The sequel to the long-running daily drama series – about the lives, loves and challenges of the residents of a fictional Melbourne suburb – follows its finale earlier this year. Image: Filming ended after 37 years in June this year. Photo: Fremantle Australia/ Ray Messner It featured a number of beloved characters returning to the dead end community and was watched by millions of fans. Actors Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Ryan Moloney (Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) and screen wife Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) return to reprise their roles in the soap. Image: Donovan and Minogue (Scott and Charlene Robinson) were only on the soap for a few years before their pop careers took off, but returned for a cameo in the finale. Photo: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock In a social media teaser announcing the show’s return, Woodburne, 66, appears in character telling others the news. “We’re coming back,” she says excitedly, to which Moloney replies, “I’m there!” with Fletcher saying, “It works for me.” “Hold on, I’ll have to check my calendar,” Dennis says, adding, “Okay, I’ll be available. Happy?” “We’re coming back!” – exclaim a delighted Maloney, Fletcher and Woodburne, hugging each other. The soap opera first aired in Australia in 1985 before coming to the UK the following year. It followed the lives of those who lived and worked in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. The show was axed by Channel 5 from its British television schedule after nearly four decades and 8,903 episodes. Image: A 1987 photo of the Neighbors cast, including Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. Photo: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock Although the series had lost viewers in recent years, it was always a favorite in the UK. The soap helped launch the careers of stars such as Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia, Guy Pearce, Liam Hemsworth and Holly Valance. The new series will also air on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Production is set to begin in early 2023, with the world premiere expected to take place in the second half of the year.
