Neighbours boss Jason Herbison has confirmed that one past character will be missing in the upcoming finale. The show is due to conclude for a second time next month after Amazon decided not to renew it, with the final scenes filmed in July.
As such, a number of familiar past faces will be returning to Ramsay Street one last time, with the series recently confirming some key characters from the Amazon era who will pop up.
Speaking to TV Week, Herbison explained that fans can expect to see these alongside “characters we intended to bring back but ran out of time for”.
However, one iconic person who unfortunately won’t pop up is Toadie Rebecchi – who departed permanently this year – with star Ryan Moloney unfortunately unable to make the filming dates.
“It was also worth mentioning that we asked Ryan [Moloney] to return as Toadie,” he shared. “He was unavailable sadly, but he does of course get a mention.”
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Herbison did tease “a few Easter eggs for the fans”, including Annalise almost breaking the fourth wall, while also sharing how the finale is partly inspired by the real-life loss of the Neighbours studio.
“I couldn’t end it the same way as I did last time,” he said, referring to the original 2022 sendoff before Amazon picked it up. “I knew we were losing the Nunawading Studios and backlot imminently, which was different to the last time.
“With so much love for the show I felt I should craft an ending that would give the show a chance to come back in different ways that didn’t rely on the studios. This is what the finale sets out to do.”
The final episodes will centre on the threat of a freeway being built through Ramsay Street, meaning residents will be torn between staying and fighting or moving somewhere else.
Herbison’s comments seem to suggest that if the soap were to return in the future, it will be set in a new location, with both Shane Ramsay and Paul Robinson in the frame to provide potential alternative accommodation.
Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Prime Video in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach Comedy.
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