Gail Robinson (Neighbours)

Gail Lewis (also Robinson) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Fiona Corke. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 March 1987. Corke left the role in 1989, but made appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Casting

Corke first appeared in Neighbours in 1987.^[1] She described her time on the show as "an amazing experience" and added "It was so full on and so huge you didn't know if you were an actor or in a pop group half the time."^[2] In 1988, Corke became one of ten actors from the show who were flown to London to perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.^[2] Corke departed Neighbours in 1989 after deciding she wanted to experience life outside of the show.^[2]

In 2005, Corke was one of many ex-cast members who made a return to Neighbours to appear in an episode celebrating the show's 20th anniversary.^[3] Corke made two brief appearances in 2006 and 2007.^[1] In December 2009, Stefan Dennis called for the return of Gail and Corke.^[4] He said "I'd like to see Fiona Corke come back, even for another guest role, because she's just adorable and fun to work with. And she's got every right to come back because she's still got a tie with Paul's children."^[4]

Storylines

Backstory

Adopted by mechanic Rob Lewis (Ernie Bourne) and his wife Brenda, Gail Lewis grew up an ambitious and bright young woman who opted for a career as an air stewardess. It was here that Gail met Paul Robinson, who was training to be an air steward. A brief romance developed between the two, but it ended after and Paul married Terry Inglis (Maxine Klibingaitis). Gail went on to marry Jeremy Lord (Tim Elston), but after the death of her mother, Gail divorced Jeremy and left the airline.

1987–89

Gail re-enters Paul's life when she applies for the job at the Daniels Corporation and moves to Ramsay Street with Rob. Paul gives her the job and they begin working together. Jeremy arrives in Erinsborough in the hope that Gail will take him back and proposes to her again, but he is killed in a racing car accident. As Gail deals with her grief, she discovers that Jeremy was already married when his widow, Meredith (Terrie Waddell) arrives. Gail and Paul kiss after signing a business deal, but Paul quickly pulls away and apologises. When Paul realised that Japanese businessman, Mr Udugawa (Lawrence Mah), prefers dealing with family men, Paul asks Gail to enter into a marriage of convenience. They fool their friends and family with their fake marriage and they slowly begin to fall for each other. When her friend Glen Matheson (Richard Moss) calls out of the blue and invites her to lunch, Gail jumps at the chance to meet him. Throughout the dinner, Gail can only talk about Paul and Glen realise that she was clearly in love him. When Gail meets up with Glen again, it follows an argument with Paul. She reveals the truth about the marriage to Glen. Gail kisses Glen goodbye and it is witnessed by Paul's grandmother Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) who confronts Gail and she admits that she loves Paul, which he overhears.

Gail leaves for a business trip and on her return she ells Paul that they had no future and wanted a divorce. Although they had separate, Gail and Paul agree they make a good team at the Daniels Corporation and remain working together. But the tension between them quickly becomes unbearable and Gail resignes.She decided to leave for New York, but just before she is about to leave she says her goodbyes to everyone and Paul tells her he loves her. Gail agrees to stay in Erinsborough. Paul and Gail affirmed their love and commitment for each other properly by renewing their wedding vows on Valentine's Day alongside Paul's father Jim (Alan Dale) and Beverly Marshall (Lisa Armitage) . Gail and Paul want start a family, but Gail discovers she is infertile, leaving. They then begin making plans to begin IVF treatment. During this time Paul discovers that he had fathered a child, Amy (Nicolette Minster), with Nina Williams (Leigh Morgan). Gail fears Paul will no longer want to have children with her, but she is proved wrong and Gail becomes pregnant with triplets. The prospect of becoming a mother leads Gail to track down her real parents. She discovers that her real mother Louise Hampstead has died, but finds her biological father, Ian Chadwick (Robin Bowering). Rob is jealous of Ian's presence but soon accepts it.

Rob is involved in a fatal car crash and dies and the blame falls on Paul. When Gail learns The two had been engaged in a vicious argument where Paul accused Rob of dealing in stolen car parts, and Rob had stormed off in a rage, culminating in the car accident. Thus, Gail holds Paul responsible for her father's death. After the funeral Gail leaves a note for Paul and told him that she was leaving. Soon after arriving in Tasmania, she gives birth to Robert, Cameron (Adam Hunter) and Lucinda (Pippa Black). Paul flies out to see his children and attempts a reconciliation with Gail, but she is adamant the marriage is over. The couple agree to remain friends.

2005–07

Gail returns to Erinsborough again when she received the news that Robert was put into a coma by Cameron. However, it turns out that Robert had actually put Cameron in a coma before assuming his identity and joining Elle and Paul in Erinsborough. Robert plots to destroy his father and everyone who meant anything to him. Gail's feelings for Paul resurface and Paul insistes that she stay at No.22. After taking a visit to Rob's grave, Gail kisses Paul. Robert kidnaps Paul and left him trapped in a mineshaft. Gail, Isabelle Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) and Elle found Paul and rescue him. Paul and Gail then concoct a plan to get married again to lure Robert out of hiding. During the wedding, Gail is touched when Paul spoke from the heart about how blessed he was to have found her again. Robert shows up and tries to shoot Paul. However, Paul was wearing a bulletproof vest and Robert is arrested. Gail returned to Tasmania, leaving Elle and Cameron behind to continue getting to know their father better. Cameron is killed accidentally by Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt) and Paul and Elle bring Cameron's body home to Tasmania for burial. Gail blames Paul for effectively costing her her two boys and vows never to speak to him again.

Paul undergoes life-saving surgery to remove a tumour that has been growing on his brain for a number of years and wakes up unable to recall anything that had happened to him since the late 1980s. Gail returns to Erinsborough upon receiving a confused call from Paul declaring his love for her. Gail is skeptical of Paul's memory loss and rejects Elle's pleas to keep the truth from him. Unable to bring herself to hurt him, Gail agrees to go along with Elle's plan and spares Paul from knowing the truth about his past. But Paul overhears Gail and Elle discussing all the pain he has caused people. Gail tells Paul everything and he is stunned as he realises all the things that he had done to his family and friends. When Elle overhears Paul complaining about how he had no feelings for her as a father, she storms off. Gail follows her and tries to persuade her to return to Tasmania, but Elle is determined to make things work with Paul. Gail finds herself being drawn to Paul again and he asks her to give their marriage another go. During a picnic, Gail realises that she cannot forget the past twenty years and she returns to Tasmania.

Reception

The BBC said Gail's most notable moment was "Running off with the triplets."^[5] Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture said Gail was the "most well-remembered" of Paul's wives.^[6] Of Gail and Paul's relationship The Sydney Morning Herald said "we fretted for what seemed like days until Gail Lewis (Fiona Corke) sashayed into Mr R's love zone. We knew from the start that Paul and Gail were star crossed. But who could have predicted that one love's rose could have so many thorns."^[7] Gail is referred to in Emily Barr's fictitious novel "Out of My Depth", in which character Amanda is watching Neighbours, with scenes featuring Gail and Paul receiving disapproval from Harold, Amanda opines that she believes the couple are in love.^[8] Lorna Cooper from MSN said she "loved" Gail and Paul's romance.^[1]

References