It's our 19th birthday!
After a 15 year absence from our screens, the return of a familiar face helps to kick-off celebrations for the 19th birthday of New Zealand's favourite serial drama Shortland Street this week.
Long time viewers of the show will have no trouble recognizing Kieren Hutchison as he returns to reprise his role as Jonathan McKenna, the older brother of Rachel McKenna (Angela Bloomfield) and onscreen son of former characters Michael (Paul Gittens) and Alex McKenna (Libby Holloway)
After finishing up on Shortland Street in 1996, Hutchison headed to LA where he settled and over the last few years has had roles on several American based shows, including the Ghost Whisperer, One Tree Hill and CSI New York.
Hutchison is thoroughly enjoying the return down under with his
family.
"When I have breaks in shooting, I have been taking great pride in showing my family around Auckland," says Hutchison. "It's great being a tourist in your old home town!"
Arriving back on the show after 15 years away was not one
something Hutchison had ever imagined, but it has quickly proven to
be quite a thrill.
"Filming my character turning up out of the blue after 15 years
away was something I never thought would happen," says Hutchison.
"It was very weird but also a very cool experience! Plus, there are
still a lot of familiar faces on both sides of the camera so it's
been great to catch up with everyone!"
The return of Hutchison's character, Jonathan has renewed a connection with several old friends.
"It's been great working again with Michael Galvin (Chris Warner) and Angela Bloomfield (Rachel McKenna)," says Hutchison. "It's such a unique experience to reconnect with the same actors with us all playing the same characters"
As Shortland Street heads into its twentieth year on screen, show producer Steven Zanoski reveals that the return of Jonathan may not be the only blast from the past.
"Look out for the return of further family connections from the
past as we head towards twenty years of
Shortland
Street," Says Zanoski. "Jonathon McKenna's the first
of these; more surprises wait in the wings."
