Haydn Ross is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Charlton Hill (known then as Andrew Hill) The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 31 October 1990 and departed on 17 September 1991. He returned in 1994 and 1996.
Casting
Hill told Nigel May from Look-in that he won the role of Haydn by chance because agent made a mistake during the application process. Hill arrived at the Seven Network studios under the impression that he was auditioning for a washing powder commercial. When handed the scripts for Haydn, he was confused but carried on with the audition. Hill said that he impressed the casting department because he "remembered everything". In 1991, Hill decided to leave the series because the long filming hours had interfered with his studies. He planned to go to college and catch up on the work he had missed.
Character development
A columnist for TV Week said that when Haydn arrives in Summer Bay, he thinks it is a "hick town". Haydn is the son of Cynthia (Belinda Giblin) and Michael Ross (Dennis Coard). He benefited from his father's boating marina business by attending a private school. In their book Home and Away Annual Kesta Desmond and David Nicholls describe Haydn as being "athletic and determined like his father"; but like his mother too because he has a "love of culture and a comfortable lifestyle". Haydn used to like family life until his parents divorced. He could not accept the ramifications of Michael's failed business ventures and finds it hard to adjust to life outside of private school. His mother is no longer around when Haydn needs her and Michael is not in the position to take him on holidays. They added that a "lifetime of coddling" makes living in Summer Bay difficult for him. However, Haydn tries to accept his new "enforced lifestyle". Andrea Black writing in Home and Away – Official Collector’s Edition explained that the arrival of Haydn and Sophie Simpson (Rebekah Elmaloglou) "meant serious strife" in Summer Bay.
In 1991, Haydn pretended to go missing in the bush in an attempt to reconcile his warring parents. Things didn't go to plan when he fell down a mineshaft. Black said that Michael "raced to the rescue of his son". But Haydn "didn't stay long in the bay" and he then exited the show. On 1 January 1994, a reporter from TV Week announced that Hill had agreed to reprise the role of Haydn for a two month guest stint. Hill told a reporter from Inside Soap that Haydn returns because he feels it is the right time to rebuild his relationship with Michael. Ally Oliver from Inside Soap reported that Michael is "thrilled to see him back and more than ready to forgive his son for their troubled past together." He added that Haydn appears to have "grown up". But in addition to this, Haydn has also got himself "so deeply in debt from his gambling habits". Hill explained that Haydn is "not a bad guy". While he is "completely addicted" and "so wrapped up" with gambling, those around him "feel sorry for him more than anything else". Haydn needs all the help he can get but is not prepared to tell Michael the truth. Producers also created a new romance for Haydn with Finlay Roberts (Tina Thomsen).
Hill and Thomsen had begun an off-screen relationship together three years prior. Producers were inspired by their romance and decided that their character should enter into a relationship. Oliver said that producers "were taking a gamble" in case the actors fell out on set. But Thomsen told the writer that she and Hill were on set, they had made an effort to keep their personal lives separate from their work. She added that when they left the studios they would "give each other a big hug" and normality would resume. On-screen Finlay cannot resist Haydn's charms and they get together. Thomsen told Oliver that Haydn is "tall, handsome, he's sincere and he's nice to her - what more could a girl want?"
He later has a "fling" with Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons) and producers later cast Melissa Bell to play Haydn's ex-girlfriend, Suzie Hudson, who is pregnant with his child.