Neighbours have confirmed that Mark Rafferty will reprise his role as Dr Darcy Tyler for its upcoming 40th anniversary.
The Amazon Prime Video soap will once again go all out in March to mark the occasion, which will see a number of familiar faces from years gone by back on our screens.
Announcing the news on social media this morning, the Aussie soap said in a statement: ‘Dr Darcy Tyler returns!’ Susan’s nephew will make a shock return to Erinsborough as part of the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
‘But has dastardly Darcy changed his ways? Or is he set to cause more misery for his old neighbours? We cannot wait to find out…’
The character – who is the nephew of show legend Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) – originally appeared on our screens between 2000 and 2003, before making guest returns over the following two years.
He is best remembered for his relationship with Dee Bliss (Madeline West), and subsequent affair with her friend, Erinsborough High School teacher Tess Bell (Krista Vendy).
After trying to destroy Dee’s life, he then found himself entwined in a dangerous gambling ring and owing a whopping $60,000. With nowhere to turn, he staged a robbery at Lou’s Place pub and stole from his family.
He later targeted Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), who was forced to ask Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) to hire a hit man. Before leaving again, Darcy revealed that his uncle Karl (Alan Fletcher) was the father of Izzy’s baby.
Whilst the details of his upcoming return are being kept under wraps for now, we do know that Krista Vendy will also be reprising her role on the show as Tess.
She was last seen in 2023 during protests to stop the school from closure.
Metro understands that Mark’s reprisal has been planned for quite some time, and was originally set to happen two years ago. Unfortunately, the show was taken off air after British broadcaster Channel 5 cut funding, and stories had to be scrapped.
Outgoing script producer Shane Isheev revealed at the time: ‘One of the original ideas I had for sending David [Tanaka] to prison was him meeting some of the past villains of the show.’
He continued to Your Manchester: ‘We were working to potentially doing an earthquake, which would have resulted in a big mass breakout in the prison. That was also an opportunity to spruce up some of the sets in Erinsborough.
‘I wanted to do a mass prison breakout, where iconic villains from Neighbours past team up and wreak havoc on the show.’
The character – who is the nephew of show legend Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) – originally appeared on our screens between 2000 and 2003, before making guest returns over the following two years.
He is best remembered for his relationship with Dee Bliss (Madeline West), and subsequent affair with her friend, Erinsborough High School teacher Tess Bell (Krista Vendy).
After trying to destroy Dee’s life, he then found himself entwined in a dangerous gambling ring and owing a whopping $60,000. With nowhere to turn, he staged a robbery at Lou’s Place pub and stole from his family.
He later targeted Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), who was forced to ask Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) to hire a hit man. Before leaving again, Darcy revealed that his uncle Karl (Alan Fletcher) was the father of Izzy’s baby.
Whilst the details of his upcoming return are being kept under wraps for now, we do know that Krista Vendy will also be reprising her role on the show as Tess.
She was last seen in 2023 during protests to stop the school from closure.
Metro understands that Mark’s reprisal has been planned for quite some time, and was originally set to happen two years ago. Unfortunately, the show was taken off air after British broadcaster Channel 5 cut funding, and stories had to be scrapped.
Outgoing script producer Shane Isheev revealed at the time: ‘One of the original ideas I had for sending David [Tanaka] to prison was him meeting some of the past villains of the show.’
He continued to Your Manchester: ‘We were working to potentially doing an earthquake, which would have resulted in a big mass breakout in the prison. That was also an opportunity to spruce up some of the sets in Erinsborough.
‘I wanted to do a mass prison breakout, where iconic villains from Neighbours past team up and wreak havoc on the show.’
In November, Lucinda told us: ‘I’d return full-time in a heartbeat. Even though I love exploring new projects, I think now the way Neighbours moves, everybody is doing less.
‘So if you do go back full-time, it’s only 30 weeks a year so you can still do other things. It’s incredibly engrossing doing something like Neighbours.’
