Matthew "Matt" Hancock is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Stephen Hunt.
In early 2001, the Neighbours scriptwriters decided to introduce some "new blood" to the show to fill the void left by the temporary departures of six regular characters.
[1] The writers created and introduced the five strong Hancock family,[1] with eldest son Matthew, or "Matt", becoming the first member to arrive,[2] shortly after the departure of Lance Wilkinson (Andrew Bibby).
[2] Neighbours marked Hunt's first television role and the actor relocated from Sydney to Melbourne for filming.
[6] A writer for the Herald Sun said Hunt was disappointed with the decision as he thought the family had great on screen chemistry.
"[7] In April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy reported Hunt would be reprising his role of Matt for Neighbours' 20th anniversary episode, which was broadcast in July of that year.
[9] Matt has a good relationship with his father, Evan (Nicholas Opolski), but not with his mother, Genevieve (Julie Campbell).
"[4] Hunt said that Matt becomes "quite obsessed" with Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) when he arrives in Ramsay Street.
[5][10] A reporter for the official Neighbours website wrote that Matt often received attention from girls, but "he lacks the maturity to keep up with most of them.
"[9] Matt becomes good friends with Felicity Scully (Holly Valance) and dates Laura Wallace (Fiona Choi).
[11] Hunt told a TV Week columnist, "Matt has developed a crush on Flick, but he hasn't made a move because she's going out with Joel Samuels (Daniel MacPherson).
"[11] The actor explained that Matt gets stage fright and realises that he can only perform if Felicity is around, luckily for him she agrees to help him out.
[11] Hunt commented that he was unsure if he could watch the scenes where Matt attempts to do one of Elvis' pelvic thrusts, calling them "a bit embarrassing".
[7] Hunt told Inside Soap's Jason Herbison "The barrister manages to talk Matt's part down, which means he probably won't go to jail.
"[7] The Hancock family sell their house to Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair) to fund the legal fees and they then decide to go.
Laura gets Matt a job as an Elvis impersonator and he asks Felicity Scully to be his Priscilla Presley for the shows.
After scoring a job at Moco with Flick's older sister Steph (Carla Bonner), Matt continues the Elvis gigs.
Matt helps Evan and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) chaperon the Year 12 camping trip.
He is interviewed by Terri Hall (Robyn Charlesworth) who tells him he will be charged with reckless driving and potentially manslaughter if Glen dies.
When the realisation sinks in that he may be going to prison and he sees a priest enter Glen's room, Matt flees the hospital and hides in a shack by the beach.
In June 2002, Matt came sixth in a poll run by Newsround to find viewer's favourite Neighbours character.
[14] A writer for Newsround called Matt a "heart-throb", while James Joyce of The Newcastle Herald branded him a "pin-up.
"[15] While reviewing the Hancock family's first episode, Jackie Brygel of the Herald Sun said Matt was "hunky (of course)" and quipped "who said the Robinsons could never be replaced?
"[16] The BBC said Matt's most notable moment was "His participation in an illegal drag race which saw him injure Harold, himself and Leo.