Neighbours’ fans get glimpse of reboot in new trailer

Mischa Barton and Guy Pearce star in a new Neighbours trailer that has given fans of the much-loved Aussie TV drama Neighbours a taste of what’s to come. See the trailer.

Neighbours will be returning to Channel 10 next month. Picture: Supplied

Is it even a soap opera comeback if there's not a wedding and a secret elevator pash in the opening episodes?

Neighbours originals Guy Pearce and Annie Jones star in the first look at the Ten and Amazon Freevee reboot of the much-loved series.

The long-awaited reunion of their characters Mike Young and Jane Harris, revealed in the star-studded finale episodes which aired last year, continues with the soap’s return.

Marriage plans may be on the cards as Harris is featured in the trailer saying “We found a date on the calendar and went for it.” But Harris also signals all is not perfect in the Erinsborough paradise as she tells the love of her life: “I have been keeping something from you”.

Mischa Barton also gets serious airtime doing a lot of pashing in the Neighbours official trailer.

It appears her guest character Reece, a mysterious American who arrives in Erinsborough with a secret agenda, may be a corporate spy. And frequent kisser of former Big Brother Australia star Xavier Molyneux who has been cast as the new Byron Stone, the son of Jane Harris.

The trailer also features a lot of beach scenes, suggesting Neighbours’ Erinsborough is keen to take some of the (sun)shine of Home and Away’s Summer Bay.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NEIGHBOURS RETURN

Neighbours will return to our screens – and to its original home on Channel 10’s main channel – next month.

The highly anticipated return to Ramsay St, which was thrown a lifeline by Amazon Freevee and Prime Video after its lengthy farewell which included a finale where a cavalcade of global superstars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce reprised their roles, will premiere on September 18 at 4.30pm on Channel 10 and Amazon Freevee.

It will be encored at 6.30pm on 10Peach. The Bold And The Beautiful will move to the earlier timeslot of 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

Neighbours’ executive producer Jason Herbison said he was excited at the prospect of introducing the beloved characters to a wider global audience on the streaming partner.

“All the cast and crew are incredibly excited that Ramsay St will officially welcome viewers again to the neighbourhood (next month),” he said.

“ … and also be introduced to brand new audiences in the US and Canada when the new chapter of Neighbours is unveiled.”

Ten will retain first-run rights for the series, while episodes will be available ad-free on Prime Video a week later.

Neighbours was thrown a lifeline by Amazon Freevee and Prime Video. Picture: Alex Coppel

The continuation of the long-running soap series — about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay St in Erinsborough — will see originals Alan Fletcher, Annie Jones, Georgie Stone, Jackie Woodburne, Rebekah Elmaloglou, Ryan Moloney, Stefan Dennis, Tim Kano joined by new faces Candice Leask, Emerald Chan, Lloyd Will, Lucinda Armstrong Hall, Lucinda Cowden, Marley Williams, Naomi Rukavina, Riley Bryant, Sara West, Shiv Palekar and Xavier Molyneux as series regulars. Pearce, April Rose Pengilly, Ian Smith, Jodi Gordon, Melissa Bell and Mischa Barton will feature as guest stars.

While most fans were overjoyed when the iconic soap was thrown an unexpected lifeline last November after it was axed in April last year, there were some critics of the decision.

Cast of Neighbours attends the 63rd TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on Sunday night. Picture: Getty Images

Longest-serving cast member Stefan Dennis hit back saying they should read the room when production restarted in April.

“I don’t think there should be sour grapes or thinking that it was futile because no one knew (it would return),” Dennis said.

“It wasn’t a waste and at the end of the day it’s so popular it’s been resurrected not once, but twice. I was around the first time, which was seven months in.

“I don’t know about there being a bone of contention with some guys but we were (genuinely) saying goodbye. It was a pleasurable shock to everyone that the show got picked up and it’s a credit to everyone involved.”

The finale episode drew a national audience of 1.48 million viewers in July, 2022.

About 450 cast, crew and associated businesses have resumed work on the revitalised series.