Rebecca, Declan and Zeke to leave

[Perdita]

A trio of Neighbours stars are to leave the soap later this year, it has been announced.

Jane Hall, Matthew Werkmeister and Erin Mullally will all be seen bowing out of the long-running drama in the months ahead, TV Tonight reports.

Hall - who has played Rebecca Napier for nearly four years - revealed her decision to quit in an interview with TV Week.

She told the magazine: "I've decided it's time to say 'au revoir' to Erinsborough. It's sad to be leaving… but I'm looking forward to the future and new and exciting acting adventures."

Meanwhile, Werkmeister has decided to leave after more than five years in the role of Ramsay Street's Zeke Kinski. The 18-year-old actor has previously expressed a desire to pursue a career in TV production.

Finally, news of Mullally's departure comes less than ten months after he was announced as the new Declan Napier, replacing previous actor James Sorensen in the role.

As confirmed earlier this year, Ringo Brown, Donna Freedman and Steph Scully - played by Sam Clark, Margot Robbie and Carla Bonner respectively - are also due to depart screens.

Neighbours' 6,000th episode airs in the UK on Friday.

:(

[StarsOfCCTV]

Don't mind Zeke, Rebecca I kind of like... and Declan well won't miss him now he changed..wish James Sorensen would come back!

I keep forgetting to watch neighbours I haven't watched it for a week! Must start again this week. :p

[tammyy2j]

Declan should have left earlier instead of the recast

[alan45]

Baby India is also leaving so that makes 4

[CrazyLea]

Lol Alan.

I don't mind Zeke or Declan leaving. I don't like Declan any more. I want James back too :(
I like Rebecca though, but ah well.

[lizann]

Rebecca is one of the best characters on the show

[Ruffed_lemur]

Out of the 3 I will really miss Rebecca. Zeke doesn't have much to do recently, and I haven't taken to new Declan. The character has changed a lot recently too. Couldn't imagine old Declan being like this.

[LostVoodoo]

i'll miss rebecca, always thought she was a really good character. she is essentially a normal mum and woman but has a personality and the woman who plays her is a good actress. like others, not bothered about new Declan, esp since the old actor leaving coincided with his radical personality change too.

has Zeke really only been in it five years? seems like he's been there so much longer than rebecca and dec. will miss him too, as a slightly odd teen character lol.

[roger43]

This really is disturbing, following a recent trend. My personal opinion is that Donna and Zeke are played by the only two young actors capable of doing comedy well, although Matt has been given very few opportunities recently. This really only leaves Karl, Susan, Lynn and Paul. I have never found Toadie amusing, nor Callum, and I can never get past the fact that Tom Oliver used to be a porn star. If Neighbours is going to become another Eastenders, I'm out.

[Perdita]

Neighbours actor Sandy Winton has admitted that it is "sad" to see so many cast members bowing out from the long-running show.

Last month, it was announced that Jane Hall, Matthew Werkmeister and Erin Mullally will be leaving their respective roles as Rebecca, Zeke and Declan in the months ahead.

The news followed the previous confirmation that Sam Clark, Margot Robbie and Carla Bonner had also decided to quit their parts as Ringo, Donna and Steph.

Speaking to Holy Soap about the departures, Winton commented: "It is sad. But if you look at a cast list from five years ago and five years before that, it's amazing how much these things turn over, but sad to have so many wonderful people leaving at the same time.

"But on the other hand, there are some great people coming in and taking on roles."

The star, who plays Erinsborough High principal Michael Williams, also hinted that Ringo's final storyline will be particularly memorable. The character's dramatic exit has already aired on Australian screens.

Winton teased: "When Ringo leaves, it's sad for all of us. It's a bit of a shock, really, when he departs, as opposed to some of the other characters, who may or may not have futures."

[CrazyLea]

Tom Oliver used to be a porn star :eek: No way!? ???

[Perdita]

Neighbours star Erin Mullally has reportedly landed a new role in the children's series Lightning Point.

According to TV Tonight, Mullally¸ who took over the role of Declan from James Sorenson, is currently filming at Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast.

Lightning Point is a 26-part series about two girls from another galaxy who become castaways in a quiet coastal town.

Mullally joined Neighbours in early 2010 when Sorenson quit to join the army. His departure from the soap was announced last October.

DS

[Dazzle]

Neighbours star Erin Mullally has reportedly landed a new role in the children's series Lightning Point.

I don't know how he got more work - he's a terrible actor.

[Perdita]

Neighbours star Matthew Werkmeister has revealed that he is auditioning for new roles and planning some overseas travel following his departure from the soap.

The actor's decision to leave his role as Zeke Kinski was announced late last year, with his final scenes due to air in Australia next week.

Speaking to TV Week about what he hopes to do next, the 19-year-old commented: "I'm back to auditioning now, which is kind of strange - I haven't done it for such a long time. I'm also hoping to go overseas later this year and live abroad for a while."

Meanwhile, reflecting on his 5-year Ramsay Street stint, he joked: "When I look at photos from the beginning, I was like a little boy and now I'm driving - and shaving in patches!"

Werkmeister also explained that Zeke's radio-based plotlines were among his favourites from his time at the show.

He said: "I really enjoyed all the stories about the radio station and Lost Boy. The writers were really keen for my input, so I had a fair bit of involvement in the concept."

Zeke's exit storyline will see him leave Erinsborough after accepting a place at the London School of Economics.

[LostVoodoo]

Zeke's exit storyline will see him leave Erinsborough after accepting a place at the London School of Economics.

ooh nice, so he gets to be with Rachel, how strangely logical for a soap!

[tammyy2j]

Natalie Blair has revealed that she "couldn't resist" the chance to return to Neighbours for her former co-star Jane Hall's departure storyline.

The actress's character Carmella Cammeniti will soon reappear on Ramsay Street for two episodes, sparking the exit of Hall's alter ego Rebecca Robinson.

Carmella makes her comeback alongside partner Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin), who is determined to help mum Rebecca amid her ongoing blackmail problem with husband Paul.

In an interview with TV Week, Blair explained: "Oliver and Carmella - who live overseas with little Chloe - return to help Rebecca in her time of need.

"They all have a history with Paul Robinson, and so they come back to protect Rebecca and watch out for her best interests."

Discussing why she agreed to the brief return, Blair added: "When we found out it was just for two episodes - and knowing it was for Jane Hall - that's what made us go, 'Oh it's for Jane! We can't not come back for Jane!' David and I are very, very close to her, so we couldn't resist."

Blair and Hoflin - currently based in Los Angeles - have also been a couple in real life for the past three years.

[tammyy2j]

Neighbours star Jane Hall has discussed her decision to leave the soap, explaining that it was the right time to "move on" from Ramsay Street.

The actress has already filmed her final scenes as Rebecca Robinson, which air in Australia next week and in the UK in April.

Speaking to TV Week about her three-year Neighbours stint, Hall said: "It was fabulous while it lasted, but it's finished for me now. I think my character has come a long way and has had some pretty crazy stuff happen to her, but it was time to move on."

Rebecca's departure ties in with the brief return of her son Oliver (David Hoflin) and his partner Carmella (Natalie Blair), who arrive to help the bar manager amid her ongoing struggles with husband Paul.

Hall explained: "Rebecca's relationship with Paul had deteriorated to such a point that she felt there was no hope for it. She'd exhausted every possibility with him time and time again.

"You'll see someone who's taking on a new path in her life and who's starting to move in a more positive direction and look for a different way to live."

Hall announced her Neighbours departure last October.

[Perdita]

Neighbours star Erin Mullally has praised his screen mother Jane Hall's "emotional" departure storyline.

Hall's alter ego Rebecca Robinson will soon leave Ramsay Street after her son Oliver Barnes (David Hoflin) returns alongside partner Carmella (Natalie Blair), giving the bar manager strength and support in her time of need.

Rebecca has felt like a prisoner in her own marriage in recent months as she has struggled to escape the clutches of her blackmailing husband Paul (Stefan Dennis).

However, Mullally - who plays Rebecca's younger son Declan - told TV Week: "Oliver and Carmella give Rebecca emotional and moral support to cushion her.

"The family forms a protective barrier around her to shuffle her off. I think it's all pretty truthful and real - and it does get quite emotional."

Mullally also confirmed that Declan is the person who sparks Oliver's reappearance on Ramsay Street by phoning him to explain the situation with Paul.

Rebecca's final scenes air in Australia next week and in the UK next month. It is thought that Declan also leaves in the same episode.

[Perdita]

Matthew Werkmeister has revealed he is keen to develop his acting career after leaving Neighbours, and has written a film script.

It was announced last October that Matthew - who plays Zeke Kinski - will be leaving the soap after nearly six years, but he has now spoken about his next career move.

"Neighbours was a dream, but it's time for me to move on," he told Inside Soap.

"I'm keen to get back into the auditioning game and I've written a short film."

Matthew, 19, joined Neighbours as a 13-year-old to play Zeke, Susan Kennedy's stepson, and has grown in confidence since his first episode.

"The experience freaked me out at first, but you get more comfortable as time goes on - I think I hit my stride about halfway through," he said.

He revealed that his character's exit is not as exciting as he would have wished.

"It would have been fun to get killed off. I guess they couldn't do that so soon after Ringo Brown and Bridget Parker. I wouldn't have minded Zeke shipping off to Hawaii either - I could do video conference from the beach."

However his exit happens, Matthew admitted it was sad watching fellow teen actors leave the show before him, but said: "Now it's my turn."

PA


I wish him good luck