Neighbours cast 2023: Full list of returning and new characters in soap
It's time to find the perfect blend, again!
The Neighbours 2023 revival has finally arrived on Amazon Freevee.
The opening episodes have their fair share of drama - not least the shocking wedding that closed the premiere episode.
The episodes also introduced the mysterious new character Reese Sinclair (The OC’s Mischa Barton) and teased further trouble on the way for street favourites Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher).
It was announced back in November 2022 that Amazon Freevee would be bringing back the Australian soap opera after it was initially cancelled.
Neighbours released its first trailer for the revival earlier in 2023, giving fans a look at The Varga-Murphys, a new family who'll be joining the revival.
But who else is set to appear in the Neighbours 2023 revival on Amazon Freevee?
Neighbours cast 2023: Full list of returning and new characters
The following regular cast members have been confirmed for Neighbours in 2023.
- Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson
- Annie Jones as Jane Harris
- Lucinda Cowden as Melanie Pearson
- Alan Fletcher as Dr. Karl Kennedy
- Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy
- Ryan Moloney as Toadie Rebecchi
- Lucinda Armstrong Hall as Holly Hoyland
- Ayisha Salem-Towner as Nell Rebecchi
- Rebekah Elmaloglou as Terese Willis
- Tim Kano as Leo Tanaka
- Tanner Ellis-Anderson as Hugo Rebecchi
- Lloyd Will as Andrew Rodwell
- Georgie Stone as Mackenzie Hargreaves
- Candice Lysk as Wendy Rodwell
- Emerald Chan as Sadie Rodwell
- Henrietta Graham as Sam Young
- Xavier Molyneux as Byron Stone
- Sara West as Cara Varga-Murphy
- Naomi Rukavina as Remi Varga-Murphy
- Marley Williams as Dex Varga-Murphy
- Riley Bryant as JJ Varga-Murphy
- Shiv Palekar as Haz Devkar
Additionally, the following characters have been confirmed for the show's guest cast.
- Melissa Bell as Lucy Robinson
- Guy Pearce as Mike Young
- Ian Smith as Harold Bishop
- Lesley Baker as Angie Rebecchi
- Jodi Gordon as Elly Conway
- Morgan Baker as Callum Rebecchi
- Tim Phillips as Daniel Robinson
- Ariel Kaplan as Imogen Willis
- April Rose Pengilly as Chloe Brennan
- Mischa Barton as Reece Sinclair
Here's what you need to know about their returns and where we last left them.
Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis)
One of the original cast members of Neighbours, Stefan Dennis will be reprising his role as the dastardly but loveable Paul Robinson.
In the Neighbours 2022 finale, Paul finally reconciled with Terese Willis and decided to remain in Ramsay Street with her despite considering plans to leave for New York.
Will Terese return alongside Paul? And which of Paul's children will be on the street when the show returns to our screens?
Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne)
The beating heart of Ramsay Street, Susan Kennedy will be back and played by Neighbours legend Jackie Woodburne.
In the Neighbours 2022 finale, Susan was awarded the thoughtful final voiceover of the show as she recalled all those who had been and gone on Ramsay Street.
However, Susan was delighted to learn that her neighbours would remain on the iconic road.
Now Susan will be back alongside her devoted husband Dr Karl Kennedy for the new episodes.
Dr Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher)
The other half of Neighbours' golden couple, Alan Fletcher will reprise his role as Dr Karl Kennedy for the show's return on Amazon Freevee.
In the Neighbours 2022 finale, Karl was pleased when his ex Izzy Hoyland did the right thing by splitting up with their son Billy.
Karl and Susan were also delighted to learn that their friends were staying in Erinsborough despite many planning to leave Ramsay Street.
Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney)
The resident funnyman and all-around good guy, Toadie Rebecchi will again be played on our screens by Ryan Moloney.
The Neighbours 2022 finale saw Toadie marry Melanie Pearson after a few hiccups and the pair decided to stay in Ramsay Street for good despite considering leaving their house behind.
However, after the time-jump between seasons, Toadie is engaged to -and then marries - Terese Willis.
Terese Rebecchi (Rebekah Elmaloglou)
Paul Robinson's feisty recent wife Terese had a troubled relationship with the schemer - however, the course of true love never did run smoothly.
Despite having moved on and into another relationship, Terese decided to reconcile with Paul in the final episode of Neighbours and the pair was back together at the series' end.
However, by the time the show has returned, the pair have since split and Terese goes on to marry Toadie instead.
Jane Harris (Annie Jones)
Classic Neighbours character Jane Harris had one of the most remarked-upon conclusions in the finale of Neighbours.
Reunited with her old love Mike Young (Guy Pearce), unlucky-in-love Jane had a dream romantic ending that saw the pair reconcile.
However, with Jane confirmed to return with Mike, what did happen?
Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano)
Paul Robinson's son Leo was still on Ramsay Street when the series ended, but what lies in store for the businessman?
Will Leo have custody of baby Abigail when he returns?
Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone)
Mackenzie will be back on our screens soon - and if anyone needs some happiness, it's her!
Still recovering from the loss of her true love Hendrix, what lies in store for Mackenzie in the new episodes of Neighbours?
Lucy Robinson (Melissa Bell)
Paul Robinson's sister Lucy almost sold hotel chain Lassiters to Shane Ramsay in the final episodes of the soap, but ultimately Shane decided to rip up the contract as Paul was deciding to stay in Erinsborough.
So, will Lucy continue to be the big boss of the hotel chain in the series?
Actress Melissa Bell is back in a guest capacity.
Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly)
Fan-favourite Chloe Brennan planned to move to Sydney in the final episodes of Neighbours and also found a romantic happy ending with Elly Conway.
So, will Chloe be in such a happy place when the soap makes its big return?
Actress April Rose Pengilly is back in a guest capacity.
Elly Conway (Jodi Gordon)
Chloe Brennan's true love Elly Conway will also be back in a guest capacity.
We hope those two managed to stay together
Harold Bishop (Ian Smith)
Iconic Neighbours character Harold Bishop is known for memorably returning and departing the soap over the years, including when he made a comeback for the show's final episodes.
However, we can expect to see good ol' Jelly-Belly to be back but he finds a health crisis on the way.
Actor Ian Smith is back in a guest capacity only.
Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden)
When fans heard that Toadie was returning, their first thought was whether his new wife Melanie would be back too.
Now fans of the classic character Melanie can rest easy - as she will return with her seal-like laugh for the new episodes.
The soap confirmed: "We're so excited to announce that Lucinda Cowden will be reprising her role as Melanie Pearson in new episodes of Neighbours later this year.
"We can't wait to welcome her back (and maybe her pig collection too). Even Madame Zolga couldn't have predicted this one!"
Sadly, Melanie and Toadie have split in the time gap between series.
Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd Will)
Police sergeant Andrew will be back for the new episodes of Neighbours when it returns later this year.
Wendy Rodwell (Candice Leask)
Andrew's wife Wendy will also return by his side in the new episodes.
Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan)
Andrew and Wendy's daughter Sadie will also make a comeback for the revival season of Neighbours.
Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall)
The daughter of Dr Karl Kennedy and Izzy Hoyland, Holly is back on Ramsay Street for the new season.
Now working at Lassiters, Holly soon finds herself in hot water due to her attitude - very Izzy!
However, what new challenges await the daughter of one of the most infamous affairs in Neighbours history?
Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux)
Jane Harris' son Byron Stone returns in the new revival season of Neighbours, now played by Xavier Molyneux.
This time around, Byron is no longer an escort and has taken up a role in Lassiters - and romances a new arrival...
Sam Young (Henrietta Graham)
The daughter of Mike Young remains living and working in Erinsborough in the new revival season and now has a closer relationship with Jane Harris as a result!
Mike Young (Guy Pearce)
Academy Award nominee Guy Pearce is returning in a recurring capacity as Jane's true love Mike Young.
However, with Pearce's Hollywood career and a secret Jane is keeping, will the pair's romance be plain sailing?
Dex Varga-Murphy (Marley Williams) Cara Varga-Murphy (Sara West), JJ Varga-Murphy (Riley Bryant), and Remi Varga-Murphy (Naomi Rukavina)
The Varga-Murphy family arrive on Ramsay Street in the first episode back after the show's revival.
Parents Cara and Remi have their hands full with their sons Dex and JJ, but do the family have their own secrets to hide?
Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) and Trevor the Dog
We can also look forward to the arrival of a dashing new love interest for Mackenzie Hargreaves in the form of Haz Devkar, played by Shiv Palekar.
Haz also has company in the form of an adorable new pooch, Trevor the Dog!
Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton)
Hollywood star and The OC alum Mischa Barton is joining the cast of Neighbours as the mysterious Reece Sinclair.
Striking up a steamy bond with Byron, just what is Reece hiding when she arrives at Lassiters?
Who is not confirmed to be returning to Neighbours in 2023?
The following regular cast members were present on Ramsay Street at the conclusion of the series but have yet to be confirmed to be returning here.
- Charlotte Chimes as Nicolette Stone
- Takaya Honda as David Tanaka
- Richard Huggett as Glen Donnelly
- Gemma Bird Matheson as Kiri Durant
- Richie Morris as Levi Canning
- Geoff Paine as Clive Gibbons
- Phoebe Roberts as Freya Wozniak
- Jacinta Stapleton as Amy Greenwood
- Matt Wilson as Aaron Brennan
However, the final weeks of the soap's original run also saw a number of past characters return, some of which were integral in wrapping up the stories of some of our regular cast members.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte also reprised her role as the troublemaking Izzy Hoyland for the final episodes and ended up striking up a romance with original cast member Shane Ramsay, played by Peter O'Brien, who was also back for the final episodes.
We would be surprised if these two returned, and the same for Izzy's ex and Karl and Susan's son, Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair).
Read more Neighbours news:
- Neighbours staged a remarkable reinvention to become soap's best-kept secret
- Scott and Charlene's wedding crowned greatest ever Neighbours moment
- Neighbours cast: What happened to the original characters?
Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.
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Authors
Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.