35 YEARS ON...
Ablastfromthe pastissettohit Neighbours
ANNIE JONES
AS JANE HARRIS 1986-1989
Plain Jane Superbrain (aka Annie) stole our hearts when she fell in love with on-screen boyfriend Mike Young (played by Guy Pearce). Annie, 52, went on to appear in a number of Aussie TV shows, including Sons and Daughters, Blue Heelers and, most recently, Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, before stepping out of the limelight to care for her sick mother, who sadly died in 2016. Annie says returning to Neighbours is like “going home and putting on an old pair of shoes”.
MELISSA BELL AS LUCY ROBINSON 1991-2016
Melissa was the third actress to play Lucy, and she did so on and off for 25 years. The 47-year-old has also appeared in a number of TV shows, including Water Rats and Home and Away. Tragically, in 2016, her husband died following a heart attack, but she has since found love again with a financier.
PAUL KEANE AS DES CLARKE 1985-2015
Paul rose to fame in 1985 when he appeared on the show as Des, who married Daphne Clarke in one of the most memorable weddings in Neighbours’ history. In real life, Paul struggled with depression and an alcohol and drug addiction, which he battled for 10 years. Now 63, his return will mark his second time back on the show since his departure in 1990 – he also reprised his role in 2015 for the soap’s 30th anniversary.
BRUCE SAMAZAN AS MARK GOTTLIEB 1993-1995
Bruce, 49, can boast he’s worked on the “big three” Aussie soaps of the ‘90s – E Street, Neighbours and Home and Away. He has since retired from acting, but recently revealed he jumped at the chance to return to Ramsay Street, solely to be able to work with Melissa Bell again. “We have a long history together dating back to the E Street days, so I couldn’t pass on that,” says Bruce.