Sunday 8 May 2022 11:26 AM The stars of Neighbours: Where are they now? trends now

The full list of returning cast members for Neighbours final episode has been revealed.

Among those returning are Harold Bishop star Ian Smith and Joel Samuels actor Daniel MacPherson, alongside Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

1980s Neighbours stars making a comeback also include Mark Little (Joe Mangle) and Paul Keane (Des Clarke). 

Additionally, 1990s cast members including Melissa Bell (Lucy Robinson) will be back. 

In the years since the some of the soap's most beloved actors made their debut on the show, much has changed. 

So where are all the beloved stars of the iconic series now? 

Ian Smith - Harold Bishop  

As Harold Bishop, Ian Smith, 83, became one of the show's most legendary characters. 

Ian first appeared on the show between 1987 and 1991, returning between 1996 and 2009, again in 2011, and 2015. 

He was there from day one and his relationship with Madge Bishop was a focus of numerous plots while his friendship with Lou, who nicknamed him 'jelly belly', often added comedy to the show.

He was infamously killed off in 1991 - or so we thought - as he then made a miraculous return to appear in the show on and off from the Nineties until 2015.

Speaking on Network 10's Studio 10 in 2018, the much-loved character admitted that he wished he would have quit the series sooner.

While trying to branch outside of his character into alternative acting roles, the star said he was turned down from various opportunities because of his long-standing association to Harold.

The famous face said that during an audition for an entirely dissimilar role, he was told: 'Oh you were Harold. You couldn't possibly be a murdering paedophile.'

Following a series of attempts, Ian decided that he had had enough and wanted to retire the role.

He went on to star in Blue Heelers in 1994, Underbelly in 2010, and most recently appeared in How to Stay Married in 2021. 

When asked about his dream role, Ian admitted to wanting to play one as far away from Harold as possible.

While he said he still loves Harold, he expressed the importance of venturing beyond those constricted territories for himself as an actor.

'I would like to go as far from Harold as I can, not to prove it to other people, but to prove it to myself,' he explained.

Daniel MacPherson - Joel Samuels   

After leaving the soap in 2002, Daniel MacPherson, 42, went on to star on The Bill as PC Cameron Tait between 2003 and 2004. 

His next major TV role was on City Homicide as Simon Joyner between 2007 and 2010, before he moved onto Wild Boys in 2011. 

More recently, he has had roles on TV shows Bad Mothers,  Strike Back as Sgt. Samuel Wyatt between 2017 and 2020 and Foundation in 2021.

He also this year landed a role in Poker Face, the Russell Crowe directed film.   

Daniel said he's now based back in Australia, in his hometown of Cronulla, NSW and has been focusing on fatherhood amid the pandemic.  

'I'm just loving fatherhood,' he said of raising son Austin, two. 

He split from his actress wife Zoe Ventoura back in December 2020. 

'Zoe and I are co-parenting and we're really good, she's a fantastic mother,' he added.   

There have recently been rumours he is being considered to be the next Bachelor following his split with Zoe.

According to New Idea magazine, the actor is 'officially on the top of The Bachelor wish list' for producers 'who are on the hunt for a big name this year'. 

'They want someone that is instantly identifiable and well known,' a source told the publication. 

'Daniel is a prime candidate... everyone loves him. He has massive appeal.' 

Kylie Minogue -  Charlene Robinson 

Pint-sized songstress Kylie Minogue is arguably the show's most famous export after finding worldwide fame as a singer when she left the soap.

She initially won hearts with her on-screen romance with Scott Robinson, played by Jason Donovan.

The Kylie and Jason public obsession reached fever pitch when the couple got together in real life and they had a hit record together, Especially For You. 

But superstardom beckoned for Kylie, now 53, as she enjoyed hit after hit on the music charts. 

Kylie recently relocated to her home city of Melbourne, Australia, after living in the UK for more than three decades. 

The formerly London-based singer is believed to have quietly arrived back in Australia at the end of January.

Kylie revealed she was leaving the British capital after 30 years to return to Melbourne after spending time there during the pandemic.

When asked in October about rumours she was returning to her home country permanently, Kylie confirmed it to BBC 2 radio.

'It is true, I will be basing myself in Australia,' she said. 'I can't believe the reaction it's had. I've had friends call me.' I spent a lot of time with my family this year in Australia and it felt really good... I've been talking about that for a while.'

Kylie reassured Brits she 'won't be a stranger' and will still visit regularly. 'Of course I've lived here for 30 years. I'm always going to be back,' she said.

Kylie told friends she wanted to live closer to her family, including her parents Carol and Ron, siblings Brendan and Dannii and nephew Ethan.

Her boyfriend, magazine executive Paul Solomons, won't be joining her in Australia, but they intend to continue a long-distance relationship. 

Jason Donovan - Scott Robinson   

Like his on-screen wife Kylie, Jason Donovan left the soap to pursue a pop career and while he may not have been quite so lucky with his recording career he too topped the charts in the Eighties.

He's starred in stage productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert.  

The actor hit a rough patch due to alcohol and drug abuse, suffering a cocaine-induced seizure at Kate Moss's 21 birthday party in 1995.

But he has since regained an image befitting of his alter Neighbour's ego Scott Robinson with a regular DJ gig on Heart FM. 

And last year, he made his pantomime debut in Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

A year ago, Jason revealed he wouldn't 'still be standing' today without his long-term wife Angela Malloch. 

In a candid interview, the singer - who once dated his Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue - gushed over his wife of over 13 years as he admitted that she 'saved' him from cocaine addiction.

He told The Mirror: 'Had it not been for her [Angela], I doubt I'd still be standing. She was my saving grace and set to become the real love of my life.'

Jason went on to explain that he believes Angela was sent to him 'for a reason', after the pair met in 1998 while Jason was starring in the Rocky Horror Show UK tour.

He continued: 'Ange gave me my life back, made me see what love really was and to the day I die I will be grateful to her for that.'

The smitten couple tied the knot in 2008 and share three children together - Jemma, 21, Zac, 20, and Molly, ten.

Peter O'Brien - Shane Ramsay

After leaving Neighbours all the way back in 1987, Peter O'Brien, 62, has had an extensive acting career with new gigs lined up without pause.   

He won hearts on another soap, The Flying Doctors, where he played Sam Patterson between 1987 and 1991. 

He worked steadily through the 1990s, adding notches to his belt with roles such as Cameron Roberts in Queer as Folk and Steve Elliot in Halifax f.p. 

Another iconic Australian soap opera following with his role on Water Rats as Matthew Grierson between 1997 and 2001.

Next was White Collar Blue as Det. Joe Hill between 2002 and 2003,  before he played DI Peter Cavanaugh on The Bill in 2004. 

Roles on Blue Heelers, Casualty, City Homicide and All Saints rounded out his impressive resume.