
This week we saw Melanie drive off into the sunset to begin a new life away from Erinsborough. Initially planning to move far, far away, a quick call from Madame Zolga made Mel reassess her choices and instead she ventured just a few hours away to Gippsland to potentially begin a new life with Vic Stone.
Since news of Melane’s departure was confirmed last month, fans have been up in arms at losing another long-term cast member, just weeks after Melanie’s on-screen ex-husband, Toadie, was written out of the show. Like Toadie’s departure, Lucinda shared that Melanie’s leaving was not her choice, but it was the decision of show producers.

At an event in the UK last summer, just days after she had shot her final scenes for the show, Lucinda shared that if it was up to her, she would stay on Neighbours forever, such is her love for Melanie.
However, Melanie fans need not fear, Melanie WILL be heading back to Ramsay Street next year.
In “Ramsay Street Revelations”, a series of behind the scenes interviews on Neighbours’ social media channels, Lucinda teased that she was back at the show’s Nunawading studios filming scenes for the show’s 40th anniversary episodes which are due to air in March next year.
“As you may have noticed, I am back.” Lucinda teased. “Which means Mel must be coming back at some point…. maybe for the 40th anniversary… maybe.”

With a twinkle in her eye as well as declaring that this was her final Ramsay Street Revelation ‘for now’, it means that Mel fans won’t have to wait to long to hear that famed laugh one more time.
It is our understanding that Lucinda’s return to the show is a temporary guest return for the celebration episodes, but hopefully it also means that the door is left wide open for Mel to return to Erinsborough again at some point.
During the Ramsay Street Revelation, Lucinda shared the drama surrounding her final scenes. The actor tripped on set whilst filming the farewell party at The 82, smashing her face and breaking her nose. As Lucinda was rushed to hospital, the show had to turn to desperate measures to get all the scenes they needed.

Normally, they would pick up and reshoot scenes at a later date, but Craig Hall, who plays Vic Stone, was also filming his final Neighbours scenes and was due to fly back to his native New Zealand. Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher who play Susan and Karl Kennedy were also due to take a break from filming and so wouldn’t be available to shoot scenes when Lucinda returned.
A member of the show’s crew popped on a wig and Melanie’s bright blue jacket and became a stand in, only being shot from behind in scenes with Vic and the Kennedys.

When Lucinda fully recovered and returned to film those scenes, extras were cast to replace the three actors who weren’t around for filming, again, only being filmed from behind. Through the wonder of good editing and the magic of television, it all seamlessly played out to give Mel a proper Erinsborough send-off.
Can you spot where the stand-ins were used?
You can catch all the latest from Neighbours with episodes streaming on Amazon Prime Video from 7am, Monday-Thursday.