Return to Eden (1986– )

Glossy Australian soap opera, where the beautiful, dynamic Stephanie Harper battles her enemies to gain sole control of the family company, Harper Mining Limited.

Creator:

Michael Laurence

Stars:

Rebecca Gilling, James Smilie, Peta Toppano

Cast

Series cast summary:
Rebecca Gilling	...	Stephanie Harper (22 episodes, 1986)
James Smilie	...	Dr. Dan Marshall (22 episodes, 1986)
Peta Toppano	...	Jilly Stewart (22 episodes, 1986)
Daniel Abineri	...	Jake Sanders (22 episodes, 1986)
Peter Cousens	...	Dennis Harper (22 episodes, 1986)
Megan Williams	...	Cassie Jones (22 episodes, 1986)
Nicki Paull	...	Sarah Harper (22 episodes, 1986)
Billy Dean	...	Martin (22 episodes, 1986)
Warren Blondell	...	Tom McMaster (21 episodes, 1986)
Angelo D'Angelo	...	Angelo Vitale (21 episodes, 1986)
Peter Gwynne	...	Bill McMaster (21 episodes, 1986)
Rod Anderson	...	Anton Parker (18 episodes, 1986)
Ann Brisk	...	Hilary (12 episodes, 1986)
Saskia Post	...	Jessica Stewart (12 episodes, 1986)
Suzanne Roylance	...	Olive Down (11 episodes, 1986)
Robin Ramsay	...	Sheik Ahmal (10 episodes, 1986)
Keith Aberdein	...	Johnno Ryan (9 episodes, 1986)
Wendy Playfair	...	Rena McMaster (9 episodes, 1986)

Storyline

Glossy Australian soap opera, where the beautiful, dynamic Stephanie Harper battles her enemies to gain sole control of the family company, Harper Mining Limited.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 1986 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Epistrofi stin Edem

Filming Locations:

McElroy & McElroy studios, Five Dock, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

McElroy & McElroy, Network Ten

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (22 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series was a continuation of the three part mini-series, Return to Eden, transmitted in Australia in 1983. The storyline was set seven years after the ending of the mini-series, and several of the original cast members reprised their roles for the TV series, though the roles of Stephanie's two children were recast as they were now grown.

---

Connections

Spun-off from Return to Eden (1983)

User Reviews

The further adventures of Stephanie Harper

Following the wild success of the 1983 miniseries Return To Eden came back a couple of years later in the guise of a glossy weekly serial.

Set seven years after the original Stephanie is back and an old enemy is trying to bring her world crashing down.

This series of Return to Eden is much more like American dramas of the same era, namely Dynasty, Falcon Crest, etc, but with more wit and a cast who seem to play their roles with their tongues slightly in cheek.

The plots are typical of 80s excess - company takeovers, faked deaths, and bedroom scenes galore.

Peta Toppano steals the show as Jilly Stewart, delivering her bitchy lines with camp exuberance whilst wearing ever more amazingly over the top costumes as the series progresses. All of the cast are great but special mentions have to go to the lovely Rebecca Gilling playing Stephanie, and James Smillie as her husband Dan Marshall who delivers all of his lines in a true matinée idol style.

This series came to an abrupt ending after just 22 episodes due to poor ratings in it's native Australia and allegedly because the show was so expensive to produce.

If you love your soaps to be glamorous, your story lines over the top and your shoulder pads huge then Return to Eden is the show for you!