How Ryan Moloney was told of Neighbours revival
Key cast were signed for soapie revival a week ago with only a handful in Production knowing the big secret.
- Published by David Knox
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EXCLUSIVE:
Four Neighbours cast members -Ryan Moloney, Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher and Stefan Dennis- are signed on for the shock soapie revival, only learning of the news last week when Executive Producer Jason Herbison paid them each a visit.
Ryan Moloney tells TV Tonight: “Last Friday, Jason, the producer came to our house -the four of our houses- and just said ‘Hey, look, Neighbours is coming back. Do you want to come back?’ I was like ‘Uhhh…..yes!’
Network 10 will have first run rights in Australia Prime Video will screen ad free in Australia and New Zealand seven days later, Prime Video in Canada while Amazon FreeVee has UK and US rights. Prime Video also has fo thousands of archival episodes.
“I don’t know if all the archive is going to be coming on. I think they might be choosing some of the best stuff to go through. I’m not too sure.”
The news is so fresh all the details are yet to be revealed by 10 / Amazon Prime Video.
“It’s Alan, Jackie, Stefan and myself who are locked into to start on it. I don’t know who’s going to come back,” says Moloney.
“I think it’s also an opportunity to create some new cast members as well, tell new stories and make things as diverse as possible. I think it’s an amazing opportunity, really, for that.”
Also yet to be confirmed are the number of episodes and format. But Moloney says he is returning to full time employment for the show.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“Amazing things happen, but we don’t really know any of the details. It’s so new. I don’t even know if they’ve actually know if they’ve got the street.
“I think there’s only maybe three people who knew, in Production.
“But Jason (Herbison) never gave up on on trying to get it happening. I think that’s probably just a general ethos of our show. When COVID hit the ethos was ‘We’ve got to find a way to keep this going’ and we did, and now we’ve done it again.”
Indeed. The show’s studios have been a vital training ground for behind-the-scenes creatives and writers in all aspects of television production. A writing team will be reassembled with production to resume around April, following the Farewell Tour.
“Now Neighbours is coming back, I guess it’s the Welcome Back tour?” asks Moloney.
How does he expect the show to pick up after its famed final episode, where a street party signalled the ‘eternity’ of Ramsay Street?
“Anything’s possible really. We could pick up from that day or a pick up from a couple of years down the line. Knowing Toadie’s luck…. but I want to work with Lucinda (Cowden, aka ‘Melanie’) again!” he joked.
“It’s going to be a very exciting time for Neighbours and for the fans and thank you so much for all the love that everyone has been feeling for us. Even over this time, there were people who never gave up hope. I think it will be nice to say, ‘We were right!’
He adds, “And I’m so glad that we didn’t blow up the street!”
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25 Responses
Im still in shock barely 24 hours after first hearing about it in the channel 9 4pm news, but at 4.30pm, then on channel 10, around an hour later. I dont know what to think. Im hoping that this revamp Will be on channel 10 as I dont have pay tv, and certainly not Amazon.
I would prefer the continuation to either be 2nd option; ie to continue as after street party; or, a year on. Im Not looking forward to return of Paul. It will be good to have return of Mike Young though. Ive missed him, as has Jane. Having new cast members would also be good. And the possible longer return of Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. And for a ‘laugh’, return Jasons daughter Jemma, to work /with/for real life dad, but his character Scott.. That would be a hoot..Unless neither Jason nor Jemma want to work together? (ie as in too much laughing/joking when meant to be filming. . .).. Just a thought. It would be great if it did happen though. Father and daughter acting together. .
Still can’t believe this is actually happening! Such great news for all those still involved with the show, the fans and the industry in general. Given new episodes won’t air until second half of 2023, I can see the story picking up at least a year after the street party as it’s easier to write out some of the characters that had decided they were staying in Erinsborough in the finale. Maybe Aaron/David/Nicolette did decide to go to NY after all, Mike/Jane lived on the street for a year but have now moved interstate, the girls sharing Chloe’s house had to move out anyway as Mike/Jane were moving in to their house. You could even write out Andrew/Wendy/Sadie despite being relatively new to the street. Would be great if Terese and Melanie (and Nel/Hugo) come back though as that brings continuity for Paul and Toadie. Let’s hope Amazon’s influence doesn’t change the tone or format too much (if at all). Bring on the second half of 2023!
What a whirlwind of emotions for these four the past week. And now everyone else finding out the same time as us.
As many have said already, interesting to see who they want/ask back based on ways storylines ended (such as Annie/Jane), Therese with Paul and Melanie with Toadie. Everyone else I suppose is “not essential” in terms of coupling with the cast announced/final story lines. Love to see David/Aaron back but know Tak was planning to leave anyway. If that’s what he chooses hopefully he comes back for 3/6 months so at least that staple couple get a proper send off – then enter diverse race family into their home!
A few cast have since relocated to Sydney and even London, so chances are this potentially rules them out (such as April/Chloe – didn’t she pack up and go to Sydney with Elle anyway?).
Can’t wait. Very intrigued how they will pick this up (surely depending on how many cast return it would have to pick up one year later).
Chloe and Elly were moving to Sydney, but they were staying with Elly’s mum (Susan’s sister) because with only just getting together they’d not looked for property, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to write that both found it hard to find work, and maybe Chloe got her old job at the vineyard back. Having said that April sadly doesn’t sound overly enthusiastic on her Instagram.
Like everyone, I’ve been shocked by the news. Having grieved the show after it ended and never found a replacement soap. (Tried H&A and Shortland Street, but they just didn’t have neighbours heart). Currently watching That 70s Show reruns in neighbours old time slot. I too am concerned how it will all affect the wonderful stories at the end. No one wants to see that Mike and Jane broke up after their happily ever after reunion. Would it be possible that Guy Pearce would sign on? He bought the Ramsay house and got a job at Erinsborough High. Of course we want to get to know Byron. Paul and Therese reunion was sped up for the finally. How can they go back on the “You’re it for me” realisation. They should bring back the new neighbours, whose roles were minimized in the finale, especially if they are going for diversity. I personally would like to see Harlow and Ned make a go of it. But I think Jemma Donovan now has a role in Hollyoakes.
Yes Jemma Donovan has join the UK soap opera Hollyoaks , she is playing a character called Rayne who is a PartyGirl and her Character will appear before Christmas in the UK . But it will only air on Channel 4 in the UK at 6.30pm UK Time Monday to Friday and the next episode airs at 7pm UK time on E4 Monday to Friday and most episodes are streaming on All4 but only in the UK , so if don’t live in the UK you won’t be able to watch Hollyoaks sadly
Hollyoaks is only a very minor soap, so hopefully Jemma can be tempted back to Neighbours as I enjoyed the character Harlow.
Jemma chose to leave Neighbours prior to its ending being announced, so it’s unlikely she’ll return.
Harlow had a pretty sad ending, compared to the rest of the characters. So hopefully she will come back one day, even if it’s not straight away. If this resurrection is a success, that is.
I think she chose to leave Neighbours after it was announced that Neighbours was going to be axed , but she was picture going to a meeting with the team behind Neighbours to find out if Neighbours was coming to an end or not during monday morning in australia , but i bet that Jemma is happy on Hollyoaks on Channel 4 in the UK but can you get Hollyoaks on a tv channel in australia ?
Well Hollyoaks has done a storyline about women’s safety where Maxine is violently attacked , so Hollyoaks and Channel 4 have done this storyline very well and this happens to most women when it comes to men in the UK , but Hollyoaks has been dub a teen soap oprea in the UK
No, Hollyoaks, was last seen in Aus on UKTV, but it was taken off a few years back.
That is a shame , you can watch bits of hollyoaks on youtube , So i guess you watch other soaps from the UK such as Eastenders and Coronation Street if you do get it in Australia ?
Please back to 10 not Peach. Give it the future it deserves!
Hopefully a future for the Nunawading studios as well.
It is coming back to 10, not Peach. 🙂
Fortunately, this deal came through before Fremantle’s lease of the Nunawading site ran out. And none of the exterior sets were dismantled.
Strictly speaking it is coming back to Network 10, so the playout is yet to be advised.
Hopefully thats right about the sets. Nunawading needs to be preserved. Its an amazing place!!
I think the same applied for Pin Oak Court – wasn’t their agreements with Fremantle through to end of 2022? I’m fairly certain they were to still have the 24 hour security presence on the street funded by Fremantle until at least the end of the year.
In terms of possibly playout on 10 and not Peach, I wonder if there was any stipulation in the new agreement between Fremantle, Amazon and Paramount as to where it first airs in Australia? Interesting that the Instagram posts and reel announcement by 10/Paramount was created using 10’s branding and page saying it’s ‘coming home to 10’ and not using Peach’s branding (or am I reading too much into that!?).
PJC – that’s what I’m wondering. I mean, it’s entirely possible it’ll still end up on 10 Peach, and maybe all of the references to 10 are simply because they haven’t figured out how the show will fit in to the 2023 schedule yet, but they do seem to be reinforcing the 10 bit quite a lot. I guess time will tell, although I’d imagine 10 would have to make a decision fairly soon if it’s going to impact other programming on the main network. But that being said, also hard to make such a decision when no-one yet quite knows what the format of the new series will be.
Digital Spy website in the UK are running a “leaked” story that Amazon have commissioned 200 episodes a year over 2 years, that it will be multi nights per week (so not one 50-60 minute episode weekly). So, working on 200 episodes per year, five nights per week, that’s 40 weeks a year, somewhat similar I think to Home and Away, and likely means the return of the Christmas break, and maybe a mid year break as well.
Already confirmed, it will be back on 10 not 10Peach.
Not confirmed. Back on network 10.
I love Annie/ Jane and would love to see them back. Hopefully with Byron.
No, disrespect to the wonderful Annie Jones. But, can we not bring Jane back, please? The Mike/Jane happy ending in the finale was so wonderful and I’ll be quite content going through the rest of my days knowing they rode off into the sunset together.
I tend to agree with this, and this is proving to be quite a popular reaction. I think people would prefer Jane/Mike riding off in to the sunset than coming back to Ramsay St and find that they’d split up. That doesn’t mean Jane couldn’t return from time to time, especially if the show brought Byron and Nicolette back.