Jason Donovan surprised to hear about Neighbours’ return

Jason Donovan reveals he is still surprised at Neighbours shock return, just months after final scenes wrapped up.

The 54-year-old singer and actor reprised his role as Scott Robinson alongside Kylie Minogue – who played his on-screen love interest Charlene Robinson – for the finale of the Australian soap in July last year.

Fans were left devastated after Fremantle Media announced the country’s longest-running soap would cease production in July after 37 years, following Channel 5’s departure as its broadcaster.

However, a few months after the finale wrapped filming, Amazon Freevee and Freemantle announced the return of ‘Neighbours’ for the second half of 2023.

Speaking about the shock return Jason said: “I’ll be honest with you, it was a surprise.

“But.. I think anything that provides opportunity to keep people working and actors and producers and all those sort of things.”

Jason – who went on to develop an off-screen relationship with the pop star – was excited to work with Kylie again after all those years.

He added: “It’s beautiful. It is amazing. Obviously, Kylie and I were a big part of that story.

“But a lot has gone on since. What I will say is nostalgia is massive at the moment.

“I think what was happening and the group of people there was a chemistry. There was some magic going on.”

Kylie joined the cast of ‘Neighbours’ in 1986 but left the series in 1988 to embark on a pop career.

She went on to enjoy decades of chart success with hits such as ‘I Should Be So Lucky’, and ‘Can’t Get You out of My Head’, and she even teamed up with then-boyfriend Jason to release chart-topper ‘Especially For You’ in 1989, which could be heard playing as the on-screen couple made their return to Ramsay Street in the finale.

‘Neighbours’ initially aired on BBC One from 1986 until 2008, before being shown on Channel 5.