Kylie Minogue ‘felt pressure’ to return to Neighbours

Kylie Minogue has opened up about going back to Ramsay Street while she revealed her legal fight with Kylie Jenner over a trademark dispute was “something that had to be done”.

Kylie Minogue has revealed she felt “pressure” to return to Neighbours as the iconic Australian soap prepares to end.

Speaking to Seth Myers in the US, Minogue said, “There was quite a bit of pressure for me to go back, so I shot my scenes.”

Minogue also revealed that at 19 years old she had “signed up for the dole” before nabbing her career-defining role as Charlene the loveable mechanic, on the show.

“When I was 19 I finished school, signed up for the dole, because I thought, I’m never going to get a job, but I got this role on Neighbours,” she said.

Kylie Minogue said she felt “pressure” to return to Neighbours. Picture: Getty Images

Jason Donovan, who played Minogue’s famed on-screen love, Scott, will return as will Guy Pearce (Mike) and Annie Jones (Jane).

Peter O’Brien, Melissa Bell, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Olympia Valance, Jodi Gordon, Kate Kendall, and many more former Erinsborough residents are also heading back to Ramsay Street.

Minogue quit the soap in 1988, having become the first person to win four Logie Awards in one year and the youngest ever recipient of a Gold Logie. She went on to launch a phenomenally successful music career, selling more than 80 million albums worldwide.

Meanwhile, Minogue also opened up about her legal stoush with billionaire make-up mogul/reality star Kylie Jenner.

NKylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Anne Charleston and Ian Smith during Neighbours’ heyday. Picture: Supplied / Neighbours

Appearing on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live in the US, the Aussie icon said the fight over trademark ownership of the name “Kylie” was “just business”.

Asked by call-in viewers about the 2015 incident, Minogue said she had to take a stand against the 24-year-old Jenner.

“When I was named Kylie, I think I met one person older than me called Kylie. So it’s kind of unusual,” Minogue told Cohen.

“I’ve spent a lifetime protecting my brand and building my brand so it was just something that had to be done.”

Host Cohen then high-fived Minogue.

“Yes, it did,” he answered.

Kylie Minogue opened up about her legal stoush with Kylie Jenner on Watch What Happens Live in the US. Picture: Supplied

“But let me also say we came to an agreement,” Minogue said of the legal dispute that was found in her favour in 2017.

“Oh my God. Did you have to call Kris Jenner and be like, ‘Let me tell you something,’” Cohen asked.

“No, but I’d love to meet them,” Minogue said.

Jenner applied to trademark the name Kylie, for her fashion and beauty business in 2014 but the application was rejected by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Minogue did say she was “disappointed” to hear that her lawyers had referred to Jenner as a “secondary reality TV personality”.

Kylie Jenner, with Travis Scott, lost a battle to trademark the name Kylie. Picture: AFP

Cohen also probed Minogue on whether she could marry her British boyfriend of four years, Paul Solomons.

“Are we going to be reading about a wedding anytime soon?” Cohen asked.

“No,” Minogue said. “Possibilities are wonderful. I don’t know, I just got all shy then.”

Cohen also asked the star about the possibilities of her performing with either Lady Gaga or Madonna.

“I just saw [Gaga’s] jazz show in Vegas and it was amazing,” Minogue said.

Asked whether she ever “got close” to performing with Madonna, Minogue said she had.

“There have been a couple of occasions, I’m just remembering. There have been a couple of occasions but it hasn’t quite happened yet. I would be up for that. The level is high here. Gaga, Madonna.”

Kylie Minogue as Charlene on Neighbours. Picture: Supplied

Minogue also said a rumoured Las Vegas residence was a possibility. “Maybe,” she smiled, adding she’d recently been to see Abba’s Voyage show in London.

“It was absolutely brilliant. I went crazy over it. I can’t wait to see it again.”

Minogue also confirmed new music was on the horizon.

“I’ve had a few days back in the studio. Going back definitely through July. I don’t know, I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen. I’m open to being open. We will see what happens.”

Minogue has been in the US promoting her range of self-titled wines.

Originally published as Kylie Minogue ‘felt pressure’ to return to Neighbours