Valerie Grundy (Patti Newton)
Neighbours has revealed a first look at Valerie Grundy, the new character who'll be killed off in the show's 8,000th episode.
Show bosses have cast Australian entertainer Patti Newton in the role of Valerie, who'll make a brief appearance for the long-running soap's latest milestone.
As we revealed last week, episode 8,000 will see the local community brought together by the sad death of Val, who's occupied the corner house of Ramsay Street for 34 years.
Shy and reclusive, Val keeps her nose out of the daily dramas in Erinsborough and the neighbours know very little about her as a result.
Shortly after we see Val exchanging polite hellos with the likes of Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) and Piper Willis (Mavournee Hazel), she passes away peacefully at home.
Stepping into Val's house for the first time, Toadie is surprised to discover that she was a hoarder – and many of the things she’s collected over the years are items discarded by their various neighbours who have come and gone.
Toadie realises this was all part of Val’s attempt to feel connected to the community and is troubled by how little they knew of her.
Moved by the support and love he has in his own life and wishing lonely Val had felt the same, Toadie pitches the idea to stage a Christmas concert to bring the community together.
Valerie's surname is a nod to the late Reg Grundy, who helped to create Neighbours alongside Reg Watson in the '80s.
Val's demise is unrelated to the upcoming death of a fan favourite, which was confirmed on the show's Facebook page last week.
Neighbours' 8,000th episode will be screened just days before the show's first ever Christmas Day special.
Neighbours airs these scenes on Friday, December 21 at 12.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5.
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