Saying goodbye to Chris? MICHAEL'S MIXED EMOTIONS

IF HE SURVIVES THIS CRISIS, MARRIAGE IS ON THE STAR’S MIND

- Rebekah Hebenton

In usual Ferndale fashion, the Shortland Street Christmas cliffhanger left viewers across the country on the edge of their seats as Dr Chris Warner, played by Michael Galvin, lay bleeding to death after being shot in the abdomen.

It was the end of a harrowing turn of events for the CEO of the clinic, who was also haunted by visions of dead friends and family as he struggled to cope with his grief after losing his son Phoenix earlier in 2020. And though it means his fate – and his future employment – is up in the air, this emotional storyline brought Michael’s favourite moment on the show last season.

“I got to act with Jarod Rawiri again, and Phoenix came back, so I got to act with Geordie [Holibar] again. And I had a Zoom conversation with Craig Parker, who plays my brother Guy,” he tells the Weekly. “So that was just a real highlight for me – hanging with these people again who I really thought had gone for good.”

While he waits to see what the future holds for his character, Michael hopped in an ambulance and set out on a road trip to meet some Shorty superfans for his upcoming special, Dr Love’s Guide to Shortland Street.

It was an experience that Michael says made him, “really proud to be on the show“, after hearing how much it means to so many people.