Neighbours and Home and Away star Terence Donovan dies - as son Jason leads tributes

 Donovan played Doug Willis on Ramsay Street.

Neighbours and Home and Away star Terence Donovan has died at the age of 90, his family have announced. The actor, who is the father of Jason Donovan, had a career spanning six decades on television and in films.

The news of his passing was announced by sons Jason and Paul on Instagram who wrote: "Our Dad was a huge character, larger than life. He was our best friend ... our world! We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days."

In a further post, Jason and Paul spoke about their father's work in the Australian film and television industry, championing Aussie-made projects and leading to successful exports such as Neighbours.

I want to take this moment on my Dad's passing to pay tribute to not only the actor and his body of work, but also his passion and purpose as a believer in an Australian identity and as a trailblazer for Australian stories," the brothers wrote.

"My Dad was born and grew up in England, left Britain on a dream....and turned that hope into a reality. When we actually sit down and think about it we, my brother and I cannot begin to express how truly proud we are of him."

Commenting on TV Week's tribute post, Jason's former girlfriend and Neighbours co-star Kylie Minogue, wrote: "Vale Terence. Thankful for your kindness and guidance in my early, crazy tv days with Jason. Xx."

Kylie's sister Dannii added: "What an incredible life and body of work. I'm so glad his family were with him."

Donovan got his big break playing Detective Mick Peters in Australian police series Division 4, before moving on to another police serial, Cop Shop, in the late 1970s.

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He is perhaps best known outside of Australia for his portrayal of Doug Willis in Neighbours, beginning in 1990. After leaving the soap in 1994, he made guest appearances until his character was killed off in 2016. In 2022 he returned as a vision in what was thought to be the soap's final episode, with Jason and Kylie also appearing.

On Home and Away Donovan played Al Simpson, taking over the role from George Leppard, for a six-week stint in 1990. Throughout his career Donovan also worked in theatre, appearing in stage productions across Australia.

Donovan's final role was in 2025 Australian independent film Puppy, alongside Nadia Townsend and Bernard Curry.

Neighbours secretly scrapped a shock death storyline - after the networks demanded it

 "All the what-ifs are always often far more interesting."

Neighbours' former script producer Shane Isheev has revealed the original outcome for the infamous Hotel Death Trap storyline. The shocking episodes saw numerous characters caught up in an explosion at Lassiters Hotel back in 2016, with several fatalities.

Among the victims were Josh Willis (Harley Bonner) and his grandfather Doug (Terence Donovan), who both tragically died in the horrific incident. However, according to Isheev, fans might have said goodbye to some completely different characters had Bonner not already been leaving the soap

Appearing on the Just Tak podcast, hosted by Takaya Honda (David Tanaka), Isheev was asked how stories on the soap were developed from their initial conception to their actual airing.

Legitimately, not one story that from its initial conception was the same to when it made it to screen," he replied. "Do you remember the hotel explosion? I won't go into what all the alternatives were, but that week started off very differently with what was gonna happen, who was gonna die and to what ended up being on screen."

The script producer shared that "the changes were dictated" by the "network", after deciding that they "didn't want that person to be killed off".

And then we found out that Harley was leaving so we decided to kill him off," he added. "Yeah there's all the what-ifs are always often far more interesting than what makes it to screen."

Elsewhere in the interview, Isheev addressed the planned earthquake storyline which was later scrapped when the show was cancelled in 2022. He shared that they had actually written the plot to explain location changes, as there was a possibility that they would lose the Lassiters backlot.

"Because there had been a real life earthquake in Melbourne around that time, you know what happens, all of a sudden... even if it's implausible to happen again, it's going to happen in there as well," he said.

It was to give other context, there was a very small chance - this might get me into trouble but I'm going to say it anyway - that we were going to lose the backlot from the people who owned the land."

He added that the earthquake storyline would have allowed them to "flatten and destroy that backlot" and have "really good production value", before finding "somewhere else" to film.

Neighbours actor Matt Wilson quits project with co-star after four months

 "I've got to realign my priorities."

Neighbours star Matt Wilson has quit a project he collaborated on with former co-star Takaya Honda, with the actor explaining that he wanted to "realign" his priorities after "spinning too many plates".

The respective pair, who played Aaron Brennan and David Tanaka on the beloved Australian soap, set up a podcast - Bin Night with Tak and Matty - in December, with the duo interviewing several former co-stars across the episodes.

After 18 instalments, it has been confirmed that Wilson has departed the podcast, though Honda has since released a new episode where he told listeners what the future holds for the project.

Wilson uploaded a video to the podcast's Facebook page on Wednesday (22 April) to discuss his exit, saying: "Hey bin chickens. I just wanted to make a little video to say that, unfortunately, I have to step away from Bin Night with Tak and Matty.

"Personally, I've just been spinning too many plates and they're starting to fall off. One of the reasons I stepped away from Neighbours was because we had too many kids and it was getting quite difficult to juggle."

"I've got to realign my priorities and see what I can make work. Without giving 100% to everything, I don't think I'm doing everybody the service that they deserve," he continued, before praising Honda as "one of the best interviewers in the whole country".

Wilson also reserved praise for the "amazing producers" and the "fantastic job" that they had done, before he thanked fans for listening every week. In his final note, he said it was "goodbye for now".

The comment section was full of messages from supportive fans, as one wrote: "You do what you gotta do Matty! Everyone will understand. Have loved you both on Neighbours AND Bin Night - but I’m sure Takaya can take the reins just fine - he IS a fab interviewer!"

"You will be missed Matty , really enjoyed you guys together. But totally understand and look forward to some stuff from you in the future maybe. But great that Tak is carrying on," wrote another listener.

In the latest episode of the podcast, Honda said that Wilson's exit had made for a "challenging" fortnight for him, but was looking forward to planning how the show could be taken forward in the future.

Despite his departure from the podcast, Wilson does have another project lined up, with the actor set to feature in a new short film. Titled Love in the Moonlight, the project sees Wilson play a former 1950s Hollywood star whose ghost remains in the 21st century.

Delta Goodrem shares Neighbours behind-the-scenes secret as she prepares for Eurovision

 "I got the script and I just cried."

Neighbours star Delta Goodrem joined the Australian soap back in 2002, playing schoolgirl Nina Tucker. The fan favourite character was introduced as a nervous teenager with a hidden talent for singing.

However, according to Goodrem, Nina's personality could have been very different had she not intervened. The actor shared that the role was rewritten to suit her vision, after she had a word with the show bosses.

Appearing on ITV's This Morning, Goodrem shared that she began acting at a young age and used the money to finance her very first musical demo. After launching her singing career, she was offered the role of Nina – but not as we know her.

When I first got the script sent to me, I had actually joined as a singer. The role was going to be a singer but they were trying to get me in quicker which was amazing," she told presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley.

"We thought 'oh, we'll put her as the bad-girl-turned-good' and I got the script and I just cried because I had written this song 'Born to Try' and I just felt in my heart that that would be, you know, in that moment I just didn't feel that was the right place for my song."

The star explained that she spoke to the "amazing" producers to adjust the character, which led to the Nina saw on screen. She acknowledged that it was a bold move as she was only 15 or 16 at the time.

I don't know if I would have done it now. My parents were outside the office going 'oh my gosh!'" she laughed.

As for her singing career, Goodrem will soon be representing Australia in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria. She will be performing the song 'Eclipse', which she co-wrote with Jonas Myrin, Ferras Alqaisi and Michael Fatkin.

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It feels like a celebration. I'm kinda approaching it like I'm really excited to be able to be over here, getting to share new music," she said. "I just feel really grateful to get to bring the song and bring it to life on the stage."

She added: "It's definitely questioned my songwriting, you know, when everyone dissects your song. Me and the producers and writers have been like 'oh we've never experienced like that dissect'. But it's really fun. It's enjoyable."

Here's how Neighbours sparked a surprise co-star romance after Aaron, Rhett and Colton's love triangle

 "It does feel like a Netflix movie within itself."

Neighbours star Liam Maguire has revealed how the love triangle between his character Rhett Norman, Aaron Brennan and Colton Keys sparked a surprise co-star romance. Airing last year, the storyline had viewers gripped as Aaron (Matt Wilson) chose between his competing love interests.

In the end, he picked Rhett over Colton (Jakob Ambrose) as they departed Ramsay Street together – while Colton stayed until the show's conclusion last year.

However, Liam has confirmed that he is now dating on-screen rival Jakob after working on the soap together.

I think we were both pretty intimidated by each other, which is always a great way to start a relationship," he quipped while speaking with former co-stars Matt and Takaya Honda on Bin Night with Tak and Matty, calling their courtship a "slow burn".

Recalling one incident that suggested there was something more between them, he shared: "We did have one time where we did run lines and it was quite funny. We sort of went to each other's house, and it was so tense."

Liam admitted they "just kept laughing" as they both suggested they should be serious and run the lines, and there was about two hours of tension before they parted ways.

There was probably a while of that and [making excuses to be around each other]," he continued. "There was a bit of that where it was like, 'why are you laughing?' And I was like, 'I'm just finding something funny'. It was very tense."

Calling the circumstances of their bonding "very specific", he added: "Even our relationship now, we're much further along past that, but there's a very specific quality to that.

It's funny, because these days when people go, 'how did you meet?' It's always online these days, and it's funny to be like, 'so we were warring love interests on Neighbours'. And they're like, 'that's crazy!' It's pretty funny. It does feel like a Netflix movie within itself."

During the chat, Liam suggested they were "very subtle" when they were striking up their romance around the time of the on-screen love triangle, notably as they were being "pinned" against one another as characters.

"Even now, people see us and we post photos and stuff, and people are like, 'Oh, it's so good that you guys ended up being friends!'" he joked.

Neighbours star predicts "fabulous" comeback after show's cliffhanger ending

 "It’s just too much of an iconic show to let go."

It may have aired its final episode last month, but Neighbours is eternal - at least in the eyes of Rebekah Elmaloglou. With the Australian soap cancelled for a second time, the actor is predicting another "fabulous" comeback for the series.

The beloved soap was axed by Amazon Freevee in February 2025, with production ceasing in July before the final episode aired in December. This came just three years after a previous cancellation, that time by 5.

Despite the tumultuous nature of its production in the last few years, Elmaloglou, who portrayed Terese Willis, has retained hope that there could be life in the soap, predicting a grand return in the future.

"I just get the feeling that Jason Herbison, our wonderful executive producer, won’t just leave it at that," the actor told TV Week. "I’m sure he’ll come up with some fabulous ideas for a spin-off or reunion special. It’s just too much of an iconic show to let go."

While we'll have to wait to see if Elmaloglou's prediction turns out to be accurate, another return for the soap wouldn't necessarily be out of the question, with the finale leaving several unanswered questions via a variety of cliffhangers.

There wasn't a more open-ended conclusion than that of the future of Ramsay Street itself, which had been jeopardised with the planning of a freeway. With the famous cul-de-sac on the brink of demolition, a cliffhanger left fans on tenterhooks.

This was very much a deliberate decision by Herbison .I always knew that if the show ended, I would have to go a very different way to 2022. There was just no way to compete with the last finale and I needed a fresh angle.

I also knew that we'd be saying goodbye to our Nunawading Studios shortly after production ceased, meaning any return for the show would require a huge reimagining. So I put those two elements together and decided a threat to the Street was in order.

"I personally believe shorter-run seasons and spin-offs would be a great way for the world to be revisited. I'd love to do rotating seasons of Robinson Towers and Ramsay Hills. Perhaps something might happen with them…"

Neighbours star Ashleigh Brewer has shared a major relationship update

It's a big one!

Neighbours star Ashleigh Brewer has shared a major relationship update, with the actor confirming a big life milestone. After a big occasion late in 2025, the New Year has got off to a good start for the star.

Brewer is most famous for playing Kate Ramsay on the now-concluded Australian soap, with the star playing the character for nearly five full years before eventually departing in April 2014.

Over a decade on from her final appearance on the soap, Brewer took to Instagram to confirm that she had tied the knot with Mark Bauch, who she had been engaged to since January 2024.

and I married the love of my life! 12/11," she wrote on social media, with the post including a couple of photos from the big day. One image showed Brewer in her wedding dress, while the happy couple were pictured in a car in the other.

The actor, who has also appeared in Home and Away and The Bold and the Beautiful, was congratulated in the comment section by several famous faces, with former Neighbours co-star Scott McGregor writing: "Wait… WHAT!!? 😍❤️"

There were also comments from several stars from The Bold and the Beautiful including Lawrence Saint-Victor, Courtney Hope, Kimberlin Brown, Rena Sofer, Rebecca Budig, Karla Mosley and Kim Matula.

Sarah Roberts and Esther Anderson, who have each appeared on both Neighbours and Home and Away, also left a message in the comment section, while The Boys star Erin Moriarty sent two love heart emojis.

Though Brewer departed Neighbours over a decade ago, the Australian soap came to an end last month, though Stefan Dennis expressed hope that it could return in the not-so-distant future.

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Related: Neighbours boss addresses 2025 finale mysteries in big interview

"Not necessarily the Robinson Towers and the Ramsay Hills, but an idea that was bandied around was actually taking it back, making it retro, taking it back to the 80s," said the actor, who plays Paul Robinson.

"I'm not saying it's going to be done, but this is what's been bandied around at the moment… If it did ever come back, it would come back as a different show," added the actor, who explained that any such talk was "speculation".

Neighbours aired on Freevee and Channel 5.