SHORTLAND STREET
DRAMA
NEW ZEALAND
1992-now
SHORTLAND STREET is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 32 years (as of May 2024). It is one of the most watched television programmes in New Zealand. SHORTLAND STREET consists of 4475 episodes of 30 minutes.
STORY: A five-night-a-week soap set in an Auckland City hospital that follows the complicated personal and professional lives of its staff and their families and friends.
GAY COUPLE STORYLINE: Jamie Forrest (Karl Urban) arrived to Shortland Street. After childhood friend Kirsty (Angela Dotchin) failed to attract Jamie, he revealed he was gay. He worked as a paramedic alongside Sam (Rene Naufahu) but was alienated due to his sexuality. The two made up and Jamie ended up leaving the hospital. He returned some months later and the teenage Jonathon McKenna (Kieren Hutchison) developed a crush on him that eventually evolved into a love affair. Jonathon's father Michael (Paul Gittins) was heavily against the two's relationship and ended up temporarily disowning his son.
Jamie Forrest (Karl Urban) & Jonathon McKenna (Kieren Hutchison)
KARL URBAN (1992) June 7, 1972, Wellington, New Zealand
KIEREN HUTCHISON (1992) October 9, 1974, Auckland, New Zealand
SPECIAL: Jamie is remembered as the first ever openly homosexual character on the show. His romance with Jonathon proved both controversial and ground-breaking. It helped educate New Zealanders on homosexuality and even helped a confused teenager accept his sexuality.
AWARDS: ‘SHORTLAND STREET’ 1 win & 3 nominations
4.5 IMDB
