page_title: Charlie Buckton
section_title: Relationship with Joey Collins
hierarchical_section_title: Charlie Buckton / Development / Relationship with Joey Collins
caption_attribution_description: English: Kate Bell at The Cup Sydney Premiere
context_page_description: Charlie Buckton is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Esther Anderson. Anderson was added to the cast in a bid to add more "sex appeal" to the show. She said it was her dream job and relocated to Sydney immediately to accommodate filming. The character made her on-screen debut during the episode airing on 6 June 2008. Charlie was billed as having a "warm heart" and being "family oriented"; however, her actions are often misunderstood and her persona has been perceived as "brash". She is described as being "passionate about her work" and often neglects her daughter, Ruby's needs.
  Charlie's first notable storyline was a lesbian relationship with Joey Collins. The storyline was implemented by producers to boost ratings and Anderson said it helped portray Charlie's vulnerable side. The storyline angered Christian and conservative oriented family groups. They complained that Home and Away had featured sexualised plotlines unsuitable for children. As a result, producers cut scenes to attune to viewers' wishes, which outraged the LGBT community.
context_section_description: When I first saw the storyline, I knew straight away that it's an opportunity every actor looks for – to be given a challenge and a role and story to sink their teeth into, I looked forward to telling the story and working on telling it the right way.
  — Anderson's reaction to receiving the storyline.
  In 2009, Home and Away producers introduced a storyline that saw Charlie begin a relationship with another woman. Producers hoped the plot would boost the shows ratings. Over five weeks, the storyline would see Charlie realise that her friendship with Joey Collins (played by Kate Bell) is beginning to develop into something else. As they fall for each other, Charlie and Joey share intimate kissing and dance scenes. Anderson explained that the producers came to her about the storyline and asked if she was okay with it, as it was to be emotional and it required commitment. Anderson told them that she was okay with it and she said she was pleased to be given the storyline as it showed more of Charlie's vulnerable side. This was Anderson's first big storyline in the show and she was required to work more hours. Anderson explained that she and Bell formed a trust early on, which helped them to portray the story in the right light. Anderson spoke with gay friends, so she could form an accurate portrayal of her character's feelings. The storyline "throws [Charlie's] world upside down" and changes her whole identity; it surprises her. 
  Upon the announcement of the storyline, church and conservative family groups attacked the plot. Pro-Family Perspectives director Angela Conway said "They (Home and Away) continue to market to kids and they continue to develop quite sexualised plot lines". Two weeks after the storyline began airing, viewing figures for the show fell by over 100,000 and Channel Seven was inundated with complaints from parents asking for their children not to be exposed to same-sex relationships in a family show. Following pressure from the conservative groups, it was announced that Channel Seven had decided to censor a kissing scene between Charlie and Joey. Producers were to cut "intimate images" from a scene in which the characters share a passionate kiss.
  Gay and lesbian groups staged protests against the show, despite an announcement from Channel Seven saying that the episode would be shown in its entirety. The broadcaster said the kiss would air as planned, but they had decided against showing a "more lusty follow up" scene. Seven's head of creative drama and development, Bevan Lee, said Home and Away bosses cut the "more lusty follow up because it fitted better with the storyline". Lee added that he was "saddened" that the storyline had been reduced to a "facile argument about six missing seconds of screen time and that the bulk of commentators, both conservative and liberal, are making pronouncements on story material they know nothing of". British broadcaster, Five, said that they would show the kiss during their airing of the episode. The channel said "Five, the UK broadcaster for Home and Away, will screen a lesbian kiss in a forthcoming episode. It forms part of a six-week-long story, about the attraction between two female characters, Joey and Charlie. There will be several episodes where the characters kiss". They added that the producers at Channel Seven "edit all episodes for artistic and editorial reasons only" and the storyline would remain uncompromised in its Australian airing.
  A Channel Seven spokeswoman revealed that the network received fewer than 30 telephone calls nationally after screening the "lesbian kiss" episode of the show. The calls were evenly split between those supporting the broadcast of the kiss, and those raising concerns. The show's series producer Cameron Welsh and Anderson both spoke out in defence of the storyline. Welsh said, "The idea of this show has always been that we hold a mirror to society – and when society changes, we change with it. What's ahead in Home and Away is right not only for the series, but also for the times we are living in". Anderson said that she felt it 
caption: Kate Bell (pictured) and Anderson developed a trust early on, which helped them to portray the storyline right.
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