Dane Canning

[Perdita]

Neighbours bosses have announced that Kyle Canning's cousin will be heading to Ramsay Street in a last-minute storyline change.

Show producers have cast actor Luke Pegler in the part of Dane Canning, who is being rushed in due to Kyle's unexpected absence from Erinsborough.

Last Wednesday, it emerged that Christopher Milligan, who plays Kyle, will be taking a six-week break from Neighbours after injuring himself while playing football.

Viewers will now see Dane arrive on the street and take over Kyle's room and board in the share house while the handyman visits his sick mother, Channel 5's official Neighbours website has confirmed.

Dane's sudden appearance will allow minimum disruption to scripts as he takes over Kyle's role in a plot that was already being filmed.

Speaking of the plan, Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower commented: "The show must go on. The beauty of Neighbours is we're about families, so we can pull in a cousin or sibling in these very unusual situations."

Dane will make his arrival on Australian screens in October and appear for a six-week stint.

Pictured: Luke Pegler as Dane Canning. :wub:

[tammyy2j]

I prefer Kyle myself

[bingojuls]

Looks a wee hottie !!

[Perdita]

Neighbours newcomer Luke Pegler has teased that there will be "awkward" moments ahead for his character Dane Canning.

The former Rescue: Special Ops actor joined the cast of the soap at short notice last month after established regular Christopher Milligan was forced to take an unexpected break due to a sporting injury.

As previously reported, while Milligan's character Kyle Canning takes time out from Ramsay Street to visit his sick mother, his cousin Dane arrives to take over his room and board in the share house.

Speaking about the storyline ahead for the first time, Pegler told TV Week: "Dane certainly has the Canning DNA and is probably just as oblivious as Kyle is to what's going on around him!

"He does find himself in the thick of some awkward situations in the house."

Milligan snapped an Achilles tendon while playing football in early August and later underwent surgery.

Dane's sudden appearance - due to air in Australia next month - allows minimum disruption to scripts as he has taken over Kyle's role in a plot that was already being filmed.

[Perdita]

Neighbours star Luke Pegler has finished filming his short guest stint on the soap.

The actor was rushed into the show last month to cover the absence of regular cast member Christopher Milligan, who took time off after injuring himself while playing football. Show bosses cast Pegler as Dane Canning, the cousin of Milligan's character Kyle.

Milligan returned to filming at the start of last week and Pegler shot his final scenes earlier today, Channel 5 has confirmed.

In a statement, Pegler revealed that he is now keen to get rid of the blonde highlights that were put into his hair for the role of Dane.

Pegler joked: "They definitely scream, 'Look at me, dude!' which is not quite the attention I'm after. First appointment when I return home will be to the hairdresser."

Milligan, meanwhile, will continue to use crutches for the next two weeks. He will then be fitted with a protective boot which he must wear for around two or three months.

"It's great to be back after a month of laying on the couch. There are only so many DVDs you can watch," Milligan said. "You won't see Jade and Kyle doing a lot of dancing for a while!"