Daniel Fitzgerald

Daniel "Dan" Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Brett Tucker. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 1999. Dan becomes a teacher at Erinsborough High and shares a house with fellow teacher, Tess Bell. He remained as a recurring character until 2000. Tucker returned on 30 October 2007 and became part of the regular cast. Dan re-joined the high school and he began a relationship with Libby Kennedy. In June 2009, it was announced that Tucker had quit the show and Dan departed on 1 December 2009. On 13 September 2010, Dan made a one-off appearance which was filmed prior to Tucker's departure in 2009. The character later appeared in a flashback broadcast on 4 July 2011, played by James Roach. Casting Tucker previously played the role of Dan for a year from September 1999 to September 2000. In 2007, it was announced that Tucker would be reprising his role of Dan, just as Neighbours began returning to its roots of family-focused drama. Tucker returned as a regular cast member and said that it was "great being back". In June 2009, it was announced that Tucker was to quit Neighbours when his contract expired in September that year. Tucker said "My contract was always two years and that was planned from day one, I have loved the opportunity, it has been fantastic to be on the show". Following the announcement, it was speculated that the character of Dan would be recast. However, producers confirmed to entertainment website Digital Spy that there were no plans to recast Dan. In early September 2010, it was revealed that the character would make a one-off appearance in a scene to be broadcast on 13 September, after having previously appeared in audio recordings on 26 July. Tucker had filmed and recorded both prior to his departure in 2009. Carla Bonner (Stephanie Scully) told TV Week that Tucker "loved the fact that Dan Fitzgerald still has such a presence in the show. Even though the character has physically left, his legacy lives on". In 2011, James Roach portrayed a seven-year-old Dan in flashbacks.