Neighbours

Bridget Parker has a lot in common with her Oakey uncles. Just like Ned and Stu, she has a playful sense of humour, a big mouth, and an even bigger heart. She’s feisty and outspoken and always ready for a scrap if the situation demands it. A dyed-in-the-wool tomboy, Bridget (who prefers to go by the nickname Didge) regularly gets herself into trouble but never means any harm.

The Parkers adopted Bridget at the age of 6, along with her older brother Riley whom she adores. Bridget’s adopted status is irrelevant to her on a day-to-day basis. Steve and Miranda are the only parents she has ever known and loved and she has all the same problems with them that any other teenager would have.

Bridget is particularly close to her dad Steve. She shares his cheekiness, his passionate love of animals and sport, and his eagerness to go into battle for the underdog. Her relationship with her mum is a little more complicated. Like Miranda, Bridget is lively, optimistic and proactive in her relationships but that’s where the similarities end.

With Bridget, everything is out there for all to see: her opinions, her passions, her vulnerability, whereas Miranda prefers decorum, order and presenting a permanently pleasant image to the outside world. Bridget knows her mum’s not cold-hearted but she finds her control issues totally infuriating and likes nothing more than to push her buttons. What does it matter if the neighbours hear you fighting, or see you in a dirty shirt, or suspect that you might not be totally perfect?

Bridget’s outgoing nature means she makes friends easily although her fondness for straight talking and roughhousing means that she generally prefers the clear-cut, easy mateship of guys. As soon as she arrived in Ramsay Street she got on well with Zeke Kinski who stood up for her when she wanted to join the footy team. She also bonded with Rachel but their relationship is complicated as Bridget still isn’t entirely sure how to handle other girls. Particularly ones like Rachel Kinski.

Didge took an instant dislike to Declan Napier thanks to his attempts to involve her little cousin Mickey in a robbery. However, the sparks that flew between them quickly gave way to passion and they’ve been permanently on the brink of a relationship ever since.

Things got complicated when Bridget was accidentally hit by Susan’s car. Paralysed down one side of her body, Didge had to use a walking frame and was painfully self-conscious about her disability. She pushed Declan away and found solace in the strong arms of Josh Taylor, a wheelchair bound student she met during her rehabilitation sessions at the pool.

However, when Declan and Bridget were trapped together in the rubble of the dance party roof collapse, they couldn’t deny their attraction and kissed. Josh nobly bowed out but the star-crossed lovers still couldn’t quite seem to get it together.

So are they just friends now or is romance around the corner for Bridget Parker?