List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2008

Martin Bartlett, portrayed by Bob Baines, made his first appearance on 12 February 2008. In one storyline Martin forms an attraction to his school secretary Kirsty Sutherland (Christie Hayes). Hayes told Jason Herbison from ''Inside Soap'' that "things are really awkward between Kirsty and Bartlett, because he's fallen for her in a big way, but she rejected him and is now dating Miles Copeland (Josh Quong Tart)." When he sacks Kirsty she takes a job as an escort. But she is unaware Martin uses escorts at the Sands resort. Hayes explained that Kirsty is "horrified to discover that her date is principal Bartlett. It's really humiliating for both of them, because Bartlett recently admitted to having feelings for Kirsty." She does not want to be there but Martin convinces her to stay.

Martin, who has taught Science for a number of years at Summer Bay High is introduced when Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) introduces him as the new deputy, replacing the departed Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn). Following Sally's stabbing at the hands of Johnny Cooper (Callan Mulvey), Martin is appointed principal by the school board. One of his first acts is to hire Jazz Curtis (Rachel Gordon) as his secretary, after she blackmails him, after seeing him at an illegal fight Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) is involved in. He then sacks Jazz. After a clash with one of his former students, Kirsty, Martin hires her as Jazz's replacement. He forms an attraction to Kirsty, even to the extent of taking the blame for being Kirsty's three-year-old son, Oliver (Oliver Davis) breaking his arm while Annie Campbell (Charlotte Best) and Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues) are supposed to be babysitting him. He reveals to Kirsty that his mother brought him up on his own, like she is doing with Oliver while his father, Kane (Sam Atwell) is in prison.

Martin learns of Kirsty's relationship with Miles and he fires her but writes her a reference enabling her to get a job at the sands resort. Things escalate when Miles discovers Kirsty is working as an escort at the Sands, where Martin is paying for such services, leading to a confrontation between Miles and Martin. Martin causes further irritation when he reveals himself as Kirsty's secret benefactor.

At the senior formal which is held in the Surf Club which Martin hosts, Kane's car crashes through the wall. Martin tries to contain the panicky teenagers but is knocked to the ground and trampled, resulting in fractured ribs. He and Kane are hospitalized but recover. Martin arranges a school trek in memory of Dan Baker (Tim Campbell) on the anniversary of his death for some of the students to take part in. Jai and Annie disappear much to his ire and things are exacerbated when Trey Palmer (Luke Bracey) holds the everybody hostage by planting a bomb underneath the bus. Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry) later defuses the bomb. The strain of recent events becomes apparent and Martin leaves for a cruise but not before appointing Gina Austin (Sonia Todd) new principal. Provided by Wikipedia