Andrew Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordan Patrick Smith from 2009 to 2013 and in 2022. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 13 November 1991. Shannon Holmes played the role from the character's birth in 1991 until his departure the following year. Andrew's backstory was subject to retroactive continuity to explain Smith's Scottish accent, and he had his age reduced so that he would be a teenager on his return. Andrew is the only son of Christina Alessi (Gayle Blakeney) and Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). His storylines have included his return to Erinsborough, having an affair with Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie), fighting with his stepbrother and becoming involved in a love triangle with Natasha Williams (Valentina Novakovic) and Summer Hoyland (Jordy Lucas). In November 2012, it was announced Smith would be leaving Neighbours and Andrew made his screen departure on 29 March 2013. In 2022, Smith reprised the role in one episode.

Creation and casting The character was created as part of Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Christina Alessi's (Gayle Blakeney) relationship arc. Both Dennis and Blakeney were pleased with the pregnancy storyline. Blakeney carried out her own research into the subject, and she prepared for the birth scenes by visiting a Melbourne hospital to talk to the midwives. She admitted that she could not wait to work with the baby on set. Producers did not want to reveal the sex of the baby until the birth aired. Dennis revealed that both he and Blakeney asked the show's executive producer and he refused to tell them. Paul and Christina are seen discussing names, particularly boys names, and Dennis said that his character is a "typical Australian chauvinistic male so, of course, he'd like a son to carry on the name and all that." Blakeney explained that with Chrissie's Italian background, she wants the name Benito, as someone in the family has always been called Benito. Dennis added that Paul would be pretty happy with a girl, as he just wants to be a good father and husband. The baby, later named Andrew, was born on-screen on 13 November 1991. He was portrayed by Shannon Holmes until his departure in 1992.

In September 2009, it was announced the character would be returning to Neighbours after a seventeen-year absence. Darren Rowe of Digital Spy reported twenty-year-old Queenslander Jordan Smith had been cast as Andrew. Smith told David Knox of TV Tonight that shortly after returning from a Gold Coast music festival, he discovered he had seventeen missed calls from his agent telling him he had an audition for Neighbours back down on the Gold Coast. Smith explained "So I drove all the way back down and it was the only audition I've ever had where I really didn't care too much about it. I wasn't very prepared so I just went in, to see what happened. Two weeks later I had a phone call saying I had the job. Crazy." Smith received the call while he was in hospital, following a workplace accident which left his nose swollen and infected. This led to Smith almost turning down the role. Smith's first scenes as Andrew were broadcast in December 2009. His role was initially supposed to last for six weeks. In 2011, it was announced that Smith had signed a new contract to stay with Neighbours for another two years.

Development

Characterisation The character's backstory was changed to accommodate Smith's Scottish accent. Smith had grown up in Scotland before moving to Australia as a teenager. Originally Andrew and Christina were said to have moved from Brazil back to Australia, but this was amended to include an intervening stay in Scotland. Smith speaks in a refined version of his natural accent to be understood. Of this he said "The producers have been fantastic in accommodating my accent. I have had to refine it so the other cast members and audience can understand me. Although I still get that 'what the hell did he just say?' about every second scene." The character also had a noticeable change in age. Andrew was born on screen in November 1991, but his age was decreased to sixteen and his birth date changed to 20 August 1993.

A writer for the BBC's Neighbours website commented that Andrew was "a delightful little baby" who had endured an unsettled beginning to life. Following his return, the character was portrayed as having a deceptive persona. Of this Smith said "He is very calculating and comes across as extremely selfish. However, there is a softer side to him but, for the moment, you only see glimpses of that." Smith also revealed some of the similarities in the comparison of his character and his on-screen father stating: "There are definitely characteristics of his father. He is very motivated by money and status like his father and would think nothing of burning someone if it meant he would get ahead." Network Ten describe the character. as having the charm and confidence others find intoxicating. They also add that he has a gift of an "inexplicable ability to make anyone he's talking to feel like they're the only person in the room." They also comment on how the character longs for his father to take notice of his actions and how much he wants him to notice him as a would-be businessman. Holy Soap said Andrew is a "bit of a chip off the old block and is always keen to make a quick buck."

Relationships

Donna Freedman

Andrew first storyline saw him have a one-night stand with Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie) during schoolies week. Donna was going through a rough patch in her relationship with Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) and when they argue at a dance party, Donna "catches the eye" of Andrew, the club promoter. Robbie explained "Andrew makes the first move to come over and have a chat. He's obviously very charming – and good-looking. Sparks fly straightaway." After they kiss at the party, Donna decides to go back to Andrew's place and she does not return to her room until the morning. A few weeks later, Andrew turns up in Erinsborough to visit his father, much to Donna's shock. Robbie stated that seeing Andrew again was the last thing Donna was expecting and she worries that he is going to tell everyone about what happened between them. TV Week's Jackie Brygel commented "Andrew's appearance has devastating consequences for several Ramsay Street residents in the months to come – particularly Donna, who's determined to keep her relationship with Ringo on track at any cost." Andrew puts pressure on Donna to give into their attraction for each other and they kiss. Robbie called Andrew "a game player" and said he likes the effect he has on Donna. When Ringo chooses to attend a university orientation evening instead of helping Donna out with her fashion business, Andrew becomes aware of her disappointment. He then seizes the opportunity to make "his presence felt in her life".

Robbie believed that because Andrew is more into the fashion scene and an aspiring businessman, he is perfect for the world Donna is trying to break into. One of Andrew and Donna's trysts is recorded onto a laptop and Andrew copies it to a disc, without Donna's knowledge. The disc falls into the hands of school bully, Scott Griffin (Eamonn George), who then shows the tape at the local bar, exposing Andrew and Donna's affair. The tape is later leaked onto the internet, which embarrasses Donna. A few months later, Donna and Ringo become engaged and they plan to marry quickly, so they can live in the United States. Andrew tells Donna that her marriage is doomed because she will probably cheat on Ringo again. When Donna catches Andrew shredding her paperwork for the trip, she slaps him across the face. A week later, Andrew makes sure Ringo witnesses him kissing Donna. She then becomes interested in why Andrew is trying to wreck her future with Ringo. Robbie explained to an Inside Soap writer "Donna is baffled. She thinks it's nuts that Andrew would give a hoot about her moving away, and knows he must have some kind of agenda. Despite the fact Andrew has done some pretty hideous things to Donna, she's probably the only person who really gets him." Donna later realises that Andrew is worried about losing her friendship and when she leaves, he will have no one. Ringo becomes angry with Andrew's actions and he punches him.

Natasha Williams Andrew begins dating Natasha Williams (Valentina Novakovic) in 2010. A few months later, Natasha starts to have doubts about what the relationship and wonders if it is only based on the physical aspects. Natasha puts Andrew's feelings to the test by telling him she wants their relationship to be about communicating and understanding each other's needs. John Burfitt of TV Soap said Natasha is devastated as "Andrew doesn't react very well at all to this dramatic change of direction." Andrew likes her, but he is not as serious as she is about the relationship. Andrew and Natasha briefly split and when they get back together, Lyn Cameron of The Advertiser said Natasha is thrilled "as she's completely obsessed" with Andrew. In early 2011, a love triangle storyline between Natasha, Andrew and Summer Hoyland (Jordy Lucas) began. Andrew beings to develop feelings for Summer, but he is warned off by her grandmother, Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha). Andrew later expresses concern for Summer when she collapses at a party and Natasha notices. She later asks Andrew if he loves her, but he does not reply. Of Andrew's situation, a writer for the official Neighbours website said "Hooking up with Natasha could've been the single most stupid thing he's done so far, and that's saying something."

Summer Hoyland Lucas told a reporter for Holy Soap that she was backing the pairing of Summer and Andrew and wanted things between them to move along. In December 2010, it was revealed that Summer and Andrew would give into their feelings for each other shortly before they become trapped in a house fire. The storyline started with Andrew becoming jealous of Summer dating his business partner, Tomas Bersky (Tim Munley). Smith explained that until that moment, Andrew had thought Summer was too good for him, but when she goes out with Tomas, it is a wake up call for him. Andrew lies to Natasha about having a business meeting and he goes to see Summer. She tells him that she wants to be with him and they kiss. Smith said "Andrew also knows that if he doesn't act now and let Summer know how he feels, it'll be too late. When Summer tells Andrew she wants to be with him, he's completely overwhelmed. He's never felt this way about a girl before." Andrew promises Summer that he will break up with Natasha the next day and they have sex. At the same time, a fire breaks out and Natasha goes in to save Summer, not knowing Andrew is there too. Smith told a writer for Holy Soap that filming the fire scenes was "great fun" and that they gave him a "sense of what it would be like on an action movie." When he was asked who Andrew should be with, Smith thought Natasha was the right one for him because they are very alike. He said Summer "would cool off" as soon as she realised that Andrew is up to no good.