Network 10 has now confirmed the much-awaited return of the iconic Australian soap opera, Neighbours will grace our screens this September.
The upcoming season is set to introduce a new family, the Varga-Murphys, to the legendary Ramsay Street, joining the ranks of the Robinson, Kennedy, Rebecchi, Mangel, Scully, Tanaka, and Brennan families, among others, who have delighted audiences worldwide for decades.
As has been the case for over three decades, Network 10 will continue to broadcast Neighbours in Australia when it premieres this September. The network is yet to confirm if the revival will screen on the main channel. Its understood a final decision will be made closer to the broadcast date.
Meanwhile, viewers in the UK and the US can watch the series on Amazon Freevee, while Australian and New Zealand audiences can catch up with the show commercial-free on Prime Video, seven days following the free-to-air viewing on Network 10.
The Varga-Murphy clan, originating from a different part of the city, were initially intended to have a temporary stay on Ramsay Street. However, the series teases that their arrival harbours more than what initially appears.
The family is comprised of wives Cara and Remi, played by by Sara West (Don’t Tell, Wakefield, Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door) and Naomi Rukavina (Harry Potter Theatre Production, Run Rabbit Run, Pawno) respectively. Their sons JJ and Dex are brought to life by Riley Bryant (Surviving Summer 2) and newcomer Marley Williams, marking his debut in a television role.
West, who recently moved from Sydney to Melbourne to commence work on the reboot of Neighbours, shared her excitement about being part of the iconic Ramsay Street and its welcoming team. Her initial weeks on set, which she described as a “baptism by fire”, required her to immerse herself into the dynamics of the well-oiled machine that is the Neighbours production.
While details about the Varga-Murphy family remain scant, West hinted that she and Rukavina portray a wholesome nuclear family with queer parents. She expressed her delight at being part of a series that continues Neighbours’ commitment to showcasing a variety of family types, representing the LGBTQIA+ community, and potentially making some viewers feel less isolated.
The actress hoped that the presence of the Varga-Murphy family on a popular show like Neighbours would convey the message that queer families can be as loving, thriving, and complex as any other, thereby normalising their representation in popular media.
Neighbours is set to become more accessible than ever for global audiences upon its return. West is particularly thrilled about the show reaching the UK, where she has familial ties, and making its debut in the US via Amazon Freevee.
Sara West, in her portrayal of Cara Varga-Murphy, expressed her honour and anticipation in becoming part of the new Neighbours legacy. She shared her hope that the presence of the Varga-Murphy family on screen would better reflect the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community, a community she is proud to be part of.
Remi Varga-Murphy, echoed West’s sentiments, expressing her excitement at joining the Neighbours legacy and praising the show’s commitment to portraying diverse and authentic representations of Australian families.
Neighbours’ Executive Producer, Jason Herbison, welcomed the Varga-Murphy family to Ramsay Street, describing them as warm, fun, and unpredictable. He hinted at the many new stories they will bring to Erinsborough in the coming season.
