Neighbours introduces first gay character

Neighbours is to get its first regular gay character.

The character Chris Pappas, played by 20 year old actor James Mason will come out in an episode soon to screen in Australia.

Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower told the Herald Sun that the coming-out storyline was a direct result of viewer feedback via online fan forums.

Ms Bower said lesbian romances had featured on Australian TV shows before, but love scenes between men are still fairly taboo on Australian dramas.

She said the Melbourne based soap had received criticism storylines based around teen pregnancy and surrogacy, so teen homosexuality was sure to come under fire, too.

“I do believe homophobia is still alive and well, and I have no doubt that we will get complaints about it,” she said.

The episode will screen in a few weeks in New Zealand.

Neighbours screens on TV2 in New Zealand at 6PM every weeknight, repeating the following day at 2.30pm.

- Dan News