Locked Up To The Max

I have it on good authority that Stephen Lovatt, who plays Max Hoyland on Neighbours, will be departing the show for a period of time later this year, returning in 2007 (or sooner; perhaps later this year).

Ever since Max backed his car into Katya, I have been suspecting that this will be achieved on the show by having his character locked up for a time (it's apparently going to be a two month hiatus) on some charge or other.

Of course, it now appears that his running into Cameron Robinson will be the cause; whatever the outcome of Cameron's life-in-the-balance situation and Paul's threats.

A couple of things that could happen here:

- Katya could get quite upset/obsessed/bunny-boiler-like at Max after he tells her he's not interested (I know he's done this already, but it looks like he's going to have to be more forceful about it), and then that will make her turn jealous and bitter towards him (hell hath no fury, etc), leading to her testifying against him in court, telling them what Max owned up to about their accident (that he was on his mobile to Steph when he backed into Katya).
- Cameron could die and Max will be charged with manslaughter or similar.
- Cameron could live but Max could still be charged for manslaughter or reckless driving, etc.
- Cameron could die and Paul may take actions that lead us to believe Max is dead (maybe he'll turn up in 2007 with Connor and Dee, fresh from drinking their way around Australia without thinking to contact anyone back home?).
- The accident/s may not be primarily responsible for Max's departure from the show. It could actually be that he and Steph break up (probably over Katya or associated issues), and maybe Max leaves to live with his mother (a reverend) in Fiji or something. He may even return a changed man! But the point is, his disappearance from the show is only meant to last for around two months, so it can't be anything too drastic.

As I said, Max's leave of absence from the show may have nothing whatsoever to do with the current storyline being unraveled, but it strikes me as an excellent way of temporarily writing a character out of a show. I don't really know the timeline of his expected departure, so I could be wrong. But it'd make perfect sense, so just remember: You heard it here first (or maybe not first; for all I know this will be common knowledge by the time I post this!).

Also, 'Blind Anne' is definitely the real Bree Timmins. There's no doubt. But will it all lead to a satisfactory conclusion? So far it's been unrealistically drawn out and convoluted.


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