoebe to create a career boosting scandal.
When Brax faces his court hearing Sam exposes that they took stolen money from Dean's hiding place.
When the money is found in Angelos, Ash is implicated in Dean's murder and arrested alongside Brax, but the latter takes the blame.
Brax survives and convinces Ash to let everyone think that he is dead so his friends and family will be safe from Gunno.
During Billie's trial, Ash is shocked when Zac and Charlotte's son, Hunter King (Scott Lee) confesses that he started the fire at Leah's house.
After he receives Billie's death certificate in the mail, Ash breaks down and Kat comforts him, leading to them having sex soon afterwards.
Ash tries to make it so that his niece will receive her late mother's money but must prove his brother Luke is dead first.
[31] Bianca La Cioppa from TV Week did not approve of Ash's flirtation with Denny because it was too soon after Casey's death.
[32] A writer from New Idea branded Mason a "cute newcomer" and named his on-screen coutnerpart a "tough and resilient" character.
[33] TV Week's Sharon Goldstein Hunt branded Ash "the Bay's newest bad boy and Brax's bestie".
"[35] Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap opined that Ash is "obviously no angel" and "there's not really much hope of him ever going straight" because of his connections to the Braxton family.