Neighbours fans were recently delighted to find out that Malcolm Kennedy was returning to Erinsborough for the soap’s final episodes.
However, shock and surprise was in store after it was revealed that Malcolm had a new girlfriend – and it was his dad’s ex Izzy Hoyland.
Even as the finale approaches, Neighbours is still full of surprises – and many fans are wondering if they will also see Malcolm’s brother and sister make a return to Ramsay Street too.
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The Kennedys became instant fan favourites since they arrived in 1994 – with the stars playing the Kennedy kids leading busy lives away from the soap in the years since.
As viewers prepare to get their tissues as the ready, Daily Star takes a look at where the Kennedy kids are now.
Kym Valentine (Libby Kennedy)
Kym Valentine rose to fame as Karl and Susan’s daughter Libby Kennedy – fast becoming a fan favourite in the soap.
During her time in Erinsborough, she was caught up in a love triangle with boyfriend Darren Starke, as well as leaving viewers heartbroken following the death of her husband Drew Kirk.
However, Kym decided to leave the soap over 10 years later in 2004, after reportedly wanting to return to the theatre stage.
She has made a number of return appearances in Neighbours since then, including her failed rekindled romance with Darren Starke, marriage to Daniel Fitzgerald and surrogate pregnancy storyline.
She later departed the soap in 2010, before making a guest appearance in 2014 to celebrate 20 years of on-screen parents Karl and Susan Kennedy.
The star had a number of health battles during her time on the soap, including in 2008 after she contracted pneumonia and one year later, when she suffered a collapsed lung on a flight from the US to Melbourne.
Two years later in 2010, she was also rushed to hospital after being diagnosed with a blood clot on her lung.
Executive producer of the show Susan Bower told The Daily Telegraph at the time: “Unfortunately it is that time of year when people are prone to illness. We wish Kym a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing her next week when we return from a production break.”
Away from Neighbours, Kym has appeared as Baby in a stage production of Dirty Dancing at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, as well as appearing in short films including Harvey and Junk Mail, which have recently completed filming, as well as film The Choir Girl.
She was also married to Fabian Tolli from 2001-2007, with who she had a daughter called Millana.
The star was also in a relationship with Trent Croad from 2015-2017, with who she welcomed a son called Phoenix.
Jesse Spencer (Billy Kennedy)
Jesse Spencer played blue-eyed heartthrob Billy Kennedy in Neighbours, the youngest of the three Kennedy kids, for over six years.
In his time on the soap, he had viewers swooning over him, but in 2000 Jesse decided to leave after revealing in an interview at the time: “The storylines were boring and I wasn’t enjoying it any more.”
That was not the last we saw of Jesse however, as he landed a major role in popular drama series House as Dr Robert Chase between 2004 and 2012, opposite British gem Hugh Laurie.
He has also since played Matthew Casey in Chicago Fire between 2012 and 2021, becoming one of Hollywood’s most familiar TV faces, but left fans devestated when he bowed out of the show.
(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking to press at the time, including Hello Magazine, he said: “I realized I’d been doing TV for a long time, so I added it up… We were coming up on the 200th episode and I called Derek [Hass, showrunner] to break the news that it was time for me to leave the show.
“It was a difficult decision because I’ve loved the show from the start but there are other things I’d like to do in the future. There’s family I need to take care of, and 18 years is a long time.”
However, fans will not have to wait long to see him back on our TV screens, as Jesse will also star in a new Disney+ series called Last Days Of The Space Age very soon.
It is no surprise then that with his stellar career, the actor is estimated to have an eye-watering net worth of over £8m.
Although he tends to keep his personal life private, it is known that he is married to Kali Woodruff Carr.
Benjamin McNair (Malcolm Kennedy)
Benjamin McNair played the oldest of the Kennedy kids, Malcolm, between 1994-1997.
Despite leaving Erinsborough after three years, Ben has continued to make regular appearances in the soap since then between 2002-2014.
Neighbours produced also announced that the star was set to return for the soap’s final episodes, which are due to air in the UK in the upcoming week.
Along with his role as Malcolm Kennedy, Benjamin also appeared in rival programme Home And Away as Alan – one year before his Neighbours debut.
He has also appeared in TV series including The Secret Life Of Us, Blue Heelers, Satisfaction and Sea Patrol.
Not much is known about Ben’s personal life, but it is reported that the star has three children.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
