Duncan Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 14 June 1989. He was initially portrayed by Allana Ellis, with actor Lewis Devaney taking over the role from 1990 to 1998. Brendan McKensy assumed the role in 1998 until Duncan's departure in 2001. McKensy later reprised the role in 2004 and 2005 and made his last appearance on 13 July 2005. The character was reintroduced on 19 July 2016, with Benedict Wall cast in the role. Duncan is the son of Ailsa (Judy Nunn) and Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher). His 2016 reappearance marked the first time in 27 years that he, Alf and his half-sister Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) had been on-screen together. During his time in Summer Bay, Duncan befriends Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee), becoming a love rival for Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor).
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Casting
The character was initially portrayed by Allana Ellis. Lewis Devaney took over the role in 1990 and remained until 1998. The role was then recast to Brendan McKensy. McKensy returned for the serial's 4000th episode, based around Duncan's father Alf Stewart's (Ray Meagher) 60th birthday, broadcast in Australia on 8 July 2005.
Development
The character departed in 2001. Duncan left Summer Bay in "disgrace" to live with his aunt Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) in the city. Duncan's father Alf initially refused Duncan's request to leave town, so Morag encouraged Duncan to act up, leaving Alf with no other option but to send him away. Duncan "throws himself into the task with gusto" and began insulting people. When his half-sister Shauna Bradley (Kylie Watson) tried to talk to him about his behaviour, Duncan claimed their mother Ailsa (Judy Nunn) never loved her. Alf was "furious" when he heard what happened and confronted Duncan, who finally admitted that he was unhappy in the Bay because no one liked him. Alf then gave his permission for his son to move to the city. Duncan made brief returns in 2004 and 2005.
The character returned on 19 July 2016 with New Zealand actor Benedict Wall cast in the role. Wall originally auditioned for the role of Justin Morgan, but the part went to James Stewart. Wall was in New Zealand when the role of Duncan became available. He sent an audition tape to the producers and they offered him the part. Of his casting, Wall said "It wasn't lost on me that I wasn't from the right part of the world when I got the job. But you know what's funny is when I'm with Ray, I'm always surprised at how much we do seem alike." Wall worked on his Australian accent, but as the character has been living in the United States, it did not need to be too thick.
Shortly after Alf suffers health problems and decides to cut Duncan out of his will, Duncan comes to visit him, but does not receive a warm welcome. Duncan's return marked the first time in 27 years that he, Alf and his half-sister Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) have been on screen together. Duncan also befriends Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) and develops "an immediate connection" with her, but ends up competing with Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor) for her affections. Wall had worked with Pryor before they were cast in the show, and he quipped, "now we're competing for the same woman."
Storylines
Duncan is born to Alf and Ailsa. After his aunt Celia (Fiona Spence) dresses him in the Stewart family's traditional christening gown, he suffers an allergic reaction to it and is hospitalised. Duncan recovers, but Ailsa experiences post-natal depression and nearly smothers him at one point. Ailsa soon begins to bond with him. As Duncan grows older, he befriends Christopher Fletcher (Shaun Wood) and has several surrogate siblings in the form of Blake (Les Hill) and Karen Dean (Belinda Jarrett), Simon Fitzgerald (Richard Norton), Sarah Thompson (Laura Vasquez), Curtis Reed (Shane Ammann) and Aaron Welles (Ritchie Gudgeon), teenagers whom his parents foster.
While following some of the local teenagers who are hanging out in some wasteland, Duncan suffers a fall and injures himself. He is hospitalised for several months and when he returns home, his personality drastically changes. When Duncan starts high school his behaviour gets worse as he frequently causes trouble. One incident includes the making of a homemade bomb with his friend Jack, who burns himself in the process. Alf experiences a shock when the bomb goes off and injures his arm. The Stewarts attend counselling mediated by Natalie Nash (Antoinette Byron).
On a car journey with Ailsa, Duncan drops a tape and tries to retrieve it. Ailsa loses control of the car and it crashes into a lake. Duncan is able to free himself and calls for help. Travis Nash (Nic Testoni) is on the scene and rescues Ailsa, but she remains comatose for several weeks. Duncan blames himself for the accident. The doctors inform Alf and Duncan that Ailsa may never wake up and Alf decides to turn the machine off, but Duncan notices Ailsa make a slight movement and tells the doctors not to turn the machine off.
When homeless teen Mitch McColl (Cameron Welsh) saves Duncan's life, he is grateful and offers him food from the Stewart house. Alf finds out and soon he and Ailsa agree to let Mitch live with them and Mitch and Duncan form a sibling-like bond.
Nick Smith (Chris Egan) settles in Summer Bay with his family and he and Duncan quickly become friends and get into various scrapes. The Sutherland family arrive and Duncan and Nick are attracted to the two youngest daughters, Jade (Kate Garven) and Kirsty (Christie Hayes) and begin dating them respectively.
Reception
For his portrayal of Duncan, McKensy was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 1999 Inside Soap Awards.