Neighbours-Source.co.uk - Characters - Karl Kennedy
Karl Kennedy / Alan Fletcher
Age:
Relations: Libby Kennedy (Daughter).
Current Residance:
Signifcant Events:
Relationships: Susan Kinski, Izzy Hoyland.
Having been in Ramsay Street for several years, Karl Kennedey owns a C.P's practice in the local Lassiters complex.
Karl is married to Susan and they have three children together, Mal Libby and Billy and have spent a large part of their married life together in number 28 Ramsay Street. As with most marriages there have been problems in their relationship (Karl having a brief affair with Sarah Harding or Susan loosing her memory temporarily and rejecting Karl completely) but on the whole these were overcome as the relationship was one of the stronger in Ramsay Street.
In 1995 Karl came across a problem when trying to treat one of his patients, Kate Cornwall. Kate had an incurable disease and Karl began to form a close friendship with her. When Susan went away for the week the two of them became very close, but Kate decided she wanted to spend what time she had left, with her family - and kissed Karl goodbye (which he returned). Kate died a few weeks later, and Karl had to admit to Susan that he had had feelings for this woman. When karl forgot Valentines Day Mal was quick to notice the 'friendship' Karl had had with Kate, and began searching for clues. Karl had to explain to allthe kids the kind of friendship he'd had with Kate. Susan supported him whilst he told them, and eventually they believed him.
Later that year, Karl's father Tom came to visit. Tom told Karl that he was not his father, and that Karl's mother had had an affair whils tthey were married. Heart-broken Karl was angry at both his parents, but he forgave them eventually. Karl then tried to contact his real father - Ron. Ron was keen to remain in touch with his son but he died shortly after Karl meeting him.
Karl and Susan hit another rough patch with the arrival of Sarah Beaumont. When Sarah came to Karl for comfort after splitting up with her partner, the two kissed. The pair after admitted it was a mistake, but following this Sarah told Karl that she was in love with him. Karl also admitted having strong feelings for Sarah, but was with Susan. Upset, and trying to put Karl behind her, Sarah left Ramsay Street. However, Karl went after her, and the two had dinner together. After drinking, Karl decided that it would not be safe for him to drive, and so the two of them spent the night at a hotel - in different rooms. Unbeknown to Karl, Toadie heard that Karl was spending the night away. After previously having found out about his and Sarah's kiss, Toadie was convinced the two of them were having an affair and so told Billy. Who, told Susan. When Karl returned late for a wedding, he thought Susan was angry at him for just being late. However, when they returned home he was confronted. Karl tried to explain, but ended up saying that he and Sarah had kissed six moths ago, and consequently Susan slapped him - hard. Karl then moved out, and Susan eventually, after kissing another man, realised Karl was who she truely loved - and he moved back in.
The issue of Sarah returned later as Susan slipped on milk and consequently suffered with retrograde amnesia from a blow to the head during the fall which left her thinking she was 16. Susan was slowly regaining her memory, and she remembered slapping Karl. This led her to mistrust Karl again, and asked for a divorce. Karl was gutted. Susan admitted she remembered loving him, but was no longer in love with him. However, during this crisis, Libby's husband, Drew, was killed in a horseriding accident. It was during this time that the fmaily puilled together to support Libby - and when babysitting, Karl and Susan kissed. The pair then agreed to give it another go and renewed their vows at Lassiter's hotel - where more of Susan's memory returned and she began to recite her original wedding vows.
This changed with the arrival of Izzy Hoyland. Karl and Izzy grew closer, which offended Susan more and more. Susan and Izzy had never gotten on and even a friendship between Karl and Izzy was dismissed by Susan. Eventually Karl and Susan's relationship got poor enough for them to split. Karl found support in the arms of Izzy. The feelings the pair had been suppressing and denying overcame them.
Since Karl and Izzy's relationship became public they were shunned by most of the residents who saw them as the reason for Karl and Susans marriage failing. A few of Karl's friends did rally around him (David, Stanford and Toadie) however they were in the minority and Karl was increasingly isolated no matter that he tried to protest his innocence. Relations were also very strained between he and Susan. During this period Karl's health suffered. Things eventually became too much and Karl collapsed whilst trying to fix his car out in the bush. This brush with death helped to heal relations with Susan which were still pretty weak.
In 2005 the introduction of Paul Robinson caused more grief for Karl. He took a dislike to the man, based on his previous actions and talks with Phil. Most of the other resident embraced Paul with open arms as he seemed both generous and kind. To make matters worse Izzy grew closer to Paul and the Paul seemed a more suitable boyfriend than he. This appeared to be a vendetta to others and Karl was once again isolated.