Some spoilers for early 2012

Theese are spoilers from TV Soap magazine for the first few weeks back next year.

* Michael's feelings for Emilia resurface, and she also struggles with her feelings for him

* Toadie is framed by Peter Noonan for organising Chris' bashing and may face a stint in prison if he can't clear his name.

* An accident leaves Jade at Kyle's mercy just as she's desperate to avoid making a commitment to him.

* Summer finds herself caught in the middle as Karl and Susan's break-up turns messy.

* Rhys risks his career to get in the hospital surgery program.

* Andrew discovers who was really responsible for his tattoo and restarts his entertainment business with help from Sophie.

* Kate runs off to Queensland there are far reaching consequences of her actions.

* Summer and Andrews relationship struggles

* Chris gets a boyfriend

Magazine articles from TV Soap.


A family affair
Michael is wading into dangerous territory after falling hard for his sister in law Emilia.

As neighbours returns from its summer hiatus, it appears as though life in the Williams household is finally beginning to return to normal. Tash is learning to deal with the shocking discovery about her mother's death, while Michael's health seems to be on the mend. But as Michael's feelings for Tash's aunt Emilia continues to grow, the trouble-plagued family could once again be headed for dark times. With the dawn of the New Year also comes a new school year, and a stressed Michael is beginning to struggle with his preparations as school principal. His anxiety isn't lost on an attentive Emilia, who is quick to remind her brother-in-law that he needs to recapture the free-spirited, inspiring teaching soul that he's long since buried within him. Hugely uplifted by her words, Michael asks Emilia out surfing, but due to a fateful twist of circumstances he ends up giving her a surfing lesson on the front lawn, much to the neighbours' amusement!
But more than being a source of their friends' amusement, Michael and Emilia unexpectedly find themselves getting surprisingly intimate. As Michael's feelings for the woman begin to simmer, he tries desperately to douse his passion by burying himself in distractions. But he's not the only one experiencing a stirring of feelings Also hit by similar feelings, Emilia desperately tries to refocus her attention on a loving Lucas, and is taken aback when he invites her to join him on a trip to Sydney. Michael is keen for Emilia to go, hoping the interstate distance between them will push her to the back of his mind. To convince himself to let her go, Michael stops Emilia from helping out at the Williams house, but he's soon feeling isolated without her company, acutely aware of how deeply she understands him. Against his better judgement, Michael reaches out to Emilia and they're soon bonding on a trip to the beach. As the pair struggle to contain their feelings, they can't help thinking about what the huge cost would be, should they ever do something about their growing mutual attraction.


The fall guy
Toadie is eyeing a stint behind bars when he is framed for the brutal attack on Chris

When Chris was brutally beaten to within an inch of his life at Lucas's garage, Lucas was certain the teen had been a victim of a homophobic attack, and was hell-bent on bringing the culprit to justice. But it soon became clear that nothing about the attack is as it first seemed. As Rhys frantically races to perform some life-changing surgery on an unconscious Chris, Lucas gets suspicious that Toadie's boss Peter arranged the attack to force him into selling the garage to developers. While Toadie can't believe that Peter would act so criminally, the police prove Lucas's theory, and Toadie is subsequently horrified by the extent of his boss's actions. However, a stunned Toadie soon finds himself squarely in the frame as the assailant, when incriminating evidence surfaces and he can't provide an alibi. Determined to clear his name, Toadie uncovers Peter's forged emails from him to Paul and despite his reservations about leaning on Erinsborough's most notorious businessman, he has no other choice but soon Paul seemingly clears Toadie's name, the evil Peter steps up his stitch up plot, by planting evidence of Chris's bashing in Toadie's car. With Toadie under the gun, Susan petitions Paul for help, but ruthless as ever, Paul's uses Toadie's predicament for his own ends and then hangs the young lawyer out to dry. Despite Chris's belief in Toadie's innocence and Susan's dogged determination to clear his name, a forlorn Toadie knows that with enemies like Paul, as well as Peter and his developer mates, he could be facing serious jail time for a crime he didn't commit. Are Toadie's worst fears about to come true?

Neighbours favourite Toadie Rebecchi will be accused of attacking young mechanic Chris Pappas in the New Year, reports have revealed.

Neighbours fans in Australia recently saw Chris (James Mason) left in jeopardy after a mystery assailant viciously assaulted him while he was working.

Toadie (Ryan Moloney) is left horrified in early 2012 when it emerges that his scheming boss Peter Noonan organised the attack following Lucas Fitzgerald's (Scott Major) decision not to sell the garage.

However, Toadie's ordeal is only just beginning - as a shock framing attempt leads to him coming under suspicion of committing the crime, Soapworld reports.

Although Chris and Ramsay Street residents like Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) believe Toadie is innocent, the lawyer's future looks bleak - especially when incriminating evidence is planted in his car.

As Toadie can see no way out of his nightmare, viewers will be left to wonder whether he can prove his innocence or if he could be sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit.

Neighbours will air these scenes early next year on Eleven in Australia and Channel 5 in the UK.

Toadie framed!
Accused of a brutal attack, Toadie is facing criminal charges - and you'll never guess who set him up!

Toadie finds himself well and truly on the wrong side of the law when Neighbours returns this week - and he could even be facing jail time! Stitched up by his boss, solicitor Peter Noonan (James Saunders), Toadie is dragged in for questioning by the police and accused of orchestrating the garage attack on Chris in order to hurry along the shopping centre development. "He's completely upset," Ryan Moloney, who plays Toadie, tells TV WEEK. "He didn't realise the extent of how far Peter had framed him - and he's being framed in the eyes of his friends as well. It's a very shocking revelation for Toadie. If he's found guilty, he'll be disbarred from his job and the people in the street - his family and friends - would look at him differently." Desperate to clear his name, Toadie goes on the hunt for evidence and, through a stealth mission, comes across a series of forged emails sent by Peter from Toadie's account. The only problem is that Toadie was with Paul - who isn't exactly his biggest fan - at the time the emails were sent. Forced to turn to his arch rival for an alibi, Toadie allows Paul's newspaper to run a story about the law firm being corrupt in an effort to rustle up some suspicion over Peter. "Paul likes the idea that the firm is corrupt and that the development will fall over, because then Lassiter's will be safe," Ryan explains. "But Paul doesn't like Toadie, so he may say, 'No, I'm not going to do it' just to spite him." However, Toadie realises he needs Paul more than ever when evidence of the attack is discovered in the boot of his car. "It's incredibly difficult for Sonya," says Eve Morey, who plays Toadie's partner, Sonya. "She's always had her suspicions about the true nature of Toadie's boss, but when she finds out what Peter is truly capable of, she's outraged. Toadie's been playing with 'the big boys' - and not even Sonya, with demons of her own from the past, can conceive the somewhat evil nature of these characters." Will Toadie be able to fight the damning allegations, or is one of Ramsay Street's favourite residents about to have the book thrown at him?

Controversial coupling

When it comes to matters of the heart, Michael is renowned for being a closed book - but this year, Emilia is set to change all that. Despite last season's cliffhanger revelation that Emilia and Michael were having an affair at the time that Tash's mum - and Emilia's sister - Helena died, the couple continue to grow closer this week, literally falling into each other's arms during an impromptu surfing lesson. "There's a spark and an attraction that's been there from a long time ago," explains Sandy Winton, who plays Michael. However, this scandalous new pairing brings with it plenty of drama - especially considering Emilia and Lucas are still dating and Lucas is, of course, Michael's best mate! "Every time Michael tries to shut Emilia out, it's because he actually does care for her a hell of a lot," Sandy explains. "It's all very messy. Most of the problem is from what's happened in the past, but also Emilia's relationship with Lucas - that's always a tough position to intervene." We can't wait to hear what Tash thinks of her father's choice of partner!

Shock surgery

Chris's life was left hanging in the balance last year after the aspiring mechanic refused to stay in hospital for further medical treatment, despite being the victim of a vicious bashing. And when the show returns this week, Chris's decision to turn down the treatment has dire consequences after he collapses as a result of a punctured lung! "As soon as Rhys sees the X-rays, he goes beyond the call of duty to track Chris down," explains Ben Barber, who plays Rhys. "When he finds him on the floor, he knows exactly what's happened, but he isn't sure how long he's been unconscious for. For all he knows, Chris could be dead within the minute - so he goes straight into emergency mode." And so, in an effort to save Chris's life, Rhys takes drastic action: performing a risky emergency procedure to allow Chris to breathe again with nothing but a screwdriver doused in metho and a piece of piping. "He has none of his emergency tools - and he's not even a surgeon, so he shouldn't be conducting any sort of surgery on the guy," Ben says. "He doesn't really put too much thought into it, he just acts." James Mason adds: "Unfortunately, Rhys blames himself for Chris's situation." But as the fledgling doctor waits for the ambulance, the reality of the situation begins to hit home. "Rhys didn't think about the consequences - for instance his job and what would happen if he didn't do the right thing," Ben says. "He's worried about what the fallout will be, especially if Chris loses his life." Will the stricken teen pull through?

What's ahead on Ramsay Street?
Executive producer Richard Jasek gives us a sneak peek at what's in store for the residents of Australia's famous cul-de-sac in 2012.

How do you feel about taking over from Susan Bower as executive producer?
It's a huge pair of shoes to fill, but I'm just thrilled to bits and so proud to be part of this iconic Australian show. It just has the most marvellous cast and crew and wonderful people to work with, so I couldn't be happier.

Is there anything you want to change about Neighbours?
Neighbours has such a wonderful heart and soul, and it's that heart and soul that I want to keep growing and developing with - I don't want to reinvent that.

Do you feel the show lost its way when it moved from Network Ten to Eleven?
There was a lot of concern about what it would mean for the show, but I think Neighbours is comfortably at home on Eleven and it's one of the best things that could've happened for us.

What's in store for Neighbours in 2012?
There's an entire new family moving into Ramsay Street, so there's going to be some new faces on the street and that's going to throw a real rock in the pond. We'll also see more of the Canning family in the form of Kyle's grandmother coming and spending some time. [There are] no casting announcements yet, but this will be quite a big character, in all senses.

You've shot some upcoming episodes in Port Douglas. Will you be shooting more on location this year?
We haven't decided what all the special locations will be - they're still in the pipeline - but, yes, you'll see some wonderful and exotic places.

Do you think just filming in Ramsay Street puts constraints on the show?
It does, but the interesting thing is that it also opens up a lot of story freedom. You'd think not going anywhere means you have a smaller universe, but, in fact, we've found it just focuses on the stories that really matter. Ramsay Street is the heart and soul of Neighbours, so we're just concentrating on that.

Tell us about the sets - aren't Toadie and Sonya about to renovate their lounge room?
Their place is going to look very different soon, but it's still going to be the same Sonya, Toadie and Callum living there.

Is there room for a budget increase to revamp some of the other sets?
We're still working that through - we'd love for that to happen.

In 2011, we saw many familiar faces return - can we look forward to the same this year?
We'll be seeing a few people come and visit us again.

Are there any special guests coming up?
Yes. We've got ['80s Eurogliders singer] Grace Knight in a small cameo part; and, of course, in Port Douglas we have Lincoln Lewis, who's the romantic interest for Kate. And there may be a few more surprises in store...

Home And Away did well with the River Boys last year - how does Neighbours compete with all those hot boys taking their shirts off?
I guess the RIver Boys work in the Home And Away world, but we're going to have a few hot bods, too - of course, we've got a couple of hot guys in the cast already! But Neighbours is always going to be Neighbours.


Who's that girl?

Adding a new face to Erinsborough this year is Tangle star Alin Sumarwata, who will play professional chef Vanessa Villante. "I'm very excited - this caps off a very busy year for us," says Alin, who welcomed her first child, Tilda, three months ago with actor hubby Don Hany. Alin makes her debut in March, and Richard Jasek couldn't be happier with his new recruit. "We're thrilled to bits that she's joined the cast," Richard tells TV WEEK. "She's a wonderful actor and we think her character has so many exciting possibilities for us." Set to play a love interest, Alin's character is destined to turn the world of Erinsborough's favourite sons "upside down and more". Ooh!


A glimpse into the future

Paul
"We will see Paul's softer side as he takes on a more parental role with Sophie - but vindictive Paul emerges when he sets his sights on a newcomer."

Kate
"When Kate returns from Port Douglas, she's going to be facing some really serious life choices about where she wants to be and who she wants to be."

Michael & Emilia
"They'll continue to have their affair, and that's going to have some dire consequences. It'll prompt wild behaviour from Tash."

Karl & Susan
"Singledom is going to open up some very wide possibilities for Karl and Susan as they go off and possibly meet the occasional person."

Jade & Kyle
"This relationship will continue to have its highs and lows. We'll learn more about a boyfriend from Jade's past, from which she still bears scars."

Poor Lucas

Neighbours has undergone behind-the-scenes changes in recent months following the arrival of new executive producer Richard Jasek, who has taken charge of Australia's longest-running drama following Susan Bower's decision to stand down.

On screen, meanwhile, storyline highlights of the year so far have included Chris's romance with Aidan, Michael's departure, Troy's dramatic return and the arrival of newcomers Sheila Canning and Vanessa Villante.

With Jasek's credited episodes now airing in both Australia and the UK, Digital Spy recently chatted to him about future storylines and his plans for the soap.

You've been in charge of Neighbours for a few months now. How's it all going?
"I was a director on Neighbours early in my career, and it's great to be back! Working on such an iconic show, with such a great team of people, makes it a pleasure coming to the studios every day."

What can you tell us about your vision for the show? When you took over the executive producer job, was there anything in particular that you were keen to change or address?
"I have always loved the warmth and sense of community in Neighbours. The world is going through a period of great uncertainty at the moment, and it's a privilege to be involved with a show that is all about the ties that connect people, rather than the things that separate them."

The pace of storytelling has perhaps been slightly gentle this year, but that's changed recently with Tash torching the Sandman, Michael's exit and the dramatic hostage scenes with Troy. Will there be more in the way of bigger events or more heightened drama in the coming months?
"We have a really dramatic storyline coming up soon which I can't tell you too much about, but it will have consequences that run for the rest of the year. All I can say is 'the gang shouldn't have gone out that night…"

Many fans still seem really keen for Neighbours to get a PG rating, as they feel it would allow the show to push the boundaries more and portray social issues in a more realistic way. Is the show still keen to remain G?
"We try to make our dramatic storylines as hard-hitting as we can, while still keeping the show true to its heart. Neighbours is not a guns-in-faces show and never should be. Being G-rated does mean we sometimes have to pull our punches, but on the other hand it also forces us to be creative in how we tell stories."

Fans also seem passionate about their desire to see the older characters getting more screen time, rather than the teens always being at the forefront. This already seems to be happening a bit more in the latest episodes airing in Australia - will it continue?
"We always look to blend the show's storytelling, balancing teen stories with those of other age groups. Stories tend to develop a life of their own, so the balance shifts from time to time. With the Kapoors moving to the street, Kyle's granny Sheila joining the regular cast and two expectant mothers on the street, we can expect to see more stories for their age groups in times to come."

On a similar note, could there be new characters introduced to the adult age group? For example, some fans feel that Susan is lacking a 'best friend' character to interact with following the departures of Lyn and Rebecca.
"That would be telling! But yes, we would like Susan to have a confidante…"

Neighbours currently seems to be far less centred around 'traditional' family units than we've seen in the past. Is this something which could perhaps be addressed over time?
"Yes, we think that's true and it's something we are already addressing with the arrival of the Kapoors and extending the Canning family, which now includes another cousin which UK viewers will meet later in the year."

We've had lots of reader questions about possible returnees to the show. We know there's a mystery male returnee on the way - will you be delving into the show's past any further? In particular, we've had several questions asking whether the iconic Robinson family could be expanded with returnees - is there any hope for this in the future?
"I can't say too much at the moment, but Neighbours does have a rich history of wonderful past characters and yes, we do have a familiar face visiting - all will be revealed shortly…"


Karl and Susan remain hugely popular characters with our readers. Is there any hope they could reunite? Will it be possible for Susan to stay at the forefront even though she's not living on Ramsay Street?
"Karl and Susan are our golden couple - despite their recent split, they remain best friends and soulmates. You can't keep Karl and Susan apart forever - but how long until they will realise that? Maybe Susan isn't destined to live off-street forever…"

Viewers seem sad over Kym Valentine's continued absence from Ramsay Street. Could Libby ever return?
"As I mentioned previously, if we are able to weave past characters into occasional stories, it's a bonus for viewers and we also love working with them."

Are there any firm plans to see Mal again? Viewers seemed pretty pleased to see him back last year…
"We all loved working with Benjie [McNair] again and depending on the story, we would love Mal to visit again. Benjie is also a close friend of many of the cast, so he is a wonderful addition to the green room!"

Are there any plans for new sets or revamps for existing ones? We've heard from some viewers who feel that the current sets appear too dark in comparison to a few years ago, and also compared to the brighter, sunnier feel of Home and Away.
"Yes, we would like to see some of Erinsborough's sunshine in our sets too. Renovating Toadie and Sonya's house was part of that, plus after the fire, the share house was given a splash of colour. Shortly you'll see the Kapoors have added a touch of their personality to their new abode!"

A few fans wanted us to mention the end-of-episode previews, as they felt they give too much away or undermine the hook in the cliffhanger. What are your thoughts?
"That's interesting feedback which we'll take on board."

When will the new opening credits air? Will the current version of the theme tune remain?
"We have updated the current opening titles to include some of our newer characters which will start on-air later this month in the UK. We have no plans this year to change the format, however we may consider it down the track."

The Kapoor family seem to have had a pretty good reaction, but so far they've been seen far less than some fans expected. What can we expect from them when they officially join Ramsay Street?
"Not everything will go according to plan for the Kapoors. Ajay's career will take an unexpected turn, Rani will fall for a boy living nearby and Priya will do something unthinkable!"

Chris remains a popular character. Could we see more of his family life in the future? What's ahead for him and Aidan?
"We love Chris too and his family is important to him, so we'll continue to see them from time to time. He will face a terrible crisis later this year and his family will be there for him. As for Chris and Aidan, they broke up because Chris needed to find his strength and did so too late. But that doesn't mean it's all over for these two…"

We've seen lots of positive feedback over Sheila Canning's arrival. Is she definitely a regular and will she move onto the street?
"I let the cat out of the bag earlier, didn't I! Yes, Sheila will join the regular cast this year, and in due course we'll see a lot more of her. That won't always make life easy for people on Ramsay Street, though!"

Viewers seem slightly intrigued by Vanessa. We know that you're planning to delve into her background, so can you give us any hints on what to expect?
"There are a few surprises in store for Vanessa. We haven't yet met her family, but when we do, things will become even more complicated for Rhys and Lucas…"

We've had lots of questions about Jade's upcoming departure. It's a while away yet, but can you tease the plans for us?
"I don't want to give too much away, but Jade will have an amazing opportunity presented to her, with big, emotional consequences for Kyle."

Sonya has always been a popular character too. What's coming up for her, Toadie and Callum once the Troy dramas are over?
"As we move toward the end of the year, Sonya's pregnancy will throw up lots of questions for the whole family. An unexpected visitor from Toadie's past will present some hilarious challenges, and then, just as the baby is due, there will be terrible complications!"

Without her family around, can you tease where Tash will be heading story-wise over the rest of the year?
"Tash will continue to make some disastrous choices because she doesn't have that parental guidance, but she'll find solace with an unlikely friend - or should I say foe?"

Where are things heading next for Paul?
"We have a story planned which is 'classic' Paul Robinson and will leave the street reeling!"

Andrew has been tipped for a huge storyline in which he causes an accident and the community turns against him. Should we be expecting a stunt, or is the accident smaller than that?
"This will cause huge ramifications for everyone on Ramsay Street. And without saying too much, yes, there will be something to see!"

Lou is now a part-time character, but can you tease anything that's ahead for him? Viewers have been surprised by how far he's taken his scamming recently - will his nicer side return?
"Lou has done some pretty crazy things lately, but he'll settle down and look to helping his family - which will involve some surprises."

What's coming up for Summer? Will her stories be separate from Andrew's drama or tied up with them? Would you ever bring back Max or Boyd?
"There will be Summer stories that cross over with Andrew. However, there is an event coming up in her life - and it doesn't involve Andrew - which will have a major impact on her. And no, Max and Boyd are not in our plans for the moment."

It was a while ago now, but we had a couple of people expressing their disappointment over the rewrite of the Ramsays' history when Kate and Sophie were introduced. Would you ever rectify this?
"It's testament to the passion of our viewers that intricate details of families' histories are noted. It's always our goal to be as precise as possible, however like real-life families, there are often skeletons in the closet and these can enrich a story."

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
"As I mentioned, there is an upcoming event which will cause a tsunami lasting a long time. Some of our characters will make life choices which will have you screaming at the screen to turn back - the best kind! And, of course, there will be babies!"

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 in the UK, and weekdays at 6.30pm on Eleven in Australia.

Neighbours has undergone behind-the-scenes changes in recent months following the arrival of new executive producer Richard Jasek, who has taken charge of Australia's longest-running drama following Susan Bower's decision to stand down.

On screen, meanwhile, storyline highlights of the year so far have included Chris's romance with Aidan, Michael's departure, Troy's dramatic return and the arrival of newcomers Sheila Canning and Vanessa Villante.

With Jasek's credited episodes now airing in both Australia and the UK, Digital Spy recently chatted to him about future storylines and his plans for the soap.

You've been in charge of Neighbours for a few months now. How's it all going?
"I was a director on Neighbours early in my career, and it's great to be back! Working on such an iconic show, with such a great team of people, makes it a pleasure coming to the studios every day."

What can you tell us about your vision for the show? When you took over the executive producer job, was there anything in particular that you were keen to change or address?
"I have always loved the warmth and sense of community in Neighbours. The world is going through a period of great uncertainty at the moment, and it's a privilege to be involved with a show that is all about the ties that connect people, rather than the things that separate them."

The pace of storytelling has perhaps been slightly gentle this year, but that's changed recently with Tash torching the Sandman, Michael's exit and the dramatic hostage scenes with Troy. Will there be more in the way of bigger events or more heightened drama in the coming months?
"We have a really dramatic storyline coming up soon which I can't tell you too much about, but it will have consequences that run for the rest of the year. All I can say is 'the gang shouldn't have gone out that night…"

Many fans still seem really keen for Neighbours to get a PG rating, as they feel it would allow the show to push the boundaries more and portray social issues in a more realistic way. Is the show still keen to remain G?
"We try to make our dramatic storylines as hard-hitting as we can, while still keeping the show true to its heart. Neighbours is not a guns-in-faces show and never should be. Being G-rated does mean we sometimes have to pull our punches, but on the other hand it also forces us to be creative in how we tell stories."

Fans also seem passionate about their desire to see the older characters getting more screen time, rather than the teens always being at the forefront. This already seems to be happening a bit more in the latest episodes airing in Australia - will it continue?
"We always look to blend the show's storytelling, balancing teen stories with those of other age groups. Stories tend to develop a life of their own, so the balance shifts from time to time. With the Kapoors moving to the street, Kyle's granny Sheila joining the regular cast and two expectant mothers on the street, we can expect to see more stories for their age groups in times to come."

On a similar note, could there be new characters introduced to the adult age group? For example, some fans feel that Susan is lacking a 'best friend' character to interact with following the departures of Lyn and Rebecca.
"That would be telling! But yes, we would like Susan to have a confidante…"

Neighbours currently seems to be far less centred around 'traditional' family units than we've seen in the past. Is this something which could perhaps be addressed over time?
"Yes, we think that's true and it's something we are already addressing with the arrival of the Kapoors and extending the Canning family, which now includes another cousin which UK viewers will meet later in the year."

We've had lots of reader questions about possible returnees to the show. We know there's a mystery male returnee on the way - will you be delving into the show's past any further? In particular, we've had several questions asking whether the iconic Robinson family could be expanded with returnees - is there any hope for this in the future?
"I can't say too much at the moment, but Neighbours does have a rich history of wonderful past characters and yes, we do have a familiar face visiting - all will be revealed shortly…"


Karl and Susan remain hugely popular characters with our readers. Is there any hope they could reunite? Will it be possible for Susan to stay at the forefront even though she's not living on Ramsay Street?
"Karl and Susan are our golden couple - despite their recent split, they remain best friends and soulmates. You can't keep Karl and Susan apart forever - but how long until they will realise that? Maybe Susan isn't destined to live off-street forever…"

Viewers seem sad over Kym Valentine's continued absence from Ramsay Street. Could Libby ever return?
"As I mentioned previously, if we are able to weave past characters into occasional stories, it's a bonus for viewers and we also love working with them."

Are there any firm plans to see Mal again? Viewers seemed pretty pleased to see him back last year…
"We all loved working with Benjie [McNair] again and depending on the story, we would love Mal to visit again. Benjie is also a close friend of many of the cast, so he is a wonderful addition to the green room!"

Are there any plans for new sets or revamps for existing ones? We've heard from some viewers who feel that the current sets appear too dark in comparison to a few years ago, and also compared to the brighter, sunnier feel of Home and Away.
"Yes, we would like to see some of Erinsborough's sunshine in our sets too. Renovating Toadie and Sonya's house was part of that, plus after the fire, the share house was given a splash of colour. Shortly you'll see the Kapoors have added a touch of their personality to their new abode!"

A few fans wanted us to mention the end-of-episode previews, as they felt they give too much away or undermine the hook in the cliffhanger. What are your thoughts?
"That's interesting feedback which we'll take on board."

When will the new opening credits air? Will the current version of the theme tune remain?
"We have updated the current opening titles to include some of our newer characters which will start on-air later this month in the UK. We have no plans this year to change the format, however we may consider it down the track."

The Kapoor family seem to have had a pretty good reaction, but so far they've been seen far less than some fans expected. What can we expect from them when they officially join Ramsay Street?
"Not everything will go according to plan for the Kapoors. Ajay's career will take an unexpected turn, Rani will fall for a boy living nearby and Priya will do something unthinkable!"

Chris remains a popular character. Could we see more of his family life in the future? What's ahead for him and Aidan?
"We love Chris too and his family is important to him, so we'll continue to see them from time to time. He will face a terrible crisis later this year and his family will be there for him. As for Chris and Aidan, they broke up because Chris needed to find his strength and did so too late. But that doesn't mean it's all over for these two…"

We've seen lots of positive feedback over Sheila Canning's arrival. Is she definitely a regular and will she move onto the street?
"I let the cat out of the bag earlier, didn't I! Yes, Sheila will join the regular cast this year, and in due course we'll see a lot more of her. That won't always make life easy for people on Ramsay Street, though!"

Viewers seem slightly intrigued by Vanessa. We know that you're planning to delve into her background, so can you give us any hints on what to expect?
"There are a few surprises in store for Vanessa. We haven't yet met her family, but when we do, things will become even more complicated for Rhys and Lucas…"

We've had lots of questions about Jade's upcoming departure. It's a while away yet, but can you tease the plans for us?
"I don't want to give too much away, but Jade will have an amazing opportunity presented to her, with big, emotional consequences for Kyle."

Sonya has always been a popular character too. What's coming up for her, Toadie and Callum once the Troy dramas are over?
"As we move toward the end of the year, Sonya's pregnancy will throw up lots of questions for the whole family. An unexpected visitor from Toadie's past will present some hilarious challenges, and then, just as the baby is due, there will be terrible complications!"

Without her family around, can you tease where Tash will be heading story-wise over the rest of the year?
"Tash will continue to make some disastrous choices because she doesn't have that parental guidance, but she'll find solace with an unlikely friend - or should I say foe?"

Where are things heading next for Paul?
"We have a story planned which is 'classic' Paul Robinson and will leave the street reeling!"

Andrew has been tipped for a huge storyline in which he causes an accident and the community turns against him. Should we be expecting a stunt, or is the accident smaller than that?
"This will cause huge ramifications for everyone on Ramsay Street. And without saying too much, yes, there will be something to see!"

Lou is now a part-time character, but can you tease anything that's ahead for him? Viewers have been surprised by how far he's taken his scamming recently - will his nicer side return?
"Lou has done some pretty crazy things lately, but he'll settle down and look to helping his family - which will involve some surprises."

What's coming up for Summer? Will her stories be separate from Andrew's drama or tied up with them? Would you ever bring back Max or Boyd?
"There will be Summer stories that cross over with Andrew. However, there is an event coming up in her life - and it doesn't involve Andrew - which will have a major impact on her. And no, Max and Boyd are not in our plans for the moment."

It was a while ago now, but we had a couple of people expressing their disappointment over the rewrite of the Ramsays' history when Kate and Sophie were introduced. Would you ever rectify this?
"It's testament to the passion of our viewers that intricate details of families' histories are noted. It's always our goal to be as precise as possible, however like real-life families, there are often skeletons in the closet and these can enrich a story."

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?
"As I mentioned, there is an upcoming event which will cause a tsunami lasting a long time. Some of our characters will make life choices which will have you screaming at the screen to turn back - the best kind! And, of course, there will be babies!"

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 in the UK, and weekdays at 6.30pm on Eleven in Australia.

Deja Vu Alan with your double post :p

Nothing special or interesting coming on the show from those spoilers for me anyways

I know its a soap , but surely that can't be oz law ? someone breals into your house and refuses to leave and you punch him, its his word against yours, the cops wouldn't get involed when its your word against anothers. Yet the cops turn up, toddie not found guily of anything, yet they tell him he has to move away from this guy .. come on ..