Neighbours Karl Kennedy star's life – forgotten soap role, famous wife and music career

Karl and Susan Kennedy’s relationship might be on the rocks once more in Neighbours, after Karl hides a huge lie from his wife this week.

Karl has recently invested a huge amount of money, but has hidden the scheme from Susan.

Anxious about lying to Susan, will she find out? And how will this affect their relationship when she does discover the truth?

It is yet another twist and turn for the couple, who have become one of Neighbours’ most iconic soap couples – taking viewers on the ups and downs of their family and love lives.

Away from Ramsay Street, Karl Kennedy actor Alan Fletcher has led an equally interesting life away from the soap – from marrying his famous wife to an incredible music career.

Forgotten Neighbours role

Neighbours would not be complete with Karl and Susan Kennedy – but many viewers may not know that Alan also had another role on the soap in the eighties.

In 1987, he also starred as a boxer called Greg Cooper, who worked in the garage owned by Robinson family patriarch Jim.

It was one of the actor’s first roles after appearing in 1982’s Cop Shop, TV series The Love Boat and films including Mercy Mission.

However in 1994, he and Susan Kennedy actress Jackie Woodburne arrived on Ramsay Street – where they have continued to delight viewers ever since.

Between numerous affairs, their hilarious bedroom antics and being the parent figures to residents in Erinsborough (and viewers at home), the couple have become one of the soap’s most iconic couples.

Alan and Jackie also have a close bond off-set too, having worked together prior to appearing on Neighbours, recalling their first day on set to Daily Star, saying: “Alan [Fletcher] and I knew each other, we’d worked together before, but it was the first time that the five of us had shared a scene together and there was just this beautiful, instant connection and rapport.

“We just got to a place of deep familiarity, so quickly, and I think that’s why the family worked so well. “It’s not something you can necessarily rehearse, but it was just there organically for all of us.

Speaking about working with Alan, she also added: “Fletch and I, are both always looking for the gags. We’re always keen to try and find any joke that we can find that is appropriate in a story, as people have senses of humour.

“Even when the most dramatic things are happening, sometimes you still laugh at stuff.”

Devastating axe

Neighbours fans were devestated earlier this year, when it was announced that the popular Australian soap would cease production in summer 2022.

Speaking about the news, Alan paid a sweet tribute to on-screen wife Jackie Woodburne and to the soap, telling This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “Jackie and I have been dear dear friends for 40 years and we will miss being on set, that will be a great loss to be frank.

“It will leave a big hole. But she’s just down the street, we won’t be strangers. And we’ve got a lot to talk about.

“We’ll still be interacting with the fans. I believe Neighbours will have a life after the show is gone.”

Rock band fame

While Alan might be one of the world’s most famous soap actors, he has also won a legion of fans with his rock music career too.

Alan plays as part of a band called The Waiting Room with musicians including Tommy Rando, Chris Hawker and Jeff Consi – performing a mixture of their own songs and covers too.

The actor even appeared on BBC Radio 1 show The Live Lounge in 2007 to perform a cover of Oasis hit Wonderwall, and made an appearance on The Xtra Factor in 2010 to discuss the show’s finalists.

With the band regularly touring the UK, it is no surprise that Alan has also taken part in some of the country’s music shows too, including 2007 series Soapstar Superstar where he finished in sixth place.

That’s not all, as he has recently announced a music collaboration with his former Neighbours co-star Alyce Platt, who played Olivia Bell in the soap.

Together the duo are releasing a song called Sorry Is The Word, which is taken from Alan’s new solo album to be released later this year.

Speaking about the song, he told Digital Spy: “Like a lot of songs, ‘Sorry Is the Word’ came from my own life experience.

“I have learnt over time that pride and an inability to accept blame and apologise is responsible for so much heartache and missed opportunities.”

He added: “I wanted to write a classic country duet. That has become such a traditional medium for telling stories about love and loss. Duets allow for truthful emotional expressions with irony.”

Famous wife

Away from the limelight, Alan Fletcher is in a relationship with news presenter Jennifer Hansen, who the actor has been married to since 1990.

Journalist Jennifer was a former presenter of Network 10’s News At Ten in Melbourne, Australia and currently co-hosts a breakfast show on Smooth FM 91.5.

The couple also have two children together – Veronica who is a patisserie chef and Tom, who is currently studying at university.

Alan also paid a sweet tribute to his wife, after he released a festive single called Holding My Girl At Christmas in 2019, dedicated to Jennifer.

The video for the song also includes familiar Neighbours faces including Paul Robinson actor Stefan Dennis, Chris Milligan and James Mason.

Speaking about the record, Jennifer told Daily Mail Australia: “I love it but then I’m biased because he says he wrote it about me.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk