Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and airs on streaming channel Amazon Freevee. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show in 2024, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Jason Herbison.

Veronica McLain

Veronica McLain
Neighbours character
Portrayed byEllen Grimshaw
First appearance4 January 2024
ClassificationPresent; recurring
Introduced byJason Herbison
In-universe information
HusbandSasha McLain

Veronica McLain, played by Ellen Grimshaw, made her first appearance on 4 January 2024.[1] Grimshaw confirmed her casting via her Instagram account. She wrote that Veronica would be a "mysterious woman who seems more than just a little bit annoyed" by the established character Nicolette Stone (Hannah Monson).[2] Writers introduced Veronica during a storyline in which Nicolette is taunted by a mystery person who leaves random keys around the entrance to her home.[3] On 28 December 2023, Iona Rowan from Digital Spy previewed a spoiler photograph showing Grimshaw and Monson in character.[3] Her colleague Daniel Kilkelly confirmed that Veronica would arrive in Erinsborough seeking revenge against Nicolette after she is confirmed to be the culprit leaving the keys for Nicolette to find.[4] He added that Veronica blames Nicolette for ruining her marriage to Sasha and his later disappearance. Kilkelly added that Veronica is "ruthless" and threatens Nicolette into helping her find Sasha.[4] In her debut scenes it is revealed that Veronica's husband knew Nicolette's ex-girlfriend, Kiri Durant (Gemma Bird Matheson) from a church group. Nicolette suspected that Sasha was untrustworthy and seduced him to expose his true intensions to Kiri. However, Nicolette's behaviour caused the break-up of both her own and Sasha's relationships.[5]

Veronica will be the main suspect in an upcoming storyline centric to the disappearance of Isla Tanaka-Brennan (Hana Abe-Tucker), who is Nicolette's young daughter. Isla disappears while attending a local jumble sale and her disappearance is initially unexplained. A Neighbours publicist told Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap that "there's every chance she could have snatched Isla" because she has been blackmailing Nicolette.[5] She does not believe Veronica would kidnap a child, but Nicolette's brother Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) convinces her to call the police. The publicist added that Nicolette "may have underestimated her opponent on this occasion."[5]

Veronica leaves a series of keys around Nicolette's home. She incorrectly presumes the keys are from Sasha and goes to a hotel room to confront him. Inside she finds and empty room with lingerie left as a gift. Nicolette begins to suspect that Sasha is following her until she witnesses Veronica waiting in a car outside her home. Nicolette confronts Veronica who tells Nicolette she wants revenge for her breaking-up her marriage. She threatens to tell Nicolette's family she has tried to seduce her church attending husband, if she does not cooperate in finding Sasha. Nicolette explains to Veronica that she ceased contact with Sasha. When Veronica spends time with Nicolette's family, she decides to apologise fully for ruining the McLain's marriage. Nicolette explains that Sasha was flirting with her girlfriend, Kiri during Bible class. Nicolette claims that Sasha flirted with her too and decided to seduce him and expose him as a liar.

Alyssa Gavalas

Alyssa Gavalas, played by Imogen Sage, made her first appearance on 10 January 2024.[6] Details of the character were revealed in advance spoilers issued on 4 January 2024. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy reported that Alyssa is the original owner of Haz Devkar's (Shiv Palekar) rescue dog, Trevor.[4] Alyssa meets Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) walking Trevor in the park and immediately recognises her lost dog, whose name is actually Bodie. He added that Alyssa would seek contact with Haz to reconnect with her former pet. Haz is upset at the prospect of losing Trevor and seeks legal advice.[4]

Chelsea

Chelsea, played by Viva Bianca, will make her first appearance in January 2024. Bianca's casting in an unnamed guest role was announced via a press release issued by Amazon MGM Studios in the United States.[7] The character was announced in advance spoilers and it was revealed she would be introduced as the sister of established character Cara Varga-Murphy (Sara West) who gives her "an unexpected visit".[8]

Amira Devkar

Amira Devkar
Neighbours character
Portrayed byMaria Thattil
First appearance2024
ClassificationUpcoming; recurring
Introduced byJason Herbison
In-universe information
BrothersHaz Devkar

Amira Devkar, played by Maria Thattil, will make her first appearance in 2024. The character and Thattil's casting details were announced on 7 December 2023.[9] Thattil began filming her guest role during the same week.[9] Of her casting, Thattil explained that she sent in a self-taped audition for another character when the serial began casting for the new series, which the producers "loved" and she received a call back for Amira instead.[9] Thattil felt that she was joining the show at the right time and the opportunity was "so aligned to my deepest values". She continued: "I genuinely can't remember ever seeing a gay female South Asian Australian character on an Aussie TV show in my childhood and I always wonder how proper representation – beyond tokenism or exaggerated caricatures – would've changed some of my experiences with racism, homophobia, feeling like I didn't belong, wasn't normal or Australian enough. This role feels 'full circle' because it's giving me the chance to be the authentic representation that I, and wider Australia, has needed."[9] Thattil's character is the older sister of Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar), who was introduced in 2023.[9] A reporter for 10Play said Amira was "sometimes bossy" towards her brother and would "bring some flair to the vibrant world of Erinsborough."[10] They also stated that due to "challenges with their strict parents", Amira and Haz would have "an emotional reunion". The reporter added that Amira's arrival would not be welcomed by everyone, even though she has her brother's "best interest at heart".[10] Neighbours wrote on social media: "We're delighted to announce that Maria Thattil will be joining the cast next year" and they teased, "But why she turns up suddenly at Harold's is yet to be revealed".[11]

References

  1. ↑ Executive producer: Jason Herbison; Director: Tony Gardiner; Writer: Stephen Vagg (4 January 2024). "Episode 8967". Neighbours. Network 10.
  2. ↑ @ellen_grimshaw (3 January 2024). ""Neighbours welcomes new character Veronica McLain, played by Ellen Grimshaw", a mysterious woman who seems more than just a little bit annoyed with Nicolette. Just what does Veronica have planned? Well, tune in and watch @neighbours tomorrow 4th Jan 2024, and you might find out… #neighbours #channel10au #10playau #10peachau #amazonfreeveeuk @amazonfreeveeuk @10peachau @channel10au" – via Instagram.
  3. 1 2 Rowan, Iona (28 December 2023). "Neighbours' Nicolette Stone left baffled by intriguing new mystery". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kilkelly, Daniel (4 January 2024). "9 Neighbours spoilers for next week". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Ellis, Sarah (13–19 January 2024). "Nicolette's horror as Isla goes missing!". Inside Soap. No. 2. (Hearst Magazines UK).
  6. ↑ Executive producer: Jason Herbison; Director: Grace Feng Fang Juan; Writer: Eliabeth Packett (10 January 2024). "Episode 8970". Neighbours. Network 10.
  7. ↑ "Neighbours on Amazon Freevee". Amazon MGM Studios. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "More soaps". TVTimes. No. 440. 13–19 January 2024. p. 29.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Epstein, Jackie (7 December 2023). "Ex-Miss Universe launches acting career in 'full circle' moment". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Ramsay Street Welcomes Maria Thattil To Neighbours". 10Play. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  11. ↑ @neighbours (7 November 2023). "We're delighted to announce that Maria Thattil will be joining the cast next year in the guest role of Haz's big sister!" – via Instagram.
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