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Australian TV soap opera institution ‘Neighbours’ is back. In a big way.
Word has spread that the programme’s new series reboot will be including American soap royalty, Mischa Barton, in an effort to revitialise the suburban Melbourne story arcs with a bit of California love.
It is not yet known if Barton’s character will bring with her all the same rich white girl drama that made her famous in the 2000s hit drama The O.C.
However, regardless prescription drug addictions and incestuous family affairs – it can be confirmed that Mischa is still looking for a bad boy to fix up.
This comes less than 12 months after the 37-season programs was cancelled after Britain’s Channel 5 announced it would be dropping it. The show’s producers Fremantle Media were unable to secure a replacement broadcaster and the show came to a tragic but open-ended finale.
The much-heralded “final episode” brought back a host of stars who made early career appearances on the show, including Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan.
However, by November, they confirmed Neighbours was coming back when Fremantle Media partnered with Amazon.
The revival will include old regulars including Rebekah Elmaloglou (Terese Willis), Tim Kano (Leo Tanaka), Georgie Stone (Mackenzie Hargreaves) and Annie Jones (Jane Harris), while veterans like Melissa Bell (Lucy Robinson) and April Rose Pengilly (Chloe Brennan) will return for guest roles.
However, it’s the confirmed addition of Mischa Barton that has tongues wagging,
With filming resuming this week, producers can confirm that Barton will appear as Reece, an American “who’s not quite who she appears to be”, the show’s producers say.
“I’m excited to be part of this iconic show’s next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia a place I know and love!” Barton said in a statement.
Insiders can also reveal that Mischa Barton will be playing the love interest of veteran character and renowned womaniser Harold Bishop, who she meets at the bottom of her driveway late at night – while the 77-year-old widow is smoking a cigarette alone in the dark.
“Who are you?” asks Barton’s character.
“Whoever you want me to be” says the troubled and outcast senior citizen.
