Ryan Moloney, who plays Ramsay Street’s Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi on Neighbours, has admitted that he had already been considering leaving the show before it was made public that it was being cancelled.
After portraying the renowned Toadie for a staggering 28 years, Moloney discussed the bittersweet ending to the famed Australian sitcom in an interview with the Herald Sun.
As rumours of Neigbours’ cancellation started to circulate, he remarked of quitting the show, “I was planned on leaving, I was thinking now is the time.”
I am actually very thankful that I was able to do that and experience the end since I have always said that I wanted to ride the wave all the way to shore. What a beautiful ability to have,” he continued.
Ryan Moloney said he’s excited to leave his nearly 30-year position because he wants to spend more time with his wife, Alison Hayward, and their two kids.
“I have been there for 28 years, and during that time I have seen people come and go. Whenever they leave, I always assume they are leaving on an adventure, so now I just feel like this is my adventure; who knows what will happen next, “He clarified.
“I simply really look forward to being with my family, taking them places, and doing all the regular things.”
“The kids are approaching that priceless, crucial stage of becoming teenagers, and I want to be there for that,” Moloney continued.
Moloney discussed the position he landed in 1995 in another interview with Inside Soap. He said, “I was simply relieved to have a job! When I was 15 years old, I didn’t really understand that it might be anything more. I simply wanted to show there, have a good time, and leave.”
If he had ever anticipated remaining on the show for as long as he has, he would have responded, “Not at all; every contract that came my way was a blessing.”
Fans were in shock when it was announced in March that the venerable soap opera had been mercifully terminated after over 40 years on our screens.
A tweet delivering the sad news said, “We are so sorry to report that Neighbours will cease production in June after almost 37 years and around 9000 episodes broadcast.”
The remainder of the statement went on to justify the firing.
“We simply have no choice but to rest the show following the loss of our important broadcast partner in the UK and despite a thorough hunt for alternative funding,” the statement continued.
The tweet went on to praise the “wonderful” and “faithful” viewers of the programme and promised a spectacular conclusion.
“We all on the team agree that this is a tremendous disappointment. We appreciate all of your comments and encouragement, and we pledge to end the programme with a bang. We will now be honouring our neighbours.”
On August 1, 2022, the Neighbours series will come to an end.
