Neighbours legend returns to soap 24 years after quitting Ramsay Street as show’s future remains uncertain
A NEIGHBOURS legend is set for a bombshell return to the soap – 24 years after quitting Ramsay Street.
Krista Vendy, 50, played school teacher Tess Bell from 1999 to 2001 before making her exit.
Following a brief appearance in 2023, Krista is now reprising her role as Tess once again.
The soap’s Instagram page shared a snap of Krista holding a Ramsay Street sign.
Its caption read: “Another blast from the past!
“Krista Vendy is soon set to reprise her role as Tess Bell… but what’s brought her back to Erinsborough this time?”
One excited fan commented: “I loved her when she was on and it was only a short stint.
“I really hope that she is in it for the long term.”
Another gushed: “Can’t wait to have Tess back!”
While a third remarked: “Great to see her back.”
A fourth stated: “Oh my god it’s Tess Bell.”
Back in 2001, Tess’ original exit saw her leave womanising husband-to-be Darcy (Mark Rafferty) at the altar.
In 2023, she resurfaced in a storyline featuring a protest to save the high school from closure.
It comes as Neighbours fans are fearing for the soap’s future on screen.
Amazon Freevee revived the show in 2023, after the initial ending in 2022.
Freevee’s closure means viewers will have to watch elsewhere.
Neighbours is transferring permanently to a new home on Prime Video.
Neighbours stars who made it big
The long-running Aussie soap has launched the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Here are some of the Neighbours alums who went on to make it big after starring on the soap...
Kylie Minogue
- Before she hit the big time with her music career, Kylie shot to fame playing Charlene Mitchell on Neighbours. Shortly after her arrival, Kylie began an on and off-screen romance with co-star Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, which gained the couple an army of adoring fans.
Jason Donovan
- After his stint as Scott, singer and actor Jason became an international popstar and had his pick acting of roles. He moved to the U.K., married, had children and has since starred in over a dozen West End show, most notably Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Alan Dale
- New Zealand born actor Alan was one of Neighbours 12 original cast members having made his debut as Jim Robinson on the soap’s first episode on 18 March 1985. As the head of the Robinson clan, widower Jim lived at Number 26 Ramsay Street with his children Paul, Julie, Scott and Lucy, and was a real anchor in the community. He stayed with the show for eight years, before his character was killed off in dramatic scenes aired in 1993 but which still reverberate through the soap to this day.
Margot Robbie
- Way before she was Barbie or Harley Quinn, Margot was best known as Ramsay Street resident Donna Freedman. Her notable storylines included her marriage to Ringo Brown and becoming a young widow following his tragic death. After three years she bid farewell to the soap and Australia with a plan to make a name for herself in Hollywood which she did when she bagged the role of Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Jesse Spencer
- Jesse rocked up on Ramsay street in 1994 with the rest of the Kennedy clan. He stayed for five years, literally growing up in front of the camera, but in 2000 felt it was time to spread his wings and head for Hollywood. It was certainly a smart move as he went on to bag leading roles in popular shows like House and Chicago Fire.
Russell Crowe
- New Zealand-native Russell had a brief arc on Neighbours, appearing in four episodes of the soap 1987 as Kenny Larkin, the former cellmate of Street resident Henry Ramsay. The role obviously got him noticed though because he quickly went on to become a fully-fledged Hollywood A-lister, winning the Best Actor Oscar for his standout performance as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, a concerned fan wrote: “#Neighbours will stop filming in early 2025 to fulfil two years of episodes unless Amazon‘s original contract is renewed.
“Whilst Neighbours hovers around the No.1, 2, & 3 spots on UK Amazon, there’s an exodus of core cast members.
“We may have to #SaveNeighbours again.”
Another penned: “Pray #Neighbours gets renewed soon.”