This half-hour daytime Canadian soap opera was taped in Toronto and revolved around the character of Dr Neal Chapman (Bruce Gray), a family counsellor in the twin college communities of Cambridge and Cambridgeport.
Chapman lived in a large old house with his 18-year-old daughter, Jessica (Marianne McIsaac) – who attended Delaney College – and his undiplomatic mother, Meg (Doris Petrie). He was divorced from Jessica’s mother, jet-setter Helen (Candace O’Connor), who had recently remarried.
Neal was involved with two women – Trudy Bowen (Barbara Kyle), the host of a local television talk show, and Louise Bates (Jayne Eastwood), the real estate agent who sold Neal the house.
Louise was also a tenant in Neal’s home, along with Neal’s close friend, lawyer Walter Telford (Colin Fox).
Neal worked with Dr Dan Girard (Jan Muszynski), a mysterious young physician.
One of the families Neal counselled most frequently was the Stewart family, one of Cambridge’s more affluent families, composed of successful businessman husband Michael Stewart Sr. (Michael Tait), who had been recently named the President of Cambridge’s leading department store (Gordon’s); his agoraphobic society wife, Norma, (Vivian Reis) and their son, Michael Jr. (Gordon Thomson).
They also had a daughter, Terri, who had died in a car accident, which sent Norma into a mental decline.
Another family he counselled was the middle-class Sperrys, Amy (Gina Dick), a student at Delaney College, and her mother, Doris (Mignon Elkins).
When Jessica learned that she was not actually Neal’s and Helen’s child but the daughter of Helen’s sister, fashion coordinator Paula Myles (Nuala Fitzgerald), she too took a sexual interest in the man who was formerly her father.
The show was not renewed after one season due to poor ratings and bad reviews. In spite of this, High Hopes was broadcast in 20 US markets.
Dr Neal Chapman
Bruce Gray Jessica “Jessie” Chapman/Myles
Marianne McIsaac Helen Chapman
Candace O’Connor Trudy Bowen
Barbara Kyle Louise Bates
Jayne Eastwood Walter Telford
Colin Fox Paula Myles
Nuala Fitzgerald Meg Chapman
Doris Petrie Dr Dan Girard
Jan Muszynski Michael Stewart Sr.
Michael Tait Norma Stewart
Vivian Reis Michael Stewart Jr.
Gordon Thomson Amy Sperry
Gina Dick Doris Sperry
Mignon Elkins
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Neal was involved with two women – Trudy Bowen (Barbara Kyle), the host of a local television talk show, and Louise Bates (Jayne Eastwood), the real estate agent who sold Neal the house.
