Neighbours favourite set to make a dramatic return
One of Neighbours most iconic characters from the golden era of the show is returning as a full time cast member after more than 30 years.
Fiona Byrne
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One of Neighbours most iconic characters from the golden era of the show is returning as a full time cast member after more than 30 years.
Annie Jones played Jane Harris alongside Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce from 1986 to 1989. She has made several guest appearances on the show in the intervening years, but on July 8 she will return to the role full-time as Jane arrives on Ramsay Street with her daughter Nicolette, played by Charlotte Chimes.
“I took 15 years off to look after my mother who had Alzheimer’s (disease) and during that time worked briefly on guest roles here and there, but I always craved that long running show again, something were you are busy all the time, and thankfully Neighbours is the gift that keeps giving.
“I have been delighted to have been asked back a couple of times in the last few years and this time they have asked me back as a regular character.
“Fans will get a bit of an insight into what has been happening (to Jane) in those 30-odd years that she has been gone, looking after Mrs Mangel and living in England.”
Jones originally auditioned for the role of Charlene Mitchell against Minogue.
“Kylie and I, we worked together on The Henderson Kids so we knew each other from that and we both went for the role of Charlene,” she said.
“I did not hear anything and a couple of days later they called and said, ‘we want you to try for another role,’ which was the role of Jane.
“So as it all turned out, Kylie was right for Charlene and it would seem that I was right for Jane.”
Jones said there was still tremendous warmth between the cast from the early years of the show.
“Even though we don’t keep in touch all the time when we do see each other it is like yesterday,” she said.