There were many old faces in the Neighbours finale this week but there was one big one, with a big laugh, who was missed by fans of the Australian soap, which has come to an end after 37 years. Lou Carpenter aka actor Tom Oliver, who graced Ramsay Street for 28 years was missing from the action.
Lou, who was involved in storylines like the love triangle between him, Harold and Madge, a painkiller addiction and had the best laugh in soapland, departed the soap in 2016 when actor Oliver retired.
He didn't return in person for the finale, which saw Toadie and Mel get married, Scott and Charlene return and Mike and Jane reunite, but the show's makers did manage to include a nod to the veteran character in a different way.
Read more: Viewers in 'tears' as Neighbours comes to an end after just under four decades
In the scenes which saw Terese Robinson ponder over sale contracts as she considered her divorce to Paul Robinson and her plans to leave the street, the paperwork headers contained a familiar name.
The name of the conveyancing solicitors was T Oliver, thought to be a nod to the Neighbours veteran as the show signed off.
Viewers were chuffed that the Easter egg was included to pay tribute to Lou, and Andrew Thomas wrote: "Lou reference! Tom Oliver Solicitors! Bravo @neighbours" Another fan said: "Anyone notice the little nod to Lou Carpenter on the house sale paperwork? Tom Oliver is the actors name! Nice touch." Adam Gerace wrote: "Loved the reference to Tom Oliver on Terese’s envelope."
While Tom, who is now 84, did not return for the finale veterans such as Madge Bishop and Doug Willis appeared in the concluding scene as Susan Kennedy gave a heartfelt monologue to close out the long-running show which has had 8,903 episodes.
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