Neighbours on Amazon Freevee

[Pantherboy]

DS article - Holly Hoyland returns:


Neighbours star Lucinda Armstrong-Hall set for return as Holly Hoyland
"Is Holly still the sweet girl that we remember?"

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...oyland-return/

Neighbours is bringing back Lucinda Armstrong-Hall as Holly Hoyland.

Filming on the Amazon Freevee soap is currently underway, with many of Ramsay Street's beloved cast members signed up to reprise their characters.

The latest addition was revealed via Twitter today (May 12), with a shot of Lucinda captioned by: "We're happy to officially announce that Lucinda Armstrong-Hall will be reprising her role as Holly Hoyland in new episodes of #Neighbours later this year.

"Is Holly still the sweet girl that we remember? Or is she now more of her mother's daughter? You'll have to wait and see..."

Holly, the daughter of troublemaker Izzy Hoyland and Karl Kennedy, was last seen on Ramsay Street in 2018.

https://twitter.com/neighbours/statu...land-return%2F

Another star returning is the legendary Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop.

In a recent social media clip, Smith suggested that the new iteration of Neighbours will be "a bit cheeky".

"I was dying to see how they'd bring us all back. Now I know and you don't. I love it. It's a bit cheeky, but if you can't be a bit cheeky, what's the point of getting up in the morning?" teased the actor.

Meanwhile, Karl Kennedy star Alan Fletcher promised plenty of surprises for Neighbours viewers when the revival hits our screens.

"Neighbours has always been a family. When people see it, it will be like coming back to a familiar friend," he said. "There are lot of things for fans to be excited about. Neighbours will pull out all the stops to surprise audiences."

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

For anyone interested. DS article:


Neighbours to release two more classic seasons in one day
The 2015 and 2016 seasons will soon be back on your screens.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...sons-together/

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours casts Big Brother Australia star Xavier Molyneux for new season
The actor and reality TV star is spotted on set.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...vier-molyneux/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Neighbours bosses have cast Big Brother Australia star Xavier Molyneux for the show's revival series.

Paparazzi photographers have caught Xavier working on location at Pin Oak Court in Melbourne, which is the real-life location of Ramsay Street.

Xavier was pictured alongside The OC star Mischa Barton, who was previously confirmed for an exciting guest role on the new season.

As Xavier's involvement with Neighbours hasn't been officially announced yet, there's no confirmation on which character he'll be playing.

Xavier will already be familiar to some fans, as he competed on the 12th series of Big Brother Australia in 2020.

Since leaving the Big Brother house, Xavier has filmed roles in short films Girl and Aussie of the Year. He has also been involved in the film Take My Hand alongside Adam Demos, Radha Mitchell and former Home and Away star Jake Ryan.

Neighbours has made several casting announcements in recent months, with filming for the new season now well under way.

Last month, Mischa was confirmed to be playing the guest role of Reece, an American who's new to Erinsborough and not quite who she appears to be.

Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison recently said: "With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa's calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter.

"Mischa's character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad."

Mischa added: "I'm excited to be part of this iconic show's next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia, a place I know and love! I think the character of Reece is going to be a great role for me to explore and play with."

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

Theage.com.au article:


Guy Pearce set for surprise return in Neighbours reboot

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv...12-p5d80s.html

Guy Pearce is set to return to Ramsay Street when the rebooted Neighbours airs later this year.

The Emmy Award-winning actor helped send the show off with a bang last July when he reprised the role of Mike Young, the character he played in more than 450 episodes between 1986 and 1989, for what was meant to be the long-running soap?s finale after 37 years on air.

Reconnecting with old flame Jane Harris (Annie Jones), Pearce?s Mike played a major role in the final three episodes (screened in one movie-length block), and by the end had bought a house and returned to Ramsay Street.

It was a gesture of enormous goodwill from an actor whose career has soared since he made his debut on the show as a 17-year-old novice. But when Amazon and Ten announced they had joined forces to revive the show just four months later, Pearce?s generosity came back to bite him.

?I was a little thrown by that,? Pearce said, in an interview recorded for the Good Weekend Talks podcast. ?Annie and I called each other, ?what do we do now, because we?re living in the street?,? he said, referring to Jones, who returned to the show in 2020 after her own extended period away.

?And she said, ?well I?m all right because I?m on the show anyway, but what are you going to do?? I said, ?I don?t know?. So we?re in the process of working it out.?

Asked if viewers could expect to see him return, Pearce said, ?you may, you may? before making it clear they in fact would.

?Obviously, if I?m going to extricate myself from the show, I want to do it respectfully,? he said. ?I wasn?t just gonna go, ?well, bad luck. You had your chance, that was it?, you know. So there may be a little appearance or two, shall we say.?

Asked if it felt like he had been ambushed, and if the familiar suburban court where the show is set was beginning to fell like a career cul de sac, Pearce laughed.

?It?s the gift that keeps on giving, as they say.

?It?s all right,? he added. ?I?m happy to be there.?

In a revealing interview for Good Weekend Talks, Pearce also shared his thoughts on becoming a father after long believing he didn?t ever want to have children, his unconventional relationship with Dutch actress Carice Van Houten, his thoughts on playing second fiddle versus leading man, and the curious story of The Family, the weird Melbourne cult that inspired his new project, the Disney+ drama The Clearing.



And now the DS article:

Guy Pearce hints at another Neighbours return as Mike Young
"We're in the process of working it out."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...s-2023-return/

Guy Pearce could be heading back to Ramsay Street, once the revived Neighbours begins airing on Amazon Freevee.

The actor played Mike Young on the Australian soap in the 1980s before going to Hollywood, starring in Memento and Iron Man 3.

When the Australian soap opera was believed to be ending for good last year, Pearce returned for a multi episode arc in which Mike reunited with old flame Jane Harris, played by Annie Jones.

After taking time out of his busy schedule to help to say goodbye to the thing that launched his career, he ended up creating a plot thread that fans would love to see more of.

"I was a little thrown by that," he told the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend Talks podcast. "Annie and I called each other [and said] 'what do we do now, because we?re living in the street'. And she said, 'Well, I'm all right because I'm on the show anyway, but what are you going to do?'

"I said, 'I don't know'. So we're in the process of working it out."

lthough the finer details may take some time, Pearce says he's definitely up for a return in the revival.

"Obviously, if I'm going to extricate myself from the show, I want to do it respectfully," he continued. "I wasn?t just gonna go, 'well, bad luck. You had your chance, that was it'. So there may be a little appearance or two, shall we say."

The revival has already begun filming, while Amazon Freevee has recently added episodes from 2015 and 2016 to its service for viewers to watch again in anticipation.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

DS article following on from the previous post:


Neighbours officially confirms Guy Pearce's return as Mike Young
What's going to happen between him and Jane?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...-young-return/

Neighbours is officially bringing back Guy Pearce as Mike Young for the revival on Amazon Freevee.

The Australian soap's official Twitter account confirmed the news, tweeting: "It's official folks... Guy Pearce is riding back into Erinsborough as Mike Young in all new episodes of #neighbours later this year..."

Jason Herbison, the executive producer, told the Herald Sun: "We are delighted that Guy is returning to continue Mike and Jane's reunion. It was a highlight of last year's finale and (there is) definitely more story to tell for these much-loved characters..."

https://twitter.com/neighbours/statu...oung-return%2F

We don't know how long Pearce will be back for, but he teased last week that since his previous return turned out not to be an ending, he feels like it's right by the soap and the character to come back again, rather than have Neighbours return and write Mike out off-screen.

"Obviously, if I'm going to extricate myself from the show, I want to do it respectfully," he said last week. "I wasn?t just gonna go, 'Well, bad luck. You had your chance, that was it'. So there may be a little appearance or two, shall we say."

Pearce admitted to being taken aback by the news that the soap is coming back, and called up Jane actress Annie Jones to talk about it, when he learned that she has signed up to be on the revival full-time.

If Pearce is only back for a short time, does that mean that the couple will be split up?

Hopefully we'll find out sooner rather than later, as filming has already begun. Meanwhile, Amazon Freevee has recently added episodes from 2015 and 2016 to its service for viewers to watch again in anticipation.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours' Jodi Gordon will return alongside April Rose Pengilly in revival
"We can't wait to share Chloe and Elly's next chapter with you."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...rose-pengilly/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

April Rose Pengilly has confirmed she will reunite with Jodi Gordon in the Neighbours revival. The pair play Chloe and Elly, respectively.

The actress shared the exciting news on her Twitter page, writing on Wednesday (May 24) that she and Jodi were gearing up to resume filming on the Amazon Freevee revival.

"We are excited to announce that CHELLY ARE BACK! @jodigordon and I will both be appearing in the new @neighbours, and will be back on set very soon," April tweeted.

"Thank you all so much for your support. We can't wait to share Chloe and Elly's next chapter with you!"

https://twitter.com/AprilRPengilly/s...se-pengilly%2F

The fan-favourite couple reunited in the final episodes of Neighbours' original run, though there were hints they'd be moving away from Erinsborough to Sydney.

When the soap signed off, April and Jodi said they were thrilled to bring some closure to the "greatest love story ever told" ? with April later admitting she'd been caught off guard by Amazon saving the show months later.

"We were all just really shocked and confused! I'm so happy for all of you to have your show back and know you're so excited, but it's strange for us as we knew nothing about it," she wrote on social media at the time.

"Apart from the Heritage 4, none of us have been asked to be involved yet. It's like, all us cast and crew lost our jobs. Now the jobs are back! But maybe we don't get the jobs."

However, it was eventually announced that April would return in a guest appearance for the new series ? alongside other popular cast members such as Ryan Moloney, Stefan Dennis, Annie Jones and even Guy Pearce.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.


EDIT:

Neighbours star Jodi Gordon discusses return as Elly Conway
"I don?t think that part of Neighbours has ever left me."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...conway-return/


Neighbours welcomes back April Rose Pengilly & Jodi Gordon
Erinsborough coupledom resumes for Chloe Brennan and Elly Conway as actors return in extended guest roles.

https://tvtonight.com.au/2023/05/nei...di-gordon.html

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours reveals big news about iconic episodes on Amazon Freevee
Even more memorable moments to enjoy.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...mazon-freevee/

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours star Natalie Imbruglia open to return with Guy Pearce
"You never know."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...rn-guy-pearce/

With Neighbours returning to our screens later this year, former star Natalie Imbruglia has said she would be open to hitting Ramsay Street again in new episodes.

The soap was controversially axed last year before being saved at the last minute by Amazon Prime Video's Freevee, with new episodes being filmed and slated for release in the latter half of 2023.

A number of former stars will be reprising their roles, including Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, and Ryan Moloney.

Singer Imbruglia, who starred as Beth Brennan in the original soap, has admitted she would consider returning to the show.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain, she was asked by host Ed Balls whether she would be tempted to star in Neighbours again, and replied, "Never say never," before saying she would "love" to do something with Guy Pearce, who will be returning as Mike Young.

"They haven't approached me, but I mean, if Guy Pearce is coming back I'd have to consider it. I'd love to do something with Guy," she continued.

The star also spoke about her return in the show's finale and pondered whether creators knew that Neighbours had been saved while the cast filmed.

"I wonder if they knew when we shot that, we didn't know anything about this other re-emergence of Neighbours," she said.

"It was actually Holly Candy who said to me, 'Are you doing this thing?' And I said, 'I will if you will', and we weren't even on the show together so it was so fun to do it with her.

"Obviously it made no sense, but it was the final episode and it was about saying thank you to the show because that's where my career started."

Before we can enjoy new episodes of the soap, a series of classic episodes will be coming to Freevee, Digital Spy exclusively revealed.

The free streaming service will add 50 more of the show's best-ever editions on Thursday, June 15.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours legend Alan Fletcher teases huge return storylines and new tour
"They're some of the most exciting scripts I've ever seen in the show."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...our-interview/

Neighbours spoilers follow.

Life has never been busier for Neighbours legend Alan Fletcher. Just a few weeks after filming the iconic soap's big return episode, Alan has made the trip over to the UK for a month-long tour.

Alan is taking a break from filming to star in The Doctor Will See You Now, an interview-style show that looks back on his most memorable moments as Karl Kennedy ? and teases the future of the Neighbours.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Alan for an exclusive chat about the tour and Neighbours' new season.

What can you tell us about your tour?

"We do 23 shows in 35 days across the country. On the days that I'm not doing shows, I'm generally travelling between venues. It's a pretty intensive tour but I love being on the road.

"My wife Jen [Hansen] is with me doing the show. We both went on the Neighbours Celebration Tour earlier in the year, and then followed it up with a two-week music tour straight after. Being on the road is a lot of fun for us."

What can the fans expect from The Doctor Will See You Now?

"I did a warm-up tour for the Dr Karl show last year. I'm very mindful that a lot of people who came to see me then are coming again this year, so I've done quite a bit of work in revamping the show. I've brought in some new elements and I do a much deeper dive into some of Karl Kennedy's biggest moments. I've also added more music into the show.

"This time, we do a much deeper dive into the early years of the Kennedy family and the relationship that Karl and Susan had with their children. It's important not to gloss over that ? those first four years of the Kennedys really established the characters and made the family beloved, I suppose.

"We also explore the big stories with Sarah and Izzy in more detail as well. There are some moments that we see all the time, like when Susan slapped Karl! But I think it's really interesting to go in there and see how other people were involved ? like Toadie and Billy were really involved in Sarah's storyline. It's great to be able to rediscover those elements that may have been forgotten."

Do you mention Greg Cooper, the other Neighbours character you played in 1987?

"Oh most certainly yes! I think Greg has to be acknowledged. It was enormous fun for me to come and play him because I was working with so many pals ? Stefan Dennis, Paul Keane, people like that.

"They did actually invite me to reprise the role of Greg Cooper on Neighbours but I declined because I was doing theatre! I had no concept at all of how popular Neighbours was at the time. Although, if I had reprised the role of Greg Cooper, I never would have got to play Karl Kennedy."

Neighbours has only been filming again for a few weeks. Will Karl have to take a break because of the tour?

"Neighbours were very good about the fact that this tour was pre-planned before the show was coming back, so they've made some adjustments. But mercifully, because there are production breaks in Neighbours' schedule, I won't be off air for very long even though I'm over here for a long time.

"There's a very good story reason for Karl to go away. Of course, there's so much other stuff going on that I don't think anyone's going to miss Karl!"

So what can you tell us about Neighbours' new season?

"The new storylines that they've got for these first few weeks of Neighbours are startling. I actually got in contact with our story team by email the other night when I read the latest scripts that I've received, just to congratulate them.

"They're some of the most innovative and exciting scripts I've ever seen in the show on my 28 years. The fans have got an enormous amount to look forward to."

When the show was axed, you encouraged people not to get their hopes up about a reprieve! Has the Amazon Freevee pick-up been beyond your wildest dreams?

"No question ? I could not have imagined on any planet that this could happen! I was told later by Amazon executives that it was the fans' outpouring of grief, the petitions and all the social media that drew their attention.

"This is very much a miracle caused by the love of the fans. I think they should be very, very proud and they should take ownership of the fact that they are responsible for getting Neighbours back on air.

"I say thank you to them from the bottom of my heart because the show means so much to me. They are remarkable, and doing the show every night gives me an opportunity to come face-to-face with them every week and say thank-you."

Was the first day of filming emotional?

"Yes, it was incredibly emotional, but also very exciting because we've got a bunch of new people working on the show. Obviously we've got all of our returning cast who've been announced, but we've also got some new cast who people will find out about over time. We've got new crew as well.

"It's extraordinary how the show has been reinvigorated and reimagined by having new people coming in. It's just made things so exciting.

"I now find myself waiting desperately for the new scripts to land in my inbox so I can find out what's happening next. There's so many characters there that I can follow with enormous interest. It's very exciting times and wonderfully joyous to be back."

With Guy Pearce coming back and Mischa Barton joining the cast, there are certainly some big names involved?

"I'm just full of admiration for Guy. He really stepped up last year for the Neighbours finale and did three full episodes. Him, Annie Jones and Henrietta Graham were responsible for some of the best stories in those final episodes.

"When I heard that Guy was going to step up again for the new Neighbours, I thought that just sums up what a fantastic bloke he is. He always said that he's very, very aware of the debt he owes to Neighbours and he honours the show and he's doing that by coming back.

"Mischa Barton's casting is a stroke of genius. Amazon will be showing Neighbours in America and Canada as well. A lot of people loved The OC and they loved Mischa in the show. Even my son, who doesn't tend to watch Neighbours, said that he'd be watching because he loved The OC so much.

"I think it's a great piece of casting and hopefully will help us to establish a new audience in America."

Do you think streaming is the future of soaps?

"I don't know! I'm not a TV executive so I don't know exactly what's going to happen with that sort of thing. People have been prophesying the death of free-to-air TV for a very long time!

"I think there's different types of viewers for soaps. There's a young audience, the YouTube generation, who like to watch things on-demand. There's also a fiercely loyal audience, particularly in the UK, who watch at a particular time of day and that's important to them because it's part of their daily routine.

"I think, as they say on Neighbours, there'll probably be a perfect blend of soaps on streaming and free-to-air."

We've always loved Neighbours in the UK, but do you think Australia will start to become more supportive of the show again after this one-year break?

"I think it's going to be quite a change. When Australia found out that Neighbours was ending, we had around 1.5 million people watch the last episode. Now in Australia, that figure is huge and it was the highest-rated programme of the night.

"I think the interest that has been generated by Neighbours returning will be sufficient to really bring the audience back up in Australia as well.

"Of course, we had 5 million Brits watching the last episode as well, plus the Irish and people in other countries. So I hope and pray that when the first episode goes to air on Freevee later this year, they'll all come rushing back to watch again."

The Doctor Will See You Now tour runs in June and July, with all dates and locations available on Alan's official website.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Neighbours star April Rose Pengilly teases Chloe and Elly's return in new season
"The street always has a way of bringing people back."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/nei...eturn-revival/

Neighbours star April Rose Pengilly has teased Chloe Brennan and Elly Conway's return in the soap's revival later this year.

Taking to Instagram, April (who plays Chloe) shared a sweet video of herself and Jodi Gordon (who plays Elly) hugging and blowing a kiss on Ramsay Street.

"The street always has a way of bringing people back," she captioned the post, referring to Susan Kennedy's emotional monologue from the 'final' episode last year.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtJTk...f-3de135fac798

Sharing her excitement for their comeback in the revival, Jodi commented: "Queen!! Loving the girls being back on Ramsay."

April officially confirmed the on-screen couple's anticipated return on Twitter last month, writing: "We are excited to announce that CHELLY ARE BACK! @jodigordon and I will both be appearing in the new @neighbours, and will be back on set very soon.

"Thank you all so much for your support. We can't wait to share Chloe and Elly's next chapter with you!"

Chloe and Elly reunited in the final episodes of Neighbours' original run, with April and Jodi saying they were "grateful" to bring some closure to the "greatest love story ever told".

It was hinted that the couple would be moving away from Erinsborough to Sydney, but, as the unexpected revival taught us, plans can change.

A number of other former stars will also be reprising their roles including Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, Georgie Stone, Annie Jones, Tim Kano, Ryan Moloney, Lucinda Cowden, Lloyd Will, Emerald Chan, Candice Leask and Rebekah Elmaloglou.

Ian Smith is expected to make guest appearances as Harold Bishop, along with Melissa Bell as Lucy Robinson. Guy Pearce will return as Mike Young, and so will Lucinda Armstrong-Hall as Holly Hoyland.

Meanwhile, Shantaram's Shiv Palekar has recently been cast as new character Haz Devkar, while The OC's Mischa Barton has joined the revival series as another new character named Reece.

Neighbours returns in the second half of 2023 with new episodes streaming free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new series.