Neighbours star Lucinda Cowden was left gutted after learning her character Melanie Pearson’s relationship with Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) would be ripped up for the rebooted series.
The 58-year-old actress, who has appeared in Australian soap on and off since 1987, previously said that Mel losing her happy ending was “devastating” and that she “loved being part of a family unit” with her co-star Ryan, who has played Toadie since 1995.
She told virginradio.co.uk at the time: “I felt like I’d built a whole lot of stuff up but that’s how you create drama. You know what I mean? I thought it was devastating for Me. I felt sorry [for her], you know… I really loved being a part of that family unit and working with Ryan.”
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Toadie has since moved on with new wife Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) but he attends counselling sessions with Mel in upcoming scenes. Now that Toadie knows that Melanie didn’t leave him because she wasn’t cut out to be a step mum, but rather in a attempt at protecting him and his kids from her actions in the UK, he’s grappling with his emotions.
Terese was taken aback in recent scene to see Toadie’s positive character reference for Melanie, in which he described her as a trusted employee, a wonderful partner and an exceptional stepmother, someone with integrity and unmatched selfishness. She keeps her feelings to herself, but is growing ever more concerned, especially when Toadie expresses that it would be good for Melanie to have something to keep her occupied – why does he care so much about his ex-wife’s feelings?
Earlier this week, Toadie was left shocked when his daughter Nell (Ayisha Salem-Towner) asked Melanie to come to her next counselling session, but overall he was supportive as Melanie’s actions were the reason that they’re in family counselling in the first place.
During the session, Melanie was caught off guard when Nell finally expressesdher deep hurt over Melanie’s decision to leave their family without warning, leaving Toadie, Nell and Hugo to pick up the pieces. Later on, Toadiewas asked to join Melanie for a session himself and he agrees and surprised himself with an outpouring of deeply held emotion.
Melanie and Toadie emerged from their counselling session feeling bewildered and emotionally raw, having just bared their souls to the counsellor. Melanie was left feeling at sea as she returned to No. 28. Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), who’s been offering advice to Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong-Hall) after an emotionally charged moment with Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar), offered to do the same for Melanie, but she was in no mood to talk.
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Karl eventually manages to cheer Melanie up, Toadie is in a much worse state a few doors down at No. 22. As he returns to his marital home, Toadie finds Terese desperate to know how things went and what feelings came to the surface. He remains tight-lipped, which only fuels Terese’s ever-growing insecurities. Knowing for sure that something’s up, Terese later corners her husband and demands to know exactly how he’s feeling… what will he tell her?
New episodes of Neighbours drop Monday on Amazon Freevee
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk