Neighbours star Daniel MacPherson explains why he returned as Joel Samuels

 "It is the biggest head spin coming back here."

Daniel MacPherson has been confirmed to return for the final week of Neighbours – and he's been talking about why he decided to come back.

The Australian soap is ending next week, bringing a bunch of familiar faces back to Ramsay Street for its big finale. MacPherson, who played Joel Samuels between 1998 and 2002, is among the returning stars, reprising the role for the first time in two decades.

"It is the biggest head spin coming back here. I haven't been on the Neighbours set for 20 something years, even the drive out here my mind was blowing," he said.

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"To come and see all the faces again, all my friends, to get back on the sets, it was one of the most enjoyable times of my life," he continued.

"I was 18 when I started here, left when I was 21 so to come back again, my head is spinning."

"What can viewers expect from Joel in his 40's? I can tell you what you won't get – no nipple piercing, no speedos, no blonde frizzy mullet hair, no full-monty, thank goodness!" the Foundation star joked.

"But some friendships rekindled which is terrific and a lot of fun."

He added that the set hadn't changed much in two decades, saying that there are "a lot of the same faces in the crew, and those crew I worked with, are now training up new crew members which is great".

Reflecting on the impact the show had on his career, MacPherson described Neighbours as his "training ground".

"It taught me about professionalism, punctuality, preparation and even today, seven scenes, pages of dialogue, there is a pace and a discipline to this show that serves you so well elsewhere, he recalled.

"On a personal level, Neighbours was kind of like my university. Living with my mates in St Kilda, working with this great bunch of people, and I will be forever grateful. It has been very special to come back."

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 5.