Which original Neighbours stars have returned for the reboot?

Stefan Dennis was in the very first episode of Neighbours and starred in the soap opera as Paul Robinson from 1985 to 1992. Stefan then left to pursue other projects but eventually returned to Neighbours, reprising his role as Paul, in 2004. Stefan continued to star in Neighbours right up until the “final” episode in 2022, and has returned for the reboot.

Jackie Woodburne joined the Neighbours cast in 1994 and starred on the soap as Susan Kennedy right up until 2022. Jackie is (unsurprisingly) a member of the reboot cast.

Alan Fletcher first appeared in Neighbours in 1987 and played Greg Cooper, a minor character who was only in nine episodes. In 1994, Alan returned to Neighbours, but as a completely different character: Dr Karl Kennedy. Alan continued to play Karl right up until 2022. Like Jackie, Alan is unsurprisingly a member of the reboot cast.

Ryan Moloney guest starred as Cyborg in one Neighbours episode that originally aired in 1994. A year later, in 1995, Ryan appeared in Neighbours again, but this time in the recurring guest role of Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi. Eventually, as the character was so popular with fans, Toadie was bumped up to be a regular role in 1996. Ryan then starred as Toadie right up until 2022 and is currently reprising the role in the Neighbours reboot.

Fans of Neighbours would no doubt be familiar with bumbling Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith. Ian first appeared in Neighbours as Harold in 1987 and remained as a series regular until 1991, which is when Harold was lost at sea and presumed dead. However, five years later in 1996, Ian returned as Harold (it was explained that he was rescued while out at sea but had amnesia).

Ian then continued to star in Neighbours as Harold until 2009. After that point, Ian only sporadically returned to Neighbours as Harold; for a few episodes in 2011, a few episodes in 2015 and, of course, the “final” episode. And to fans’ delight, Ian is reprising Harold once more in the reboot.

Lucinda Cowden played Melanie Pearson on Neighbours from 1987 until 1991. Lucinda then left the show for a significant amount of time and only returned as a series regular in early 2021, but she did reprise the role of Melanie. Lucinda will continue to play Melanie in the Neighbours reboot too.

From 1986 to 1989, Annie Jones starred in Neighbours as Jane Harris. After pursuing roles in other television shows and movies, Annie reprised her role as Jane briefly in 2005 and then again in 2018; however, following her 2018 appearance in Neighbours, she then became a series regular and remained as so until 2022. Annie now stars in the Neighbours reboot too, obviously as Jane.

In 1986, Guy Pearce made his acting debut playing Mike Young in Neighbours. Guy continued to play Mike until 1989 and then moved onto other projects – and achieved Hollywood success; some of Guy’s most notable roles to date include Leonard Shelby in Memento, King Edward VIII in The King’s Speech and Aldrich Killian in Iron Man 3.

Guy – like many other wildly successful Neighbours alumni (Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue and Delta Goodrem, for instance) – returned for the “final” episode of Neighbours. But surprisingly, Guy has returned for the reboot too.