Neighbours star Lucinda Cowden on Mel's exit, 2025 return and the show's future

 "Mel's probably a little tired!"

Neighbours aired Melanie Pearson's final scenes on Tuesday (November 19) as she headed out of Erinsborough for a fresh start.

The fan favourite had announced plans to go travelling in her Drinks Divas van, but in a last-minute twist, she turned up at Victor Stone's newly-purchased pub in Gippsland ready to make a go of their relationship.

Lucinda Cowden, who played Melanie, announced her exit from Neighbours late last month.

In an exclusive new interview , Lucinda chats to us about Mel's final scenes, her guest return next year and Neighbours' chances of a renewal from Amazon.

What did you make of Melanie's happy ending with Vic?

"I thought it was nice that they got together. For a long time, Mel had been second best or third best – whether it was as a stepmother or partner. She just felt like she was never first choice.

"I don't know whether Mel really was first choice, because Vic was to'ing and fro'ing in the love triangle with Jane, but I think Mel and Vic actually work well together.

"They're both people who've made lots of mistakes, but they're open to owning up to them. They're becoming quite interesting people because they're no longer pretending to be anything that they're not.

"They make quite an interesting couple and I think it does work better than it did with Vic and Jane. Jane's been there, done that and ticked it off. It would be going backwards for her character, but it's going forward for Mel. I like the fact that Mel's finally got her man – well, momentarily, we'll see!"

How was it to work with Craig Hall, who played Vic, on this storyline?

"He is a real joy to work with. He was really nice and had a different kind of energy. I thought the characters had a good chemistry together.

"When they met on their first date, Mel laughed and he thought her laugh was hilarious and liked it. At that moment she was like: 'Wow!' She'd been so used to being disapproved of before that, so that was really nice.

"Mel was able to be honest with Vic, in a way that she hasn't in her other relationships. She seemed a bit more grown up, after the five million terrible things that have happened to Mel of late!"

We know that you've already filmed a brief guest return – can you tease that for us?

"Well, Mel's in a very good frame of mind and very happy when she comes back. It's the episodes that coincide with the show's 40-year anniversary, that's what I will tease! A huge thing happens that brings Mel back, but it's just a momentary thing."

Was it a shock to be written out of the show?

"It's always a possibility once the contract's up – I think all actors are aware of that – but I was not expecting it and it was a bit of a shock. It was hard to not tell anyone about it, because you can't really say anything.

"The weirdest thing was that I knew about Ryan [Moloney, who plays Toadie] leaving as well, and that was a much more important secret to keep! That was hard, because not a lot of people knew that. I was quite open about what had happened, but everyone deals with these things in their own way and their own time.

"I found out in December last year, so I've known for a long time. But this is the industry that we live in and that's the way these things work. It's all part of the rich tapestry of being an actor."

What have you made of the fan reaction to the news of your departure?

"It's really lovely to have seen the outcry and the sorrow for Mel leaving. I just want to say thank you to everybody. It's absolutely gorgeous.

"I think Mel's probably a little tired and a little time in the countryside with Vic might be good for her! Let's hope that perhaps she may come back again at a later date. I'm not teasing anything when I say that, because nobody's asked me to do anything, but I hope that she does return at some point."

There's even a petition calling for your return – were you surprised by that?

"Yes I was! It was a lovely heartfelt reaction from people, which I'm incredibly touched by. I'm very grateful to be in people's hearts in that way. I just feel honoured that people have taken the character to their hearts in the way that they have, even when she can be so bloody annoying!

"So a big thank you to all the fans out there who've done those lovely things for me. I really appreciate it."

Do you think the fan reaction could make an impact?

"I've got no idea. I know for a fact that, at the moment, nobody knows what's happening with the show next year. That's probably their primary concern, rather than being able to look into the future.

"I think they probably have storylined everything that they'll be filming up until April next year. As far as I know, I'm not involved in any of that.

"If the show gets recommissioned – and I just couldn't understand why it wouldn't be when it's done so well – it would make sense for Mel to pop in and out. That would be lovely. Or pop in and stay – I don't mind!"

The show is often #1 on Prime Video in the UK, so hopefully it will continue?

"It's amazing that it's done so well. So you think: 'Why is everyone still in this area of not knowing what's going on?' That's really difficult, as you can imagine, for writers, all of our actors, all of the crew and everyone working on the show.

"So it's tricky – nobody knows whether they've got a job, so hopefully somebody confirms something soon in the positive direction!

We always say at work that Neighbours is like Hotel California – you can check out any time you like, but you can't ever leave. So we'll see what happens with the show and with the character. Next year is all to play for."

Did you enjoy your year of drama in the Toadie/Melanie/Terese/Paul love square?

"Yeah, it gave me a lot of scope to get my teeth stuck into a bit of drama, rather than just doing the comedy, but I did get a bit exhausted by it. I'm not used to just having to continually cry!

"Then I was so pleased when Dr Pooper came along and I could laugh again! I think we managed some comedy moments and I had some really great fun scenes working with Lucinda Armstrong Hall [who plays Holly], Fletch [Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl] and Majella [Davis, who plays Krista].

"I think we got a nice mix of everything. It was probably a little too heavy on the sadness, but that's just the way the show goes.

"I've never been one of those actors who puts a lot of ideas into the storylines. I'm probably just a bit old-school – you don't go to the writers' room and you don't disturb them, because they might tell you to get out because they don't want you to see anything! I've always just let them do their thing and I do my thing."

There were only a few weeks between Toadie and Melanie's departures. What do you make of some fans suggesting they should have just left together?

"I just assumed that we would end up together, but Ryan and I eventually discussed that and he told me that they wouldn't. I thought that was sad because it's the least they were owed, personally! But again, it's not my job to make those decisions as it's above my pay grade! (Laughs.)

"I was a big fan of their relationship and I've said so many times how much I adore Ryan. He's an incredibly talented actor and I think the show really misses him. I think it will continue to miss him if he's not there.

"Ryan brought something and I don't think anyone's quite realised just how good an actor he was because everyone thinks he's 'just Toadie'. But he managed to do things differently, and think of new things enough to keep that fresh for a really long time and that's an incredible feat to do.

"So who knows? Maybe Ryan and I will do something different together, you never know."

You're part of the Neighbours 40th anniversary tour in the UK next year – are you looking forward to it?

"I'm so excited. I was just texting Kym Valentine and she was asking where I'm staying when I get to London.

"I can't wait to get over there, even though it's going to be freezing and it'll be lovely here! But it's going to be fine because my heart is going to be full of all the love that we're going to receive there. It's just going to be delicious and I can't wait to see everyone again. It's going to be a big show and so exciting."

What else are you up to?

"I've been working on a script with a lady called Megan Herbert, who was also attached to Neighbours. It's now coming together and we'll be hawking that around by the time I get over to the UK, hopefully.

"This script is not a soap, but it has some soap elements in it. So my knowledge of soaps is coming in useful at this moment in time.

"I'm also putting together some classes for kids in the school holidays over here, doing some improvisation. That's close to my heart – I've always been a teacher when I'm not acting.

"Improvisation is fantastic for young people's lives. It makes them confident, creative, adaptable and amazing, which is all really useful in this current state of play that we find ourselves in! We need the young people to be clever, so let's do what we can!"

Full details and dates for the Neighbours 40th anniversary tour can be found here.

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee and Prime Video in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach Comedy.