Monday 2 May 2022 The Guardian •
National^11
Jessica Murray
They were one of television’s most
popular couples, and now they’re
getting back together, especially for
you – or at least for viewers of Neigh-
bours. Scott and Charlene , played by
Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue ,
are to return after more than 30 years
for the show’s fi nale.
Jason Herbison , the executive pro-
ducer of the Australian soap, said the
pair were “the ultimate Neighbours
couple and it would not feel right to
end the show without them”.
He added: “We are thrilled that
Jason and Kylie have come home to
play a very special part in our series
fi nale. It has been an emotional expe-
rience for them, for us, and I’m sure
it will be for our viewers.”
Minogue and Donovan posted a
photograph of what appeared to be
a glimpse of a Neighbours script on
Anna MacSwanA body found in a Lancashire forest
has been identifi ed as that of the
missing 33-year-old woman Katie
Kenyon, police have confi rmed.
Lancashire Constabulary said a
post mortem found that she had died
as a result of head injuries.
Offi cers said a body was found on
Friday night in the Forest of Bow-
land. They had been searching for
Kenyon after receiving new informa-
tion about where the mother of two
from Padiham, Burnley, might be.
Yesterday afternoon the force
tweeted: “We can now sadly confi rm
that the body found in the Forest of
Bowland is that of Katie Kenyon.
“A Home Offi ce post mortem exam-
ination was conducted yesterday and
the cause of death was given as head
injuries. Our thoughts remain with
Katie’s family and loved ones .”
Kenyon was last seen around
9.30am on Friday 22 April. A 50-year-
old man, Andrew Burfi eld, has been
charged with her murder.their Instagram accounts. The pair
will return to the show, which was
fi rst broadcast in 1985 and centres on
the fi ctional cul-de-sac community of
Ramsay Street in Melbourne, before
it ceases production in June after
being dropped by its UK broadcaster,-
Channel 5.
Minogue and Donovan, who are
both 53, played Charlene Mitchell andScott Robinson until their departures
in 198 8 and 1989 respectively.
The pair were favourites with
viewers. Their wedding episode
was watched by more than 2 million
Australian viewers when it aired in
1987, and later pulled in an audience
of almost 20 million in the UK in 1988.
The announcement of their return
has delighted fans of the show in theUK and Australia. “This means so
much! ” one viewer wrote. “Not tak-
ing away from the amazing current
cast of course, but to have the iconic
Scott and Charlene return for the end-
ing is absolutely icing on the cake!”
After it was announced that the
soap would end production, Minogue
said she would “be forever grateful
for the experience and the friends I
made on Neighbours”. She added:
“We had no idea how big the show
would become and how passionately
viewers would take it to heart.”
Donovan said at the time: “I think
it’s time to celebrate Neighbours. It
has kept my family employed for a
long time, to be hones t. My daugh-
ter is currently in it, my dad was in
it. I think we should be grateful for
what it’s given Australia – it’s given
actors, producers, writers, directors.”
Along with Minogue and Donovan,
the soap helped to launch the careers
of Hollywood stars such as Margot
Robbie and Liam Hemsworth.
In March the soap’s makers said:
“We are so sorry to say that after
nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 epi-
sodes broadcast we have to confi rm
that Neighbours will cease produc-
tion in June,” a statement read.
“To our amazing, loyal fans, we
know this is a huge disappointment,
as it is to all of us on the team. We
thank you for all your messages and
support and promise to end the show
on an incredible high. ”Jason and
Kylie return
for fi nale of
Neighbours
Body in forest is
that of missing
mother of two
Scott and
Charlene’s
wedding was
watched by 20
million people
in the UK
PHOTOGRAPH:
FREEMANTLE/REX‘We had no
idea how
big the show
would
become or
how viewers
would take it
to heart ’Kylie
Minogue