Takaya Honda
“David is pragmatic – and has to question his own mortality”
The whole family’s Christmas wish this year is that David survives,” reveals Neighbours’ Takaya Honda, when he chats to us about his character’s current life-and-death predicament. “His condition is serious, and his loved ones spend a long time not knowing whether he’ll make it or not. It’s a big roller coaster of emotions – but David is trying to remain positive.”
Having been involved in a nasty hit-and run-accident, David had to have a kidney removed – however, with his other kidney also failing, he now needs a donor pronto! It’s a tragic situation for David to be in, as his nearest and dearest get tested this week. But star Takaya hints that David’s saviour could end up being someone totally unexpected…
What’s David’s initial reaction when he finds out he needs a kidney donor?
Being a doctor himself, he understands what the chances of that are. He’s very pragmatic about it – in typical David fashion, he’s constantly thinking about everyone else around him. But every time they come to another dead end, he really has to start questioning his own mortality.
David has to start questioning his own mortality!
Does everyone want to step up and get tested?
Well, David doesn’t really know at this point what’s going on. He understands what it means to give someone your kidney, though, and it’s definitely not a decision to be taken lightly. It’s actually something we debated among the cast, about whether or not everyone would be keen to do it. As an audience member, it’s easy to be judgemental – but it’s no small surgery to have an organ removed from you.
David comes from a big family, many of whom he’s never even met before! How would he feel if a long-lost relative turned out to be a match?
I reckon that he’ll take what he can get right now! David is very openminded and forgiving, and willing to give people second chances. So if someone is willing to provide him with a kidney, that’s a sign that there must be something good in them…
How are you enjoying David and Aaron’s current set-up as owners of No 32?
It’s great – except I wish that they’d change the dining-room chairs! They squeak a lot, and we’re always having to reshoot scenes. But the dynamic in the house is very fun, it’s a place you can have lots of different characters come in and get a new perspective on things, which is really lovely.
What are your hopes for David and Aaron in 2020?
A baby storyline of some kind is what the audience is begging for, and we as actors are really keen for that, too. There are so many different avenues to explore, like surrogacy or fostering – or maybe someone could just leave a baby on the doorstep for them!