Neighbours: A Guide to the Recasts 

Back in the 70s they went to such lengths to replace characters, they auditioned hundreds of actors to find somebody with identical looks and hair and voice, like as if nobody would notice that its a different actor. By the time Neighbours came along they only required an actor to human. If they were older, taller or completely different looking nobody cared. Same thing happens in Home and Away.

Love the iconic neighbours score in the background

Neighbours was funny how it kept recasting the same characters with actors who looked, spoke and behaved nothing like the previous actor. It's almost like they did it deliberately to mess with the audience. I had no idea that the two Cody actresses were playing the same person, you're right they were like completely different characters.

I loved Vikki Blanche as Julie Robinson. It was so good to have a young sticky beak in the show. I remember her commenting to Daphne, having been disturbed by Daphne's grandfather's parrot in the back yard: 'Some of us need our beauty sleep,' and Daphne's "sweet' reply: 'I'm sure you do!' Classic! Julie Mullins was a great progression for the character. Both excellent. When the second Julie piped up; 'Oh, Des Clarke's old place!' on meeting some newcomers when she returned, I totally bought her Julie. Great continuity there.

It was the breathing, that was the problem with the original Toby

One I didn't see here was Julie's husband, Philip Martin. In 1985 he was played by Chris Milne and then when they came back in 1992 he was played by Ian Rawlings (Wayne in Sons and Daughters) and was much better.

I’ve been friends with Ben Guerens my whole life, and it was actually him that told me that the character of Jim Robinson was played by someone else before Alan Dale. I mean, I’m 99% sure that’s what he said. It was a long time ago, I don’t know why I even remember that conversation.

Libby was probably the reason I watched neighbours, Kim valentine was so watchable and likeable. I’m glad Michaela wasn’t a permanent replacement. Recasting really does interrupt the flow.

There's one character on Neighbours who was re-cast that no-one has made mention of. What about Skye Bishop? She was originally played by Miranda Fryer around about 1990 when Fryer would have been about 3 years old. Skye came back on the show as a teenager, played by Stephanie MacIntosh. Miranda Fryer died in January 2022, aged 34.

Bouncer was the best actor on the show.

Lucy was ridiculous. She goes to France 11 for 10wks and comes home 13 and 2ft taller!

Loved Julie Mullins as Julie! Criminal that she was killed off 😔 she was the only reason I watched it back then. Where can we hear these old incidental themes uninterrupted? These tunes have always been memorable and just great. As always a good job! 😀

I also heard Leo Hancock was a recast although I had no idea the two were even the same character at the time

Julie Martin what a character lol

great vid it brings back alot of memories.

Great to see these Neighbours Tube-style videos again!

Kylie Flinker what a cool name!.And I also remember Sasha Close as well.

Really enjoyed this, thank you!

I never understood why Summer 2.0 *was* Summer. She could very easily have been a niece or nephew of Lyn - her being a Hoyland served no storyline purpose, it meant changing her age (meaning she went from being older than Zeke to being younger than Zeke), and it meant she was living in #26 on a very flimsy link. It also would have made Lyn's references to 'us Scully women' less non-sensical.

Great video thanks 😊

Hi Joe it`s great you`re back no surprise who my favourite recast is it`s obviously Jason Donovan as Scott Robinson it was a genius recast Jason made the roll of Scott one of the most iconic Neighbours characters Ever i`ve been a DonoFan ever since

Enjoying these videos. I don't watch the spoiler ones (just because i don't want the s/l ruined) but these top ones are awesome.

Where do you get that background music from? 80s/early 90s definitely had the best music. Those tunes were actual masterpieces, I think they were all made by the same composer.

I remember when Sarah, the first Lauren, got wound up in a cult, the children of Babarus.

Can’t believe the guy from Beauty and the Beast was the kid from Neighbours! Wtf.

I'd forgotten about most of these! I completely agree with the Cody recast, I remember at the time thinking it was ludicrous and clearly a completely different person in every possible way. The second Cody was quite tomboyish if I remember, with a raspy voice, and she looked completely different. I never really understand why they bother with recasts to be honest, it seems much better just to write the character out, or just avoid having them in scenes for a bit until you can work something out. Having a different actor playing the role just throws people off completely.

Dude you really love neighbours ❤️

I like the original pierce

Cody 2 was WAY better than the original Cody. Amelia was a young kid with quite stifled acting, Peta bought Cody to life and did a lot of improvised actng.

Hi! good video there was a recast you had forgotten which was Elly Conway she appeared in the late 90s or early 2000s? I can’t remember who played her originally I think it was Kendell Nunn but Jodi Gordon/Anasta will always be Elly for me 🤣 being called Elly myself too hah

where did you get the background music?

So that's Philip Martin and Elly Conway that I can remember as being recasts said in previous comments. I like both Scott but yeah I prefer Jason's one more. Also the same with all 3 Lucy but again lean towards Melissa's because she's been in the role the longest. For the two Beverly, I preferred Lisa's version but was fine with both. Like the second Toby. Obviously it's Scott's Brad I like the best but I had no issue with Kit's version. I do blame the writers as Kit's was more memorable in H&A I agree with the Julie recast and thought they were both good but obviously Julie's is the best because again she was on there the longest Like both of the Cody and don't really have a preference. Obviously there's only one Cheryl but Colette did fine. I only got to like Darren when Todd took over the role. Didn't realise that there were two Jacks so clearly prefer Jay's version. I thought both of the Lollies were fine. And I agree about the situation with the recasting of Libby and enough how she portrayed Libby in Kim's absent. Clearly I must have wipe out of my memory that there was two Declans because it came to me how I didn't like the character when Eric took over from James. Obviously for me Felix did a great job as Ben although the second version was kind of cute and adorable. While I do think in terms of the acting and making the character of Julie feel like natural and organic from the first to the second, the impact of the first Scott to the second is much greater and more memorable.

There were two Philip Martins.

Could you please let me know where I can get the background music you have used for this video please?

I thought the original Robinson family from the network 7 days were the best.

There seems to be problems with the mic- were you too close?

this is bloody amazing

I was also not keen on Erin Mullaly’s portrayal of Declan Napier. Erin had this sort of evil glare-type look on his face that I felt did not sit well with the character, and had no chemistry with Ashleigh Brewer (who played Kate Ramsay, whom I believe was Declan’s love interest at the time of James Sorensen’s departure and Erin taking over from him).

Was Shane Rebecchi in briefly in the 90s?

Where are you watching the old episodes?

Where can you find all the old Neighbours background music?

Annoying thing about Cody 2 was that she never mentioned her dead ex boyfriend Todd. Who she was crazy about when she was played by Cody 1. So that pissed me off! I agree about Julie being the best recast. Though the first one was good the second one was more likeable and humorous at times.

wonder if ull do a home and away recast vid, i remember a few like irean was played by a different actress at first then a 2nd one that most know now, pippa has had 2 or 3 recasts i think.

I definitely think it was Kip Gamblin's fault. ps: You need a pop-shield :) Or possibly less gain to avoid the clipping on the pop.

Shaunna O’Grady is my Bev

I liiked brad no2. Him n beth were a good couple..

Cody 2.0 was good! Sad when she died

A very good summery of parts played by different people, iv watched it from the start shows my age, agree the last Brad was boring compared to the 1st, and the 1st Julie Robinson was best like her brother she was a nasty so and so. My favorite characters in the show were the great Helen and Beth, and who can forget Lou Carpenter.

What was the goss on Julie Mullins leaving??

Jack Scully 2 and Declan 2 were tragic. I'm just glad Declan completed High School before the recast because Erin Mullaly just wouldn't look right in the school uniform. While Jack 1 was a plot device, he was marginally less wooden/annoying than his replacement plus he looked more a fit for the Scully family.

Cheryl 2 is Doreen from prisoner cell block h haha

All the Martians were recast apart from Hannah as she wasn’t born in 85. I’m not sure but I think Helen Daniel’s sister was recast from a posh blond to the red heard ex prisoner cell block H villainess prisoner. And of course Bob landers Todd’s Dad was recast from a a white bearded man to a younger villain who ended up holding Tods girlfriend hostage. That’s all I recall

If I remember correctly Steph was played by someone else before Carla played her

They should have just recast Daphne instead of killing her

Tom Mcdonald as Darren was my crush.....

Elly Conway?

James Sorensen is Declan Napier. The replacement was terrible. He's now a Dr. of Science and a tutor but doesn't have social media.

Declan #2 was so bad. I loved Declan #1. An absolute tragedy of a recast.

great summary but dude, get yourself a pop filter for your mic

Blank robotic void🤣🤣🤣

Sasha close was the best version of Lucy

Oh my god, I hated Fake-lan so much! He had no personality other than being a foil for Paul Robinson.

I actually preferred the original Cody Willis, she was better looking than the second one IMO. I also felt sorry for Phil Martin, fancy being married to the annoying Julie woman, nag nag nag that's all she ever did.

I was so annoyed by Declan’s recast I stopped watching for 10 years Lol

Such a pity they never recast Jason Donovans hair🤡

Why are you talking so fast? Its so hard to understand

Jesus Christ !! SLOW IT DOWN !! Narrator is way too quiet and speaking too quickly. Get rid of the music too as it's drowning out what he's saying. I got a Headache now trying to follow what he said !! 🤪

I have watched neighbours on & off since it's inception. For a long, long time & it centered around family values with endless bar-b-q's, dinners, street lunches etc (Quite boring to watch). Since a couple years ago the story lines changed incredily with gay marriages,three persons relationships, trans gender people etc. Did these changers eventually kill neighbours for good ?

Does the narrator ever take a breath...terrible to listen to!!