Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s 1988 wedding on Neighbours drew 20 million UK viewers
(Picture: Freemantle Media)Kylie Minogue has admitted there was “quite a bit of pressure” for her to return and star in the final episode of Neighbours.
The 54-year-old pop princess, who appeared in the hit Australian series for more than two years, is set to reprise the role of Charlene Robinson for the upcoming finale.
Her appearance in the show comes as the Aussie soap marks its last episode on Ramsay Street after 37 years on air.
Appearing on Late Night With Seth Mayers, Minogue discussed the “pressure” she faced to return for the final of the show that made her famous.
“I got this role in Neighbours, that was in 1986,” the actress explained.
“So I was only in the show for two and a half years. But it just exploded – England just went crazy about it. So it’s been with me ever since and it’s been a large part of how I entered into the music industry.”
Minogue added: “The show was played twice a day, and people would bunk off school, they changed the office hours.
“They’re finishing the show, and there was quite a bit of pressure for me to go back, so I shot my scenes back in Australia.”
Minogue will be joined by her on-screen love interest Jason Donovan and star Guy Pearce in what is set to be an emotional episode as the cast say their goodbyes to the series.
She shot to fame when she landed her role on the show alongside Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, in 1986.
However, she decided to leave the show two and a half years later after her star-studded music career began to kick off.
Reflecting upon the fellow co-stars also returning to Ramsay Street, Minogue added: “Another friend you may have had on this show, Guy Pearce, he’s in the same show, so he’s just filmed his little return as well. We’re all going to cry.”
Neighbours is coming to an end following 37 years on air after Channel 5 confirmed in March that it was pulling the plug on the show.
In a statement, Channel 5 explained at the time: “Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show.”
