Neighbours star Scott McGregor tells of his baby excitement with fiance Bianka Voigt

NEIGHBOURS star Scott McGregor is about take a break from Ramsay Street to embark on an exciting new role as a first-time dad.

SCOTT McGregor is gearing up to play the role of a lifetime.

In a fortnight the Neighbours’ star and his fiance Bianka Voigt will welcome their first child.

Like most expectant first-time parents, McGregor and Voigt are both nervous and excited about the impending arrival. The nursery is set up. They have done the birthing classes, and been on the receiving end of a lot of helpful advice about stocking up on sleep — though McGregor is understandably sceptical that it can be banked.

Neighbours star Scott McGregor is about to become a first-time dad. Picture: Supplied

“I can’t wait to meet our little one,” McGregor says.

“I can’t wait to see what they look like. To see all their little nuances. It’s really exciting.”

McGregor said he would get to spend about a month at home with his new baby before he was due back on set of Neighbours. Even after his paternity leave finishes his hours on the Eleven soapie varies from week to week providing plenty of opportunities to be on hand at home too.

McGregor says he and Ms Voigt had now pushed out their wedding date until January 2019 so that they could focus purely on enjoying time bonding as a family.

Detective Mark Brennan, played by Scott McGregor, on 'Neighbours'. Picture: Supplied

In a strange coincidence, McGregor said Ms Voigt’s pregnancy had coincided with a storyline which saw his character, straight-laced detective Mark Brennan, trying to have a baby with his screen girlfriend Steph Scully (Carla Bonner) through a surrogate.

It was one of the storylines McGregor has most enjoyed during his stint on Neighbours as it allowed him to showcase both his comedic and dramatic skills.

Jodi Anasta, Scott McGregor and Olympia Valance on Neighbours. Picture: Supplied

Now McGregor is in the middle of another juicy storyline that sees Brennan in a love triangle with Olympia Valance and Jodi Anasta’s characters, Paige Smith and

Elly Conway.

“Yeah, it’s pretty difficult,” McGregor says of being the object of desire for two of Aussie TV’s most attractive leading ladies, who he counts as close friends off-screen.

McGregor doesn’t take his time on Ramsay St for granted by any means. If anything he takes his job a little too seriously at times.

McGregor says that playing a police officer for so many years has made him more interested in matters of law that his efforts to protect his character’s credibility had sometimes meant he’s had minor disagreements with his bosses over their planned storylines.

20 years of Ryan Moloney playing Toadie in the channel 10 series Neighbours. Scott McGregor, Ashleigh Brewer, Ryan Moloney. Picture: Supplied

“Some directors have told me to just relax because it’s just a TV show not real life,” he laughs.

Likewise, McGregor once stared so intently at two real-life police officers to study their on-duty mannerisms that one asked him: “Is there a problem, mate?”

Having left Neighbours once before — admittedly before he felt ready to go — McGregor was “reluctantly” lured back to Erinsborough for what was meant to be a few months’ work. Months turned into years and now the expectant father is happily settled into the soap and in no rush to return to Hollywood anytime soon.

Matt Wilson (centre) joined Neighbours as the third Brennan brother alongside actors Scott McGregor (right) and Travis Burns (left). Picture: Jonathan Ng

Despite having the support of a close circle of Aussie mates in the US, including Neighbours alumni turned A-lister Margot Robbie, McGregor said he never felt at home in Los Angeles even though he has a coveted Green Card and a US agent.

“I love Melbourne, my family and friends are here, we’ve just bought a house, I have met my fiance and we are expecting our first little one so I feel pretty settled,” he says.

“I almost find it a little bit insulting when people ask me what I am planning to do next because I am not in a rush to leave Neighbours. I love working on the show.

“I am not going to leave because I want to be more famous or to find work in Hollywood. I am not in this for a quick success. I am in it for the long haul. I want a long career so I am happy to wait even if that means waiting five or 10 years before making the next step.”

For the moment that next step is fatherhood. Hollywood can wait.

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