Simon Fitzgerald (Home and Away)

Prior to joining Home and Away, Norton had appeared on rival soap opera Neighbours as Ryan McLachlan for one year.^[1] Joining the series had changed Norton's perception of being a working actor. He told John Kersher in The Official Home and Away Annual that the "best thing" about Neighbours was the money, but at Home and Away it was about doing a job he enjoyed.^[2] Norton was one of only a few actors to appear in both shows.^[3] Norton made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 25 September 1991.^[4]

Kercher described Simon as the serial's "resident heart-throb" and his "suntanned good looks mean that he never has a shortage of girls to go out with".^[5] There is no one that "fails to fall for his smooth talk". When Simon arrives in Summer Bay, he is "diligent and hardworking", a "model student" and has an "excellent academic record". But Simon also has a "mischievous side" and enjoys playing "elaborate pranks" which he always gets away with because "his politeness acts as the perfect foil".^[5] Simon's characterisation as a "joker" who enjoys playing pranks was implemented from his debut. Norton told a reporter from BIG! magazine that "he's developed a foolproof way of pulling off clever pranks without getting caught – and the girls usually fall for him."^[6] Norton believed that he played a "subdued" character in Neighbours which held back his portrayal. He felt more comfortable in Home and Away and made a more memorable character. He told Mark Barden from the Reading Post that "Simon was one of the regular Summer Bay kids like Blake and Sophie, and I think people associate me more with him."^[3]

Simon's mother died in the years before he moved to Summer Bay. His father Bill (Terry Bader) decided to relocate to the area, but Simon becomes "puzzled" by the quick move and assumes it is for business reasons. He later discovers that Bill had embezzled money. After an argument with Bill, Simon decides to move in with Blake Dean (Les Hill).^[5] The series formed an on-screen duo with Simon and Blake. Norton told Josephine Monroe from Inside Soap that he and Hill "built up quite a rapport" and they worked hard on their characters' friendship. Norton liked the idea of "these two young lads being cheeky and wacky", they were the "Laurel and Hardy" of Summer Bay.^[7] In one storyline Simon begins a relationship with Sophie Simpson (Rebekah Elmaloglou). The scripts required for Norton and Elmaloglou to kiss multiple times during the story. Norton told Trish Pavone from BIG! magazine that during one scene in which they kissed, Elmaloglou joked that she would bite his tongue off if she felt it.^[8] Later Sophie finds out that she is pregnant by another character.^[7] Simon decides to pretend that he is the baby's father so that Sophie will not have face parenthood alone.^[9] As a reporter from Channel 5 wrote "Simon's declaration that he is the dad comes as just as much of a surprise [for Sophie]. Although she's uneasy about the lie, Sophie can't deny Simon's logic." They added that she "fudges the dates" and everyone thinks that Sophie slept with Simon "the minute he arrived in town".^[10] But eventually truth comes out.^[9] Norton said that it was an example of a "good storyline" for Simon and said that it was the "hardest" he had to portray.^[7] Sophie later runs away from home and sleeps rough in the city, forcing Simon to try and rescue her.^[11]

Later Lisa Anthony from BIG! magazine reported that Kathryn Dufty had been cast in the role of Toni Bryant. She added that while Toni comes to Summer Bay with Blake, it would be Simon who she makes an "immediate impression" on. She also released pictures of the duo kissing.^[12] Toni comes to the Bay as part of a student exchange program. Everyone assumes that she is a boy called Tony, until she arrives with her father Phil (Vince Martin) and reveals her name is short for Antonia.^[13] Norton explained that before meeting Toni, Simon "had just about lost all faith in women. He'd liked Sophie and a few other girls but his luck had always been bad. It's like a dream come true when Toni comes along. He thinks all this Christmases have come at once."^[13] Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) is against having a teenage boy and girl under his roof, so Simon has to agree to strict house rules. Simon eventually tells Toni that he really likes her, and Alf and Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn) trusts them to be sensible.^[13]

In 1992, producers decided to write out Norton's character to concentrate on developing other characters.^[7] He told Monroe that "I was prepared for two years work on the show and it came as quite a shock when they told me they were letting me go." Norton thought that the work he had put in for Home and Away was "quite good". But producers informed him that Simon "had done his bit" and they were more interested in "pushing" Dieter Brummer and Matt Doran who play Shane Parrish and Damian Roberts respectively.^[7] Norton explained to Monroe that he was not "bitter" about being fired because the producers had given him plenty of notice. Speaking of Simon's departure storyline, Norton stated that Simon receives a letter from his father who has been released on parole. He decides to accept Bill's invitation to go and live with him. Norton "liked" the way his character was written out of the series but wished he could have stayed in the show.^[7] He told a reporter from BIG! magazine that there were "no deaths or major dramas" which meant Simon could return in the future. He concluded that despite leaving her behind, "Simon stays madly in love with Sophie."^[11]