Neighbours star Sharon Johal has a shock body double secret as the family soap defies COVID intimacy ban
A partner swapping shock has emerged on the set of the Neighbours, with family-friendly soap finding a clever way to get around the coronavirus intimacy ban.
Fiona Byrne
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A partner swapping shock has emerged on the set of the family friendly soap Neighbours as the show defies the coronavirus threat.
The show, which films in the Melbourne suburb of Forest Hill, has been operating within strict lockdown for months which includes the cast remaining socially distant even during scenes.
Intimate scenes have been off the agenda, until now when Sharon Johal’s character of Dipi Rebecchi embarks on a scandalous affair with Tim Robards’ character, Pierce Greyson, starting with the passionate but forbidden first kiss.
Managing to create an intimate scene while adhering to the COVID-19 protocols was achieved by Johal’s husband Ankur, a finance executive, puckering up as Robards’ body double for the steamy storyline.
“My wife made me practice ‘pretend kissing’ the night before, which is such a weird concept,” Ankur said.
“I thought my kissing skills were up to scratch but obviously not. She told me it was more for blocking because she had spoken to the director and producers about what they were planning to show of me, mainly the back of my head, so she was experimenting with different angles.
“I know Sharon has been hoping for meatier storylines since she started on the show and her pride in her work requires her to tell the story and perform to the best of her ability however she can (and) on this occasion that included having me to help in those pivotal scenes.”
Johal said the affair storyline had pushed her out of her comfort zone.
“I had to be intimate (touching and no touching) with four men over the course of this storyline - my on-screen husband Shane (played by Nicholas Coghlan), Pierce played by Tim Robards, Pierce played by Don Hany and my real-life husband. There were definitely three men too many for me.”
Neighbours has set the pace in Australia and overseas for showing how TV drama can proceed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s no secret Neighbours has paved the way in terms of reorganising and redefining (how) production would run during a global pandemic by way of splitting up the cast, changing scripts, logistical aspects of creating a safe and hygienic workplace, wearing masks, requiring cast to covid test, social distancing, isolating cast and crew,” Johal said.