The executive producers of Neighbours have revealed which well-known characters from previous seasons of the soap opera will join Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan on Ramsay Street.
The announcement that the Australian soap opera will be ending after 37 years on our screens devastated fans earlier this year, but the good news is that the show’s producers are going all out for the finale.
As the show’s all-time golden pair Scott and Charlene, Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue will return to Neighbours this month, ensuring the serial opera ends on a high note.
More names have been added to the list of Neighbours alumni scheduled to return to Ramsay Street, and it is better than we could have imagined! Ian Smith, best known to soap opera fans as the famous Harold Bishop, has also been confirmed to be making a comeback.
As filming for the final month-long on-air celebration of the classic series has begun, former cast members have begun returning to the set. The final episode will run on Friday, July 29 at 9pm on Channel 5.
According to the confirmed list, Kylie Minogue will reprise her role as Charlene Mitchell, Jason Donovan will play Scott Robinson, Guy Pearce will play Mike Young, Ian Smith will play Harold Bishop, Peter O’Brien will play Shane Ramsay, Mark Little will play Joe Mangle, and Paul Keane will play Des Clarke.
Daniel MacPherson, who played Joel Samuels in the 1990s, is returning, as is Mal Kennedy, Melissa Bell, who played Lucy Robinson, and Lesley Baker, who played Toadie’s mother, Angie Rebecchi.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who played Izzy Hoyland in the 2000s, Pippa Black, who played Elle Robinson, Morgan Baker, who played Callum Rebecchi, Jordan Patrick Smith, who played Andrew Robinson, and James Mason, who played Chris Pappas, will all make a comeback.
Additionally, Olympia Valance as Paige Smith, Jodi Gordon as Elly Conway, Zoe Cramond as Amy Williams, Kate Kendall as Lauren Turner, and Olivia Junkeer as Yashvi Rebecchi will all make returns from the most recent Neighbours era.
Despite only recently quitting the serial opera, Zima Anderson as Roxy Willis and Ben Hall as Ned Willis will all be making appearances as Kyle Canning.
Margot Robbie, a well-known Hollywood actress, has also been confirmed to appear in the finale once more as Donna Freedman. She debuted in 2008 and was a part of 327 episodes in total before deciding to leave the programme in 2011.
She went on to have tremendous success in Hollywood after that, appearing in films including Birds of Prey, I, Tonya, The Suicide Squad, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In 2023, she will also be seen in Amsterdam and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Four additional former Neighbours actors, including Kym Valentine as Libby Kennedy, Jesse Spencer as Billy Kennedy, Delta Goodrem as Nina Tucker, and Carlan Bonner as Stephanie Scully, will join her.
Whether you are a die-hard fan of Neighbours or haven’t watched in a while, the show’s producers have guaranteed an ending that will appeal to viewers of all ages from the show’s 1985 premiere to the final episode next week.
Jason Herbison, executive producer of Neighbours, said: “As Neighbours comes to an end, we will be giving something for everyone, whether the eighties, nineties, noughties, or teens is your favourite decade.
With a few surprises up our sleeves, “we will be honouring the most memorable characters from across various decades, along with the current cast.”
It’s an incredible delight to be back, stated actor Ian Smith while referring to his return as Harold Bishop. The biggest sook there is is me. On the final night that Neighbours airs, I’m going to shock. I am incredibly proud to have been a part of what will undoubtedly be the end of an era.
Regarding his return to Ramsay Street as Joel Samuels, Daniel MacPherson said: “Joining Neighbours at age 17, little did I know, was going to kick launch a career that continues to be the experience of a lifetime. To return and reprise my role as Joel one more was a little way for me to express my sincere gratitude to the cast, crew, and viewers of the show.
Channel 5 broadcasts Neighbours weekdays at 1.45 and 6. My5 offers streaming as well.
