Chris 'Skippy' Newman

Chris 'Skippy' Newman
Rank	Firefighter
Station	Blackwall Fire Station
Spouse(s)	-
Relatives	-
Played by	Brad Clayton
First appearance	Series 9, Episode 10 (1996)
Last appearance	Series 9, Episode 15 (1996)

Chris Newman was a firefighter stationed at Blackwall Fire Station during series 9. A native of Perth, Australia, he was soon given the nickname 'Skippy'.

Biography

Chris Newman arrived at Blackwall as Kevin Medhurst's replacement. Originally from Perth, Western Australia, he was in the middle of traveling the world when he ran out of money in London, so he joined the Fire Brigade, following in the footsteps of his father, who had been a fireman back in Australia. He transferred to Blackwall when his previous station Thames Reach after it was downgraded to one appliance. Blue Watch held a raffle to decide a nickname for him, and settled on Maggie's suggestion of 'Skippy'.

On an early shout, Skippy calmly talked down a young woman who was threatening to jump off a building, by offering her a cigarette. A few days later, the grateful girl came to Blackwall and gave him a gold lighter and her number. As he was rescuing a birdwatcher stuck up a tree, Skippy noticed that the man was actually spying on sunbathing women in a nearby apartment block; he stole one of his films and had it developed.

He became friendly with Billy Ray, who was impressed when he learned that Skippy shared a flat with seven women. He also took Billy in after he was beaten up by his ex-girlfriend Lauren's pimp. Skippy was injured in the appliance crash at the end of series 9 and did not return to Blackwall after being pronounced unfit to return and according to Recall his family had paid for him to return to Australia.

Appearances

Chris appeared in only 6 episodes of London's Burning in 1996.

Series 9 - (6 episodes)