A NEIGHBOURS boss has revealed that a popular soap legend won’t appear in the last ever episode.
He was originally meant to appear in just one episode but became a huge hit with viewers.
But sadly, it has been revealed that actor Ryan Moloney, 46, who played the character of Toadie on the long-running soap, won’t be returning for the show’s final episodes next week.
Ryan joined Neighbours back in 1995 after playing another character for a brief period of time.
After proving to be a hit with viewers and a beloved character, he was later made permanent.
According to the show’s executive producer, Jason Herbison, Ryan, who left the series in 2024, was asked to return to Ramsay Street along with other past cast members.
But Jason revealed to TV Week that Ryan was “unavailable sadly”.
However, Jason did say that fans can expect a finale featuring characters from the soap’s last three years.
He also said: “There are also a few Easter eggs for the fans.
“It was also worth mentioning that we asked Ryan Moloney to return as Toadie. He was unavailable sadly, but he does, of course, get a mention.”
When talking about the final, Jason explained that a proposed freeway threatens to slice straight through Ramsay Street, forcing every neighbour to consider whether to stay and fight for the home they’ve loved for 40 years.
Or accept a future elsewhere – either at Shane Ramsay’s (Peter O’Brien) ambitious new development, Ramsay Hills, or at Paul Robinson’s (Stefan Dennis) sleek new Robinson Towers.
Jason explained: “Paul has begun to see his future in the city – at Robinson Towers, a new hotel and residential development.
“Meanwhile Shane wants to build a new suburb – Ramsay Hills.
“Neither anticipated the freeway project or the residents of Ramsay Street having to move, but since that appears to be the case, it becomes a battle to entice them to their respective new precincts.”
The beloved show was originally axed three years ago after 37 years, before being brought back by streaming giant Amazon.
However the episode won’t be a repeat of the hugely successful finale on Channel 5 which saw A-list returns.
Over the years, viewers have welcomed and waved goodbye to plenty of Ramsay Street residents.
During that time, the soap has been pivotal in the careers of many A-list stars including Margot Robbie who starred as Donna Freedman.
She was on the show from 2008 until 2011, before starring in Martin Scorsese’s blockbuster The Wolf Of Wall Street in 2013.
Other big names to have emerged from the show include Russell Crowe, Natalie Imbruglia, Kylie Minogue, Liam Hemsworth, and Holly Valance.
Fans were thrilled when the original finale saw Kylie Mingoue and Jason Donovan return to Ramsay Street, alongside other show alums.
However, according to Daily Mail Australia, other stars such as Margot Robbie, Natalie Imbruglia, Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe are all said to have snubbed the final episode.
An insider told the publication: “The cast of the current season will need to rely on the storylines that involve their characters, because breaking out the cheque book won’t cover it.”
Regarding the 2022 finale, the source added: “The mega stars waived their usual million dollar fees and felt like they were waving goodbye to the show that launched them. It was very classy.”
