About
Pioneering soap opera Close To Home first screened in May 1975. For just over eight years (until August 1983) middle New Zealand found their mirror in the life and times of Wellington’s Hearte clan. At its peak in 1977 nearly one million viewers tuned in twice weekly to watch the series co-created by Michael Noonan and Tony Isaac. This first episode sees the family gathering for Grandfather’s 78th birthday. Vivian (Ilona Rodgers) moans to Tom (John Bach): “you’ve drunk all my cooking sherry”, then tenderises the beef with the empty bottle.
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Christine, Pete and Daphne pause outside the church after the Close to Home wedding. On the right Don Hart (Tony Currie) wheels and whistles a young Close to Homer around during a break in the filming of the wedding.
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Milos Lorvatz (Hine Jurgensen) teaches granddaughter Caroline (Katie Brockie ) to cook on Close to Home.
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Don Hearte (Tony Currie, right) reminisces about a book he once wrote, to Pete Wallace (Robin Dene); a scene from soap Close to Home.
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Andrew Burns (left) and Christine Hansen check Janice Finn’s Close to Home dress for size, in TV1's Wardrobe section.
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The normally staid Mr Mulholland (Jim Healey) lets his hair down when Faith Wilson’s panto Aladdin finally goes on in Close To Home.
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The Close to Home cast at the time of the 500th episode. Back row, from left: Jeffrey Thomas, Ginette McDonald, Harry Lavington, Alice Fraser, Glenis Levestam, Jim Healey, Pat Evison, Ken Blackburn, Heather Lindsay, Stephen Tozer; (front row) Marnie Morgan, Jim Moriarty, Dorothy Smith, Robin Dene, Mildred Woods and Maree McKeefry.
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Eve Rimmer has a few words of advice for Ruth in Close to Home.
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Will the real baby Alice Paget please coo? Actress Geraldine Holmes (left) who plays Stephanie Paget holds baby Debra Cederman who shares baby alice’s duties in the serial with her twin sister Fiona (in proud mothers Faith Cederman’s arms).
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John (Kevin J Wilson) Pip (April Kelland) and Hillary (Adel Chapman) pose after the wedding in Close to Home.
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A Birthday snap of the principal cast members of Close to Home at 300 episodes.
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