Seven's shock Winners and Losers finale a buzz for TV actor Blair McDonough

Blair McDonough's character was killed off in dramatic Winners and Losers finale on Seven. Source: National Features

Nui Te Koha and Colin Vickery, The Daily Telegraph, report

Winners and Losers star Blair McDonough reckons there is life after his television death.

A healthy 1.172 million Aussie viewers watched the explosive 2012 finale of the Channel 7 drama last night.

McDonough's character Matt O'Connor was killed when his ute stacked with gas cylinders exploded.

Seven had teased viewers with a "Who will die?'' promotion in the lead-up to last night's show.

"I've been bruised, bashed, beaten and blown up,'' McDonough said today. "My deaths have become run of the mill.''

McDonough shot to fame when he was the runner-up on the first series of reality show Big Brother.

It led to an acting career which has included Aussie shows Neighbours, City Homicide, and Sea Patrol.

McDonough also starred in UK police drama Heartbeat.

"On Neighbours I had temporary blindness and broke a few limbs, on City Homicide I was killed by a metal pole to the head, and in Sea Patrol I was bashed by Navy officers and then sentenced to life in jail,'' the 31-year-old says.

The death of McDonough's Matt O'Connor came after it was revealed that he had betrayed wife Bec (Zoe Tuckwell-Smith) by having an affair with rival Tiffany Turner (Michala Banas).

"It's good to have a story arc, get to where you want to go, and then shock everyone,'' McDonough says.

Winners and Losers has been commissioned for a third series, which will screen in 2013.

Ricky Martin replaces Keith Urban on The Voice

Singer Ricky Martin will be a coach on the next season of The Voice. Picture: AP Source: AP

Holly Byrnes and Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph, report

The Voice coach Joel Madden has endorsed the choice of Latino sensation Ricky Martin as the replacement for Keith Urban on the Channel 9 talent series next year.

Martin will be confirmed to join the hit program on Nine's A Current Affair tonight, but the global superstar appears to have spoiled the surprise by taking to Twitter to thank his Australian fans for their congratulations on the deal, posting: "sending mad love to everyone in #Australia. Can't wait to go back. Peace!"

The news was also welcomed by Madden and his brother Benji on the ARIAs red carpet, who said Martin's signing was a huge coup for the Shine format and local viewers of the blockbuster competition.

Joel Madden said Martin's "catalogue and body of work and what he has accomplished in his career precedes him. He’s a huge worldwide star."

While the new coaching line-up is yet to assemble - and not likely to until Martin's run on Broadway in Evita ends on January 26 - Madden said he had met the Livin' La Vida singer before but welcomed the chance to get to know him better during The Voice season.

"He's a classy guy and he will bring a real warm vibe," Joel said, with Benji adding "it's a good call, he's a smart guy. Even though Keith is irreplaceable."

It is understood the deal was only finalised three weeks ago, with Nine stalling on making the announcement at its 2013 programming launch on Tuesday.

Aussie Dexter star Yvonne Strahovski is Broadway bound

Yvonne Strahovski and Danny Mastrogiorgio in Lincoln Centre Theatre's 75th anniversary production of Golden Boy. Picture: AP Source: AP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Australian actress Yvonne Strahovski is making her Broadway debut, despite having never seen a Broadway show.

"I don't know if I should be ashamed to say I've never seen one or if I should be kind of proud of it," she says over coffee. "Probably a bit of both."

Strahovski, who played a CIA agent in NBC's action comedy show Chuck and then crossed over to the dark side as a serial killer in Dexter, plays Lorna Moon in the Lincoln Centre Theatre revival of Clifford Odets' Golden Boy.

The play, which opens next week at the Belasco Theatre, is about a young man torn between his true calling as a violinist and the lure of fast money as a boxer. Strahovski, 30, plays his manager's mistress and is in 10 of the play's 12 scenes.

The play represents something of a return to Strahovski's roots. A University of Western Sydney graduate, she emerged intent on a career onstage and even co-founded her own theatre company.

On a whim, she decided to audition for TV shows in America, flew to Los Angeles and landed Chuck in three days. "I remember calling my parents and telling them I'm not coming home," she says. "And I never used my return ticket home."

After five seasons in slinky outfits delivering vicious kicks to enemies, Strahovski next found herself in something of a love triangle with Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall in season 7 of Dexter.

Next month she appears opposite Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in The Guilt Trip, and next year she'll be in I, Frankenstein with Bill Nighy and Aaron Eckhart.

It was while filming I, Frankenstein in Australia that Strahovski went to a comedy festival and was reminded how much she adored performing live. Right about then, Broadway was calling - and she leapt. "There's something completely raw and unique about live theatre and it puts you on your toes," she says.

Strahovski says the play is still revealing itself to her and she's stretching her acting muscles alongside a cast of 19 that includes Danny Burstein and Tony Shalhoub.

She recently sat down with The Associated Press to evade questions about whether she survived season 7 of Dexter, to boast about her unusual gun skills and to complain about her cable company.

AP: How different is this experience?

Strahovski: Honestly, I do feel a little bit like a fish out of water. A, I've never done a Broadway play. B, I've never seen a Broadway play. C, I'm Australian. And I'm an Australian coming in to do a classic American play that is set in the '30s. It's been challenging on all fronts.

AP: What can you tell us about Dexter? Do you survive?

Strahovski: I can't reveal much. It's so hard to talk about. And I haven't even caught up with the last two episodes. My cable didn't turn on last night and I was on hold for 40 minutes with Time Warner. You should print that! I was on hold for 40 minutes and nobody answered the phone.

AP: Were you a fan of Dexter before you landed a job on it?

Strahovski: I had seen bits and pieces but I had never watched episode after episode. So I actually sat down and watched all six seasons back-to-back for three weeks before I started shooting.

AP: What kind of mood were you in after that?

Strahovski: I was mixed. I was having some weird dreams and when I finally got to the set, everyone was their character. I had a really hard time calling Jennifer 'Jennifer' and not Debra, and Michael 'Michael' and not Dexter. I was so in that world.

AP: Your accents are always pretty good. How do you do it?

Strahovski: My first language was Polish - my whole family is Polish. I'm the only Australian. So I think because of that, I have maybe an ear for different types of sounds and my mouth is used to using different muscles.

AP: What strange skills have you learned in your career?

Strahovski: I know how to punch properly. I know how to kick really well. I now know how to use a gun, especially a 9mm Smith and Wesson. I like to think I can defend myself if I ever got mugged, but who knows? In the moment I might shrivel up.

AP: When you have any downtime, where can we find you?

Strahovski: If I got a small amount of time, I would usually probably veg out on the couch to some sort of brainless television. But my cable hasn't been working so I've been spending a lot of time on Skype with my friends. I switch off with my friends and my parents. I seem to live on Skype because my dearest are so far away.

Mark Ruffalo swept away by Naomi Watts' tsunami survivor

High praise indeed ... Naomi Watts / Pic: AFP Source: AFP

The Daily Telegraph reports

Aussie screen star Naomi Watts has received the ultimate compliment, with a fellow actor writing a tribute to her in showbiz trade bible Variety.

US actor Mark Ruffalo was reportedly so impressed with Watts' performance in the upcoming tsunami film The Impossible that he requested to write a review of her acting skills, which was later published.

Ruffalo compares Watts to some of acting's all-time greats and describes her as "admirable" and "brave".

"Naomi shows us once again how beautifully and honestly she can render tragedy into heroism," he writes of Watts' portrayal of real-life tsunami survivor Maria Belon.

"What happens next is an epiphany through suffering. The scene with Naomi and her son (a fantastic Tom Holland) trying to survive in the torrents of the 2004 Thailand tsunami are heartbreaking, and we are swept up into the emotional honesty of a woman coming to terms with the loss of her children and family.

"This is great and nearly impossible acting. Naomi takes us through this woman's journey from modern malaise to the deepest and most meaningful parts of being human: our relationships to others in the world around us.

"Naomi fills every moment onscreen with honesty and intention - one eye on the story and the other on credibility, and she is deeply in service to them both. She never backs away from what is difficult and she is never gratuitous or vain, which is incredibly refreshing and admirable. Naomi Watts is one of our acting treasures."

Likes our Naomi's work ... actor Mark Ruffalo. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Crowe's in the ire of the storm

Russell Crowe looks dapper in a purple striped suit while sporting a huge scar on his face as he plays a ruthless gangster on the set of his upcoming movie Winter's Tale filming in Brooklyn. Picture: Snapper Media Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

Filming has only been under way a few days but already Russell Crowe's new picture is causing headaches in New York.

Residents in Hurricane Sandy-ravaged Red Hook are reportedly fuming that the star-studded Hollywood movie Winter's Tale, headlined by Crowe, has taken over their Brooklyn neighbourhood as they try to dig out of the devastation.

Residents have told the New York Post that production on Winter's Tale, which also stars Jennifer Connelly, Will Smith and Colin Farrell, was meant to have been wrapped up by Thanksgiving (November 22).

But shooting has been extended due to the fact that Crowe's previous flick, Noah, went several weeks over schedule - and also partly because of the hurricane.

"The crew's taking up all the parking spaces on the streets that residents and business owners desperately need to help the area dig out and recover," local Francis Kerrigan told the newspaper.

"We were told the shoot would be done by Thursday.

"But now the crew says it will be longer because Crowe didn't show up for filming last week.

"When I asked when it would be done, the answer was: 'As long as it takes Russell to film'. This is a case of no-show Crowe adds to the (bleep) show."

Another resident said the filming was too soon after the storm: "People are still trying to dig out. Fairway was under six feet of water. Now the movie has a craft services tent in the parking lot."

But a source close to the production denied the claims, saying: "It's not true at all that Russell missed any days on set ... schedules for every production that's filming in New York have been shuffled because of Sandy - Noah included.

"The film's been working closely with the City of New York and everything has been above board."

Crowe's rep said: "There is no truth to this. Russell's scheduled first day of shooting was Sunday."

Soap star Melissa Bergland admits to 'itchy feet'

Zoe Tuckwell-Smith, Melanie Vallejo, Virgina Gay and Melissa Bergland / Pic: Channel 7 Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

The women behind the gal pals of Winners & Losers have vowed to stay with the well-received soap but one is struggling to relate to her on-screen character.

After the season two finale won the ratings on Tuesday night with 1.172 million viewers, cherry-coiffed Melissa Bergland said she hoped to continue on the Seven show "as long as we're all having a good time" but wasn't much like her bumbling alter ego Jenny Gross.

"I'm so far removed from all of the stuff she is going through," the Adelaide native told Confidential. "I'm not at the point where I relate to the whole settling down and wanting to have a family thing - I always have itchy feet. I like to travel and change house."

Bergland's co-stars, Virginia Gay, Melanie Vallejo and Zoe Tuckwell-Smith, began filming season three in October without former Big Brother star Blair McDonough, whose character Matt O'Connor died in a gas explosion this week. "It's good to have a story arc, get to where you want to go, then shock everyone," the one-time Neighbours actor said.

Bergland said "everyone is keen to keep going" with the family favourite.

Russell Crowe clean shaven again (but that's one nasty nick)

 

Russell Crowe as the dapper Brooklyn gangster Pearly Soames in Winter's Tale. Picture: Splash News Source: Supplied

The Daily Telegraph reports

So that's what was under his big bushy biblical beard.

Fresh from wrapping up filming the biblical epic Noah, Russell Crowe was snapped sporting a nasty scar on the set of his latest movie, Winter's Tale.

Before anyone starts blaming his estranged wife or vengeful hotel clerks or poor shaving, the red welt wasn't real but make-up.

Crowe plays dapper gang leader Pearly Soames in the film, which also stars Colin Farrell, Will Smith and Jennifer Connelly.

Crowe, who recently split from wife Danielle Spencer, isn't exactly happy to be working again.

Last week he tweeted:

Russell Crowe@russellcrowe: starting on another film set tomorrow. I need to go home & be with my children. Cannot believe how fkd up my schedule has become this year.

 

Ben Sewell@beniswinning: @russellcrowe depends on the trip, several weeks at a time. Yes, I have children. International Sales for a technology company

 

Russell Crowe@russellcrowe: @beniswinning I sympathise. I haven't seen mine since late September. Maybe 40 days with them for the year. Won't happen again. All the best

Better with the beard or without? Crowe on the set of Noah and Winter's Tale. Pictures: Splash News

Bridesmaids star Rebel Wilson reveals she was rejected from Glee

Actress Rebel Wilson has returned home to Sydney to promote her new US film Pitch Perfect. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Limited

Vicky Roach, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Now that she's had a chance to stretch her vocal chords in the acapella college comedy Pitch Perfect, Rebel Wilson can reveal that she missed out on a role in Glee.

''That was one of my first auditions in the US,'' said the Bridesmaids star in Sydney today.

''But they didn't choose me.''

Success, of course, is the best form of revenge.

Eighteen months down the track, the roles have reversed dramatically.

Wilson's career has had such a meteoric rise, she had to decline an invitation to appear in the current season of the popular TV show.

''They offered me a guest spot but I was just too busy,'' says Wilson, who learnt her musical theatre craft at the Australian Theatre For Young People in Walsh Bay.

She did, however, get the chance to appear opposite Glee's Chris Colfer in the upcoming feature Struck By Lightning.

Wilson recently finished shooting Michael Bay's Pain & Gain, with Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, a black comedy based on the true story of two body builders who are currently on death row.

The multi-talented peformer, who also writes and produces, is currently in pre-production for the pilot of a US sitcom - Super Fun Night.

And Universal, for whom the $17 million Pitch Perfect has grossed $62 million in the US alone, has now green-lit her feature film project, which she will write, produce and star in.

Pitch Perfect opens in Australia on December 6.

Megan Gale's Tamarama home is up for sale

Pic: Bhr Estate Agency Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph reports

Megan Gale is attempting to offload her Tamarama home - and make a cool $500,000 in the process - as she prepares to cut ties with Sydney and base herself permanently in Melbourne with boyfriend Shaun Hampson.

The TV hostess listed her four-bedroom, extensively renovated 1960s cottage for auction at the weekend after owning it for almost 10 years.

Confidential understands the David Jones clothes horse is hoping her comfortable near-the-beach abode will fetch a minimum of $2.95 million when it goes under the hammer on December 6.

Gale paid $2.4 million in 2003 after an extensive search and has used the site as an investment property.

In 2007 she sold an apartment in Ramsgate Ave, Bondi Beach, for $1.025 million after paying $600,000 in 2000.

Having recently returned from shooting a part in Mad Max: Fury Road in Africa, the 37-year-old has made no secret of her love for Melbourne, where she shoots Project Runway and Hampson plays for her favourite AFL team, Carlton.

Real estate sources say Gale is waiting for the Tamarama house to sell before "starting to seriously look" at something to buy down south.

She and beau Hampson have been together for almost two years.

"I think she's just started to think, 'right, it's time to pick a really good place to base myself' and that kind of future planning'," a pal said.

The Tamarama property, with water views, has two bathrooms, inground pool, plenty of entertaining space and an impressive master bedroom with ensuite.

Taylor Swift to present top gongs at the ARIA's

Taylor Swift is in Australia to take part in the ARIA awards. Picture: Cameron Richardson Source: News Limited

Kathy McCabe, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Success may be the best revenge for heartbreak but Taylor Swift's lovelorn anthems have created an elite fan club of the world's top songwriters.

Swift, who is in Australia to perform at the ARIA awards on Thursday, said she sought out the world's hitmakers to help her compose the songs for her multi-platinum smash record Red.

But it turned out they were already lining up to work with her, including Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and Swedish legend Max Martin.

One of the first to approach her for a studio session was British balladeer Ed Sheeran, who has also penned songs for One Direction's two records.

''I decided I need to learn more and as a 22-year-old musician, I wanted to go and do almost like an apprenticeship with Max Martin and Shellback and Ed Sheeran and (Snow Patrol's) Gary Lightbody,'' she said.

''I heard Ed's music for the first time when I was on tour in Australia last year and when I got home I told my management I wanted to write with him and it turned out Ed and I were reaching out to each other at the same time.''

She met Lightbody through the ginger-haired hitmaker.

''Ed and I had hung out with my friends having jam sessions and singing Snow Patrol songs and he knew I was a huge fan.

''Then one day he asks if his friend Gary could come by and Gary Lightbody came by and listened to the song Ed and I had written and he said he wanted to work on the record too.

''And then I passed out.''

Swift somehow manages to keep herself together and not pass out when she enters the public eye.

Yet she said that big smile and poised grace is practised rather than perfection.

''To be honest, nothing ever really gets to feel normal about the massive amount of attention when you walk onto a red carpet, all the bright flashes and screams,'' she said.

''You get better at pretending like it's normal to you but it never feels like something that is just another Wednesday.

''It's always going to feel like 'Don't mess up, don't mess up, don't mess up.''

Swift said she is channeling the Mad Men style of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn in the vintage floral dresses which have become her uniform since releasing Red.

But fans can expect something with a little more bling when she rocks up to the ARIA Awards on Thursday night where she will be performing as well as presenting the major gongs.

Of course there will also be a lot more red lipstick, with Swift sharing the tips on how to keep it off your teeth.

''There's a trick to it. You put it on, blot one time, powder your lips and blot again, reapply the red lipstick and then cover with a tissue again and power through the tissue,'' she said.

Picture of the month: November '12

Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay – The Wolverine



Jackman shows his vulnerable side as Jean Valjean in director Tom Hooper's Les Miserable film

"I find it very difficult to watch myself sing,'' says Hugh Jackman of his role in the new film Les Miserables. Picture: Universal Pictures Source: Supplied

Vicky Roach, The Daily Telegraph, reports

It might be the role for which he is being tipped for an Oscar nomination, but Hugh Jackman spent several weeks working up the courage to watch himself in Les Miserables.

"(Director) Tom (Hooper) offered me the chance to see it about a month ago but I said no, I wanted to see it done - which was me chickening out really,'' he said in Sydney yesterday during a break from the set of The Wolverine.

"I find it very difficult to watch myself sing.''

Jackman was so nervous about his performance as convict-turned-mayor Jean Valjean that he elected to see the hotly anticipated film version of Cameron Mackintosh's groundbreaking musical for the first time on Friday night at a private screening attended by his wife Deborra-lee Furness, his father and stepmother, and a couple of close friends.

"I told them they were only allowed to say good things and that they weren't allowed to talk to me for a few minutes afterwards.''

Hooper, who won an Oscar in 2011 for The King's Speech, has said that he would have walked away from the project had Jackman turned down the role.

"There was no second choice,'' he told Vogue magazine.

But three weeks before filming began, Jackman says he rang Furness with serious doubts about his ability to pull it off - both in terms of the acting and his character's two-and-a-half octave range.

"She listened and then she said: You can't play Jean Valjean and not feel that. Embrace the vulnerability.''

Jackman says Hooper's decision to film the songs live was nerve-wracking for the entire cast, which includes Russell Crowe as Valjean's arch-nemesis, the police inspector Javert and Anne Hathaway as the story's tragic heroine Fantine.

Almost no changes were made to the vocals in the post-production suite.

Les Miserables is already a hot favourite to pick up Oscar nominations for best film and best director and Hathaway has been a shoe-in for best supporting actress ever since the release of the first trailer, in which she sings heart-wrenching showstopper I Dreamed A Dream.

Jackman faces stiff competition for best actor from the likes of Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master), John Hawkes (The Sessions) and Denzel Washington (Flight).'embrace

But while nobody is underestimating the dramatic heft wielded by his opponents, industry observers and indeed Hopper himself have pointed out that there isn't an actor in Hollywood who can match Jackman's triple threat.

Grant Bowler on working with Lindsay Lohan in Liz & Dick

Australian actor Grant Bowler plays Richard Burton alongside Lindsay Lohan in Liz & Dick. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph reports

Local actor Grant Bowler has called working with Lindsay Lohan on Liz & Dick an exercise in "tolerance" and "patience".

Bowler, host of The Amazing Race Australia, plays actor Richard Burton and opposite Lohan’s Elizabeth Taylor in the new US TV movie.

Liz & Dick was plagued by delays.

The troubled Lohan was briefly hospitalised in June after crashing her black Porsche on her way to filming near Santa Monica.

Production had to be halted when she was found unconscious in her suite at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

Lohan blamed exhaustion from the long hours filming Liz & Dick.

“There were exercises in patience and there were exercises in tolerance and I believe it (filming of Liz & Dick) could have been smoother at times,” Bowler told US news show Hollywood Access Live.

“We certainly took our time in a lot of ways, where I would have preferred to be shooting.”

Bowler revealed that he answered emails and signed around 4000 fan cards to stave off boredom during delays.

Liz & Dick producer Larry A Thompson told the Hollywood Reporter that working with Lohan was tough.

“Making a movie with Lindsay Lohan is not for the faint of heart,” Thompson said.

“During production I certainly turned 50 shades of white, but we got it in the can and I think it's good.”

Maybe not. Liz & Dick has been savaged by critics in the US.

The Hollywood Reporter called it “an awful mess and an instant classic of unintentional hilarity”.

Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor and actor Grant Bowler as Richard Burton in the telemovie, Liz & Dick. Picture: APSource: Supplied

X Factor hits top-note in ratings

X Factor winner Samantha Jade with Guy Sebastian.

 

Andrew Murfett, The Sydney Morning Herald, reports

Although it obliterated the competition served up by the other networks last night, the grand final edition of The X Factor did not draw the blockbuster viewing numbers some expected.

The series, which has dominated early week ratings nationally for the last quarter, crowned Samantha Jade Gibbs its winner in a glittering concluding episode last night.

Although the final five-city metro figure of 2.162 million was certainly impressive, and delivered the Seven network its second-strongest market share figure for the year, it did not come close to equalling the conclusion of Nine's blockbuster The Voice in June.

It should be acknowledged, however, that it compares favourably with last year's X Factor finale, which landed 2.02 million viewers.

The average figure for last night's episode was 1.87 million. Again, this bested last year's final instalment figure, which was 1.72 million. The good news for the network is that it sets Seven up for a huge win in the second-last week of official ratings for the year.

The series has averaged about 1.5 million viewers an episode this season – an extraordinary result in itself – so the finale figure offers a modest increase.

Still, having being such a dominant force in ratings in the last quarter, Seven were quietly hoping for an even better result. The Nine network was able to draw 2.65 million for the last Voice episode this year and a colossal 3.09 million for the announcement of the winner.

Similarly, Nine was also able to grab 2.969 million for its announcement of the winner of The Block this year and 2.191 million for the final episode.

Seven's Dancing With The Stars finale this year averaged 1.234 million viewers. Its monster ratings smash My Kitchen Rules picked up 2.812 million viewers for its winner's announcement in late March and 2.198 million for its final episode.

The top-rating Australian reality TV broadcast of all-time remains the 2010 conclusion to MasterChef , which yielded a whopping 3.9 million viewers.

Blanchett confirmed for Hobbit premiere

The Hobbit

Cate Blanchett returns ...

The Sydney Morning Herald reports

Australians Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Barry Humphries will all attend the world premiere of the first Hobbit movie in New Zealand next week.

Warner Bros has announced the stars who will attend the first screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in Wellington.

Blanchett plays Elf Queen Galadriel, Weaving plays Elf Lord Elrond and Humphries plays the Goblin King in the latest installment of the epic series.

Filmmakers Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will also be joined by Martin Freeman, who plays the central role of Bilbo Baggins; Richard Armitage, who stars as the dwarf warrior Thorin Oakenshield; Andy Serkis who plays Gollum and Elijah Wood who plays Frodo Baggins.

There may be a nearly 10-metre statue of Gandalf the Grey above Wellington's Embassy Theatre, but the actor who plays the character, Sir Ian McKellen, won't be there to see it for himself.

McKellen said he was sorry he could not attend. "I know they (the cast) will have a wonderful welcome from the fans and I envy them. As ever, my heart is in Wellington, and I send my love."

Wellington is spending $NZ1.1 million ($A871,943) on activities in the week of the premiere, temporarily calling itself "The Middle of Middle-earth".

The film is released globally on December 14 and in Australia on Boxing Day.

Hard luck story for winning Sophie Wong

Melanie Vallejo plays Sophie in the popular Melbourne drama Winners and Losers. Picture: Andy Drewitt Source: National Features

Colin Vickery, The Daily Telegraph, reports

Sophie Wong has always been the most controversial character on Winners & Losers.

In last year's first episode of the Channel 7 drama, it was revealed Sophie, played by Melanie Vallejo, had a cocaine habit.

It was a risky storyline for a supposedly warm and fuzzy show that centred on four female friends who win the lottery.

Now Sophie has split the Winners & Losers audience with her decision to have an abortion.

In last week's show, she revealed to boyfriend Doug (Tom Wren) that she was pregnant - but didn't want to keep the baby.

Sophie gave Doug no say in the matter. It was a done deal.

Doug, who desperately wants to get married and have children, is devastated.

The shock storyline has been a challenge for Vallejo. The 33-year-old married Matthew Kingston in May last year and is keen to start a family.

"It (terminating a pregnancy) is a huge decision for any woman," Vallejo says.

"It (the abortion storyline) sparked a lot of conversations with friends.

"It helped me to work through why would Sophie make that decision because that is not what I would do.

"(I realised that) a lot of people have babies because their relationship is not doing so well, but that's a horrible reason to bring another person into the world.

"It (abortion) is a completely valid choice (for Sophie). It would be ridiculous for her to have a child to Doug at this point in her life."

The first series of Winners & Losers was accused of being soft. Sophie, Frances James (Virginia Gay), Jenny Gross (Melissa Bergland), and Bec Gilbert (Zoe Tuckwell-Smith) spent most of their time bonding after being bullied years earlier by Tiffany Turner (Michala Banas).

This year things have deepened and Sophie's decision to have an abortion has topped a string of controversial storylines.

"Sophie doesn't really know what she wants," Vallejo says.

It is a very different story for Vallejo, who says marrying Kingston was "the easiest decision of my life" and that she wants to "have babies and lots of them".

"Channel 7 hired four women in their late 20s and early 30s to be in the show, so someone's going to get knocked up."

Vallejo, meanwhile, is tight-lipped about the looming season finale of the show.

What is known is that tragedy will strike with the death of one of the characters.

Seven has sent out previews of the episode with the final 10 minutes missing. It doesn't want any leaks.

The on-air promotion - "Who Will Lose Their Life?" - suggests a number of possibilities.

Sophie, Brian Gross (Francis Greenslade), Doug, Bec, Matt, and Frances are the possible candidates.

Viewers are teased with scenes of a gun, someone crossing the road, Bec driving erratically, furniture being smashed, Brian stepping in front of a bus, a motorcycle swerving, and a possible building accident.

Whatever happens will have a major impact on the storylines for next year's third season.

"Series three of Winners & Losers is all about re-building," a Seven spokesperson says.

"It's time for everyone to start over. Relationships, careers, aspirations will all be turned on their head."

-- Winners & Losers, Channel 7, Tuesday, 8.30pm