Craig McLachlan pays tribute to his Neighbours character after snub from final episodes

The embattled actor slipped into his overalls and his popular Neighbours character after slamming the show for caving in to “cancel culture”. WATCH VIDEO

Craig McLachlan has paid tribute to his famous Neighbours character Henry Ramsay.

After a year-long hiatus from social media the gold Logie winner slipped into his overalls and his popular Soapy character to congratulate the show that launched his career and his thousands of fans in Australia and the UK.

It’s the first time Henry has been seen in 30 years.

The post was flooded with comments like: “Great to see the Craig and the sexy Henry we know all the best Craig … can’t wait to see what you’ll be doing next.”

Craig McLachlan slipped into character for the tribute post. Picture: Facebook

The Facebook post received 5000 views in the first hour of going live on Thursday night, with hundreds questioning why Henry has vanished.

A spokeswoman for McLachlan said he was looking forward to some exciting projects in the works.

McLachlan has slammed the show for caving in to “cancel culture” after he was snubbed from the final episode.

The devastated star, who played Henry Ramsay from 1987 to 1989, believes he was shunned from making a return due to sexual assault charges which he was cleared of two years ago.

The post received 5000 views in the first hour. Picture: Facebook

Instead, McLachlan will watch on as his screen sister Charlene, played by Kylie Minogue, 54, and stepfather Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, 84, appear in the big send off without him.

Adding to the 56-year-old’s devastation is that McLachlan’s on-screen late mother Madge, played by Anne Charleston, 79, will make a cameo as a ghost.

“Henry’s dead mother is being reincarnated for the final episode — but cancel culture won’t allow her son Henry to appear or even be acknowledged,” a spokeswoman for McLachlan exclusively told The Sun.

Actor Anne Charleston with Kylie Minogue and Craig McLachlan from TV program "Neighbours" 1988.

“What Craig and his partner have endured over the past four-and-a-half years — only to come out the other side and be confronted by, among other things, the attempted permanent erasing of his part in Neighbours history — is devastating.

“Craig was not invited to take part in the closing episode or indeed to contribute in any way to the end of Neighbours.

“Henry was, and continues to be, an all-time Neighbours favourite, a character Craig loves to this day. Craig happily and enthusiastically contributed to a number of Neighbours celebratory milestones over the years and was always so thrilled to be invited to partake.”

Craig McLachlan with his partner Vanessa Scammell. Picture: Gaye Gerard

In 2020, the father-of-one, whose partner is opera conductor Vanessa Scammell, was cleared of seven charges of assault and indecent assault on four women dating back to 2014 when he was in Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Two months ago he abandoned a defamation case against several media organisations who had reported on the initial allegations, as well as one of the original complainants.

“I cannot continue to place my family under that strain, and my own mental health will not withstand the continuing pressure,” McLachlan said at the time.

Neighbours representatives were contacted by The Sun but declined to comment.

The final episode will air on Thursday night.

The final 90-minute episode airs on Thursday night on Channel 10 and sees Kylie lead a host of stars who shot to fame on the soap.

They include her former screen hubby Jason Donovan, 54, Margot Robbie, 32, and Guy Pearce, 54.

Neighbours was the show that stamped Robbie as a star in the making. She played Donna Freeman for three years on the soap from 2008 – 2011.

Delta Goodrem, Jesse Spencer, Kym Valentine and Carla Bonner will also make appearances in the much anticipated episode.

Actress Margot Robbie on Neighbours set in 2010.

Goodrem arrived on Ramsay Street in 2002 as the shy student, Nina Tucker, and went on to a huge singing career after launching her debut album, Innocent Eyes, during her time on Neighbours.

Jesse Spencer, who played Billy Kennedy, went onto success in the US post Neighbours with roles on Chicago Fire, House M.D. and Chicago P.D.

Kym Valentine makes a welcome return as the much loved Libby Kennedy while Carla Bonner joins the farewell as the free-spirited Steph Scully.

All up 49 former cast members have returned to say goodbye to the show.

The final episode of Neighbours will air on Channel 10 on Thursday (July 28) at 7.30pm AEST.

Originally published as Craig McLachlan pays tribute to his Neighbours character after snub from final episodes