Neighbours is back: Here’s everything we know about the new chapter

It’s been a long time between drinks at Lassiters, but Neighbours is back – and from a jaw-dropping twist to new characters, here’s what you need to know.

It’s been a long 417 days for Neighbours’ fans, but the iconic Aussie soap makes its triumphant return to our screens on Monday.

The highly anticipated return to Ramsay St — thanks to Amazon Freevee and Prime Video signing on as international broadcast partners after its lengthy farewell in July — has a new feel and bold storylines.

Alan Fletcher, who’s been Dr Karl Kennedy for 28 years, is hoping the more than 1.5 million Aussie and 3 million British viewers who tuned in for last year’s finale, which saw global superstars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce reprise their roles, return.

“The jubilant reaction of fans all around the world has been the greatest joy (of returning to Ramsay St),” he said.

“Millions of people were gutted that Neighbours was lost and their joy at its return became mine.”

Here’s what we know about the newest chapter of the beloved series:

Alan Fletcher, Mischa Barton and Jackie Woodburne get into filming on the new chapter of Neighbours. Picture: Supplied/Channel 10

* Filming started on April 17, back at the sprawling purpose-built, Nunawading set in Melbourne, some four months after it was announced that Amazon Freevee and Prime Video had thrown the soap a belated lifeline.

* Scenes have also been shot back in Ramsay St’s real-life location of Pin Oak Court in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South.

* Originals Fletcher, Annie Jones, Georgie Stone, Jackie Woodburne, Rebekah Elmaloglou, Ryan Moloney, Stefan Dennis, Tim Kano are 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.

* The OC’s Mischa Barton – in an obvious attempt to grab attention in the soap’s new American market – joins Pearce, April Rose Pengilly, Ian Smith, Jodi Gordon, and Melissa Bell as guest stars.

Just some of the faces returning to resume their roles in Neighbours the next chapter. Picture: Ten

Viewers’ jaws will drop once it is revealed who is in that wedding car and who is meeting them at the end of the aisle. Picture: Ten

* We return to Erinsborough two years after the events of 2022’s finale – in a convenient, yet at times confusing, way to explain away some plot points from the cleverly executed finale. It’s the day of a wedding and the arrival of the Varga-Murphy family.

* Written by Neighbour’s long-time executive producer Jason Herbison, the first episode centres around that wedding and viewers will be left guessing right up until the very last second just who is getting married. (and may want to throw things at the TV when it is revealed just who are to be wed)

* Elsewhere, Mackenzie (Georgie Stone) is considering dating again after the death of husband Hendrix (Ben Turland). Newcomer Haz (Palekar) is the new owner of Harold’s cafe and looks less of a mystery, more of a likeable charmer. He could be Mackenzie’s second chance at love?

Georgie Stone’s Mackenzie looks set to explore the world of dating, two years after the tragic death of her young husband. Picture: Supplied

* Susan (Woodburne) is hiding a big secret from Karl which will see the couple find themselves “at a crossroads”. Again.

* There’s also a mystery involving Harold (Smith), whose odd behaviour “rings alarm bells for Karl.” Karl grows increasingly concerned for Harold’s wellbeing in the first couple of weeks, before Harold makes a “devastating admission” and his friends rally around him as “his fears for the future reach breaking point.”

* Plus there’s the much-touted appearance of Barton as the mysterious Reece Sinclair. Byron, now played by Xavier Molyneux, will discover a big secret about her which “changes everything,” and the truth behind her identity will “send ripples through the community”. We’re pretty sure it’s not just for the passionate hook-ups Byron.

Xavier Molyneux has stepped into the role of Jane’s son Byron. And he’s enjoying a rather passionate tryst with Mischa Barton’s mysterious character. Picture: Supplied

Sara West as Cara Murphy and Naomi Rukavina as Remi Harvey are loving how Neighbours is again at the forefront of diverse representation on Aussie TV. Picture: Supplied

* The new family in town – the Varga-Murphys with mums Remi (Rukavina) and Cara (West) and teen sons JJ (Bryant) and Dex (Williams) – is continuing Neighbours’ long tradition of being at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ representation on Australian TV. The Varga-Murphys have a secret though. Keep your eye on JJ, who grows more intriguing by the minute.

* The theme tune is back with an upgrade too, thanks to The Voice 2020 winner Chris Sebastian.

* Neighbours, will air Monday-Thursday, 4.30pm, 10 (encore 6.30pm, 10 Peach), stream locally on 10Play immediately and stream internationally a week later on Prime Video.

Originally published as Neighbours is back: Here’s everything we know about the new chapter