For my 12,000th post, I'd like you all to pretend you're pickpockets from the 18th century. And if you were, you'd be shipped off to the paradise known as Australia. Fast forward to the late 1980s and you might be lucky enough to meet...
Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop (née Ramsay; previously Mitchell) played by Anne Charleston was one of the matriarchs of Australian television soap opera Neighbours. For all of her eleven years on the show, she had only lived at one address, No.24 Ramsay Street, which was previously owned by her brother Max Ramsay, whom she grew up with in it.
Madge was a strong character, often spiky and hot headed but was also a caring and devoted wife and mother, and also has a heart of gold. In the early days she moved to Erinsborough to live with her brother Max (Francis Bell) after her marriage to Fred Mitchell crumbled. She initially looked after Max and his sons, Shane (Peter O'Brien) and Danny (David Clencie). Madge's daughter Charlene (Kylie Minogue) soon also arrived to live with her while Max quickly departed, and another brother Tom (Gary Files) briefly resided in the Ramsay home. Only a few months after her arrival in Erinsborough and with Max gone, Danny and then Shane leaving home, and Tom also departing, Madge and Charlene were joined by Madge's son Henry (Craig McLachlan) after his release from prison. Madge, Henry and Charlene all legally changed their surname to Ramsay as an attempt to distance themselves from Fred. In 1987 she married the regimented Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) and they enjoyed a lasting and loving marriage punctuated only by factors outside their control.
In 1991 Harold disappeared, presumed drowned. It wasn't long before Madge's childhood sweetheart Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) returned to woo her. Lou proposed after many months of courting but Madge declined and left to look after her grandson Daniel in Queensland.
In late 1996 Helen Daniels spotted Harold in Ramsay Street and contacted Madge who returned immediately to be reunited with her long-lost husband. Together they took over the running of the Coffee Shop and fostered both Paul McClain (Jansen Spencer) and Tad Reeves (Jonathon Dutton). The returning Madge had clearly mellowed during her four years away in Brisbane and was not as feisty. However she was undoubtedly still a strong lady and became the elder matriarch of the street with the death of Helen.
Madge's time came to an end in 2001 when she had terminal cancer. She spent her last days in her bed at No.24, and on the episode of her final appearance, many friends and family visited to say their goodbyes. Harold and Madge's last discussion was about Paris and how she wanted him to go. She died afterwards, with Harold, Paul and Tad surrounding her, and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and Lou waiting in the lounge for them.
So, for all those unfortunate to be circumsised, remember. Madge loved having a Bisop up her!
