{"id":97947,"date":"2023-08-26T03:55:51","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T03:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/?p=97947"},"modified":"2023-08-26T03:55:51","modified_gmt":"2023-08-26T03:55:51","slug":"neighbours-originals-now-working-in-pub-falling-to-death-and-co-star-romance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/tv-movies\/neighbours-originals-now-working-in-pub-falling-to-death-and-co-star-romance\/","title":{"rendered":"Neighbours originals now \u2014 working in pub, falling to death and co-star romance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Fans nationwide are gearing up for the return of iconic Aussie soap Neighbours \u2014 and we can\u2019t wait. <\/p>\n

    The much-loved programme, which has been on telly screens since 1985, was initially cancelled by Channel 5 last year. <\/p>\n

    However, much to the delight of its viewers, new video-streaming service Amazon Freevee was confirmed to be bringing the Aussie soap back.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: <\/b>Neighbours return date confirmed as iconic soap set for major Amazon comeback next month<\/b><\/p>\n

    The show will pick up two years after viewers last saw the residents of the infamous Ramsay Street and Erinsborough.<\/p>\n

    And it\u2019s fair to day plenty of characters have come and gone (including pop superstar Kylie Minogue and Barbie herself Margot Robbie) over the years. <\/p>\n

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    But many of the show\u2019s loyal legion of viewers will still remember the OG stars – from when the show first premiered in 1985. <\/p>\n

    But while characters have come and gone over the years, many viewers still remember the very original ones, from when the show first launched Down Under in the mid-1980s.<\/p>\n

    So with the soap making its TV comeback, Daily Star is taking a look at the lesser-known cast members that appeared on Neighbours back in the day. <\/p>\n

    Max Ramsay played by Francis Bell<\/h3>\n

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    Francis played patriarch Max for one year and appeared in 190 episodes – before bosses reportedly refused to renew his contact. <\/p>\n

    Max was the father of sons Shane and Danny, and the husband of Maria – with the family living on the famous street, Ramsay Street, that was named the character\u2019s grandfather. <\/p>\n

    However, in 1994, he died aged 50 after falling from a block of flats in Auckland, New Zealand.<\/p>\n

    Prior to his tragic death, Francis\u2019 agent Graham Dunster revealed that he had been hospitalised with depression.<\/p>\n

    Danny Ramsay, played by David Clencie<\/h3>\n

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    Danny was the first character ever, to speak in Neighbours when he made his debut on the soap\u2019s first episode.<\/p>\n

    Played by David Clencie, Danny was the youngest son of Maria and brother to Shane – but a year since his first appearance, David left the programme.<\/p>\n

    After his neighbours stint came to an end, David began a career in real estate – and even helped flog former co-star Stefan Dennis\u2019 pad. <\/p>\n

    However his personal life hasn\u2019t been shy of controversy, as in 2014 he was arrested for assaulting his partner twice in one day – while under the influence of alcohol.<\/p>\n

    Danny, who has battled an addiction to alcohol, pleaded guilty and served three months.<\/p>\n

    Maria Ramsay, played by Dasha Bl\u00e1hov\u00e1<\/h3>\n

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    Czech-born Australian actress Dasha played mama Maria for just six months on Neighbours – before leaving the soap. <\/p>\n

    On the show, her character fell in love with Richard Morrison (Peter Flett) after her marriage broke down.<\/p>\n

    They then moved to Hong Kong, but the following year, she and Max got back together and were never seen again.<\/p>\n

    Dasha returned to her birth country in 1998 and again started appearing natively in film roles.<\/p>\n

    Shane Ramsay played by Peter O'Brien<\/h3>\n

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    Shane is the elder son of Max and Maria – with actor Peter O\u2019Brien playing the character for just two years.<\/p>\n

    During his time on the show, he had a number of dramatic storylines, including facing a manslaughter charge and multiple car crashes.<\/p>\n

    Despite his short stint, Pete bagged a Logie Awards for his role on the show – one in 1987 for Most Popular Actor.<\/p>\n

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    Peter went on to star in several shows across the pond in both the UK and US, like Queer As Folk and even teen drama Gossip Girl.<\/p>\n

    In 2022 though, following the news that Neighbours was being axed, Peter reprised his role of Shane.<\/p>\n

    Before then, the character hadn't been seen since 1987, when he left to travel around Australia.<\/p>\n

    Julie Robinson, played by Vikki Blanche <\/h3>\n

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    Vikki Blanche was the first ever actress to play Julie Robinson on the soap – but after seven months, Julie Mullins took over the role.<\/p>\n

    10 years later the character, still played by Julie, was killed off in a tragic murder mystery weekend.<\/p>\n

    Following her stint on Neighbours, Blanche starred in The Flying Doctors, Col'n Carpenter and Phoenix in the 1990s.<\/p>\n

    Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis<\/h3>\n

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    Stefan Dennis is the only OG cast member still on the show throughout its whole period on screen. <\/p>\n

    He made his debut back in 1985 playing Paul Robinson before taking a break from the show in 1992. <\/p>\n

    Taking a leaf out of fellow Neighbours star Kylie Minogue he also embarked on a short-lived music career – bagging a 20 UK top 20 single with Don't It Make You Feel Good – that reached number 16 in the charts.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Stefan returned to Neighbours in 2004 though and has been on telly screens ever since, and has also been involved in some of the biggest storylines.<\/p>\n

    Plots including money laundering, a leg amputation and being held hostage have gripped viewers and cemented Stefan as one of the soap's biggest stars. <\/p>\n

    Away from the show, and Stefan was previously linked to fellow Aussie star Natalie Imbruglia while they were both on Neighbours in the 1990s.<\/p>\n

    He eventually married wife Gail, who has made various appearances on the show, and the couple have two sons, Cameron and Declan, as well as a daughter Darci. <\/p>\n

    Jim Robinson played by Alan Dale<\/h3>\n

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    Alan Dale played the role of Jim Robinson for a whopping 860 episodes in the soap.<\/p>\n

    In 1993 though, Jim died on-screen from a heart attack – leaving fans devastated – but apparently Alan left the show over the pay he and the rest of the cast were getting.<\/p>\n

    Despite struggling to find acting jobs after leaving Neighbours, Alan headed across the pond and found mega success in America. <\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    He\u2019s featured in some of the biggest shows in the past 20 years, including Ugly Betty, Lost and 24, as well as blockbuster flicks like Star Trek: Nemesis, Captain America: The Winer Solider, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Star Trek: Nemesis.<\/p>\n

    He's famous for always dying in his roles and in 2018, and after 25 years since his last appearance, Alan returned to Neighbours in the apt form of a ghost.<\/p>\n

    Scott Robinson, played by Darius Perkins<\/h3>\n

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    Scott is the youngest son of Jim and Anne, and is the brother of Paul and Julie. <\/p>\n

    Darius was the first to play the role of Scott in 1985 – but when Neighbours moved to Network Ten the role was recast. <\/p>\n

    Jason Donovan then landed the role – with a future episode featuring Scott and Charlene's wedding bagging the highest-ever ratings for Neighbours.<\/p>\n

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    After leaving Neighbours, Darius appeared on Aussie rival soap Home and Away playing Gary Samuels.<\/p>\n

    He also turned his hand to working behind the scenes for TV series Crashburn where he had a role in the art department. <\/p>\n

    In 2014, he returned to Neighbours in a small capacity, playing Marty Kranic for just under a year.<\/p>\n

    However, sadly, after a battle with cancer, Darius passed away in 2019 aged 54. <\/p>\n

    Des Clarke played by Paul Keane<\/h3>\n

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    Have you joined Threads? Follow Daily Star to keep up to date on all things showbiz <\/b>here<\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Bank manager Des, played by actor Paul Keane, appeared on telly screens for five years – before the character was written out. <\/p>\n

    Struggling with his sudden fame from the Aussie soap; Paul developed a drug issue which he battled for 10 years. <\/p>\n

    He also went on to quit acting completely shortly after his Neighbours stint, and it was also reported that Paul ended up working at a pub.<\/p>\n

    In 2022 though, Paul reprised the role of Des again for the final episode of the show in July.<\/p>\n

    For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters <\/b>here<\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n