Guy Pearce reveals more on surprise Neighbours return as Mike Young

He's back after more than 30 years!

Guy Pearce has shared more about his surprise Neighbours return as Mike Young.

The actor is returning to Erinsborough after more than 30 years to say goodbye to Neighbours, alongside fellow '80s favourites like Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Shane Ramsay.

Ahead of Mike's on-screen return, the Golden Globe-nominated actor said it has felt "surreal" to be back on the set of the iconic Aussie soap.

"It's really lovely to be working again with the likes of Paul Keane, Annie Jones, Stefan [Dennis] of course, Geoff Paine, Peter O'Brien – it's just remarkable," she said. "I'm an incredibly nostalgic person anyway so I've always wanted step back onto the show at some stage and of course with the sad news that the show is finishing, it seemed like the appropriate time.

"Thankfully I was planning a trip back home anyway, so it just worked."

These new episodes will fill in the backstory on Mike's whereabouts – including a teaching career in Perth. Now, he's decided to move back to Erinsborough with his daughter.

Because of the jam-packed nature of these episodes, Pearce wasn't able to spend much time with Neighbours' younger cast.

"To be honest, [I saw] not many at all except a family friend of mine, Henrietta [Graham, who plays Sam Ellis]," he explained. "I've been seeing these fantastic young actors and thinking it would be great to do some scenes with them – but no, primarily us oldies together!

"However Henrietta, I've known her family for many, many years and when I heard that she had got a role on the show, I did suggest perhaps I could do some scenes with her, so it's worked out well."

Pearce also looked back on his long association with Neighbours, which began late in the soap's first year on air.

"It started at Channel 10 on the December 2, 1985, my first day and a couple days after my last exam at high school," he recalled. "I had just turned 18. I had to move from Geelong and start on this television show, so it was pretty mad."

He went on: "There are certain moments in your life that are real markers. Being cast in Neighbours, the confidence it gave me and what I learnt being on the show were immeasurable qualities and benefits.

"Of course, there have been other moments when I've auditioned for roles and got them, but I can't ever forget this. I always feel super lucky to have got on the show when I did and as we know, it just took off and became huge."

While Pearce has gone on to huge success in Hollywood – including playing an MCU villain and winning an Emmy for starring opposite Kate Winslet in Mildred Pierce – he still maintains friendships with his Neighbours co-stars.

"Jason and I see each other all the time, and we still call each other Scott and Mike which is a bit sad," he revealed. "Whenever I'm in London I'll see Jason most times and I'll see Kylie as well if she's around. There are a few others I catch up with when I'm in Melbourne like Stefan [Dennis] and Annie [Jones] of course, she's been on Jack Irish with me.

"Kate Winslet is also a huge fan of the show and is literally wetting herself that I'm back. She was besotted with Mike back in the day. We share a birthday and that was the greatest news to her. When I told her I was coming back, she was beside herself."

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 and streams on My5. The series finale will air in the UK on July 29 at 9pm on Channel