Foreign Exchange is an Australian-Irish television series produced by Southern Star in association with Irish public broadcaster RTÉ. It aired on Nine Network from the 5 November to 27 December 2004. The series starred Lynn Styles as Hannah O'Flaherty, a feisty Irish girl, and Zachary Garred as Brett Miller, a sun-drenched Australian boy. The pair are brought together from opposite sides of the world, due to a transfer portal. The series of 26 episodes was created by the Australian author John Rapsey and directed by Annie Murtagh-Monks and Gillian Reynolos.
Synopsis
Foreign Exchange had two major sets, one in Galway, Ireland, and the other in Perth, Western Australia. Brett Miller and his family live underneath their restaurant, only to find a rock that opens a portal into the basement level of O'Keeffe's College, an Irish boarding school. There he unexpectedly bumps into Hannah O'Flaherty, a student from Galway, who is delighted to learn that when she turns a similar rock on her side of the portal, she can escape the grey and winter of Ireland to the sun and summer of Australia. The show revolves around these two characters, who are the only two to know and use the portal with the exception of Cormac MacNamara, who learns about the portal near the end of the season.
Characters
Brett Miller : A young Australian surfer who finds a portal that takes him to Ireland, in the basement of a boarding school, O'Keeffe's College. He becomes the best friend of Hannah, and they never tell anyone about the portal. Originally an only child, his mother Jackie remarried to Craig and he now has a little sister Meredith. Also living in the home is Wayne, his big brother. In Ireland, Brett finds work as a janitor's assistant. Initially in love with Tara, over the course of the series, he realises that his true passion is Hannah.
Hannah O'Flaherty : An Irish student at O'Keeffe's College, best friend of Brett. She boards at the school as a roommate with Tara. Hannah is smart and a close friend of Cormac, the local genius. The school's director, Miss Murphy, is suspicious of her disappearances. Hannah loves Brett's family and vice versa. In Australia everyone thinks she is a surfer.
Cormac MacNamara : One of the smartest students at O'Keeffe's College. He always has some new invention and is a close friend of Hannah.
Tara Keegan : Hannah's roommate, who never suspected the portal. She likes to appear popular. Tara is interested in fashion, shopping, gossip, beauty treatments and money. Often she leaves school only to go to the shopping mall. Initially Brett is in love with her.
Martin Staunton : Son of the vice-director and advisor of O'Keeffe's College, boyfriend of Tara. His father is rich.
Meredith Miller Payne : Meredith is the daughter of Craig, the younger sister of Wayne, the stepdaughter of Jackie and the stepsister of Brett. She is a generous, kind, honest, intelligent girl and always gives her opinion. She likes Brett and Hannah a lot, and she thinks that they are an item, and also likes Wayne although he is often rude and loud. She loves to read.
Wayne Payne : He is Brett's stepbrother and Meredith's elder brother. He likes fighting with Brett.
Jackie Miller-Payne : Mother of Brett and stepmother of Meredith and Wayne. She is a great cook and runs the family restaurant.
Craig Payne : Husband of Jackie, father of Wayne and Meredith, stepfather of Brett. He tries to live with their three children of an organised manner.
Seamus McCracken : Caretaker and janitor of the college and boss of Brett.
Eilish Murphy : Director of O'Keeffe's College. She suspects that Brett and Hannah keep a secret.
