After a remarkable tenure, actress Lucinda Cowden is set to say farewell to the iconic Ramsay Street as Melanie Pearson bids adieu from the hit Australian soap Neighbours. The 59 year old star, who made her mark on the show in 1987 but departed in 1991, returned for the 20th anniversary special in 2005 and rejoined the cast regularly in 2021.
Recently, the show, brought back by Amazon Prime Video this summer, saw Melanie tangled up in a dramatic love triangle with characters Jane Harris and Vic Stone. However, her stint in Erinsborough is now coming to an end.
While appearing on the NeighBens YouTube channel with hosts Ben Bone and Ben Fenlon, Cowden let slip the unexpected news and expressed her dismay, saying: "I'm unemployed! I'm off, it's true. I'm sorry."
The actress conveyed to fans that her departure was not of her choosing, stating: "I can't do anything about it, it wasn't my decision. Mel's off in her truck and doesn't have any plans to return, immediately."
She also mentioned it had been a "year of a lot of goodbyes" on the series, reports the Mirror.
Cowden recounted a surprising conversation with co-star Ryan Maloney: "So I rang Ryan [Maloney] to say, 'Sorry babe, I'm off' and got the shock of my life when he said, 'Me too! ' You know, you could've blown me over with a feather. It kind of made a little bit of sense for me rather than if it was just me."
The news of Lucinda's departure kickstarted a flurry of online responses, particularly from passionate Neighbours followers who expressed their discontent. One fan lamented, "Why is everyone leaving Neighbours? Firstly Haz and Mack, then Toadie, and now Melanie is set to depart. Not sure how much longer the next chapter will last tbh".
Another viewer aired their disappointment remarking, "Well this sucks. Melanie/Lucinda is one of the show's best. I presume it's budget reasons, but it was a mistake with Sonya, a mistake with Toadie, and another mistake with Mel. I hope someone sees sense soon". A different comment labelled the move "ridiculous" as they vented: "#Neighbours Thank you for axing one of our favourite characters - absolute ridiculous decision. Melanie is a legend and should stay in the show."
Another watcher reminisced, "In 1996, Lou Carpenter was written out of #Neighbours. Viewers created petitions calling for his return and the strength of their reaction caused the producers to reconsider their decision and reinstate him. The same can be done for Melanie Pearson! ".
Joining Lucinda in bowing out, as mentioned earlier, Ryan Maloney has also announced his departure from Neighbours. Famed for his role as Jarrod "Toadie" Rebecchi, Ryan Maloney declared his exit from Ramsay Street after an extraordinary 30-year journey on the show.
Reflecting on his departure from the beloved soap, Neighbours, during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in August, Ryan shared his thoughts with hosts Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madeley: "It's been my life, really. I started when I was 15, so I've grown up on the show and me personally I've gotten married, had kids, built farms, learnt lots of other bits and pieces. It's very much my life. I've spent more time on Neighbours than I have off."
He opened up about intertwining his personal journey with that of his character Toadie, hinting at a rather "schizophrenic" blend that has developed through the years.
Regarding what's ahead, Ryan pondered: "I'm really just leaving the slate open for whatever. I'm not particularly attached to continuing on. I've been acting for over 30 years now, if that continues then fantastic. Directing has really got my synapses firing again, so hopefully that happens."
He also confessed that he finds pleasure in simpler things, saying, "But I'm actually really quite happy building farm fences and playing with animals and spending time with the kids. So if I never get employed and I do that again, then happy days! "
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