Neighbours legend Lucinda Cowden is set to depart her Melanie Pearson role next month, Metro can confirm.
The Australian actress, 59, filmed her final scenes on the Amazon Prime Video soap earlier in the summer, prior to a number of personal appearances in the UK.
With her head in the clouds and a collection of pig ornaments permanently on display wherever she lived, Melanie has cemented herself as a real fan-favourite.
The character is currently entwined in a love triangle with Jane Harris (Annie Jones) and Vic Stone (Craig Hall), though in upcoming scenes will be tempted by a new adventure.
A tearful Melanie can then be seen driving off in her infamous Drinks Divas van for a new life.
In a new interview with Ben Bone and Ben Fenlon, who collectively host the NeighBens YouTube channel, Lucinda spoke candidly about her departure.
When asked how she was, she replied: ‘How am I? I’m unemployed!’
‘I’m off, it’s true. I’m sorry. 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.’
Loud and energetic Melanie first arrived on Ramsay Street for two episodes in 1987 as the girlfriend of Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan).
Her animalistic laugh shocked his mother Madge (Anne Charleston) and sister Charlene (Kylie Minogue), whilst cheeky Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) found the whole ordeal hilarious – and continued to tell her jokes to annoy the family.
She continued to make guest appearances before being employed full time as The Robinson Corporation secretary by Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis).
After marrying Joe Mangel (Mark Little), the character initially departed in 1991 and wouldn’t be seen again in Erinsborough for thirty years.
It was upon her return that she developed a whirlwind relationship with lawyer Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), who also recently left after three decades.
Reflecting on this, as well as the exits of co-stars Georgie Stone and Shiv Palekar, Lucinda continued: ‘It’s been a year of goodbyes.’
‘All the contracts came up at the same time, because we were all employed at the same time.
‘I got a little bit longer. I found out in December last year, a couple of days before the Neighbours Christmas party.’
She continued: ‘I rang Ryan to say “Sorry babe, I’m off” and got the shock of my life when he said “Me too”,’
‘You could’ve blown me over with a feather. But it made a little bit more sense. I don’t think they knew what to do with Mel without Toad the family. You make things up in your head to make you feel better.’
‘It’s not the news I would like to tell. So many people have been sending me messages, you feel like a bit like you’re letting people down.’
Addressing the future of the show, she said: ‘You’re never going to get 5 year contracts anymore. Just because something’s been on air for 40 years doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s always going to be there.’
‘It has to maintain the pace of what people are looking for in a streaming service, I don’t know how long it’s going to stay on Channel 10.
‘Everyone [in Australia] watches streaming services and I think it can leave on the streamer. I think it’s fantastic that it can make that transition.’
