Image: Amazon/Fremantle

Candice Leask’s return to Neighbours has been confirmed by the show in a social media post this morning (May 1st). Candice will be reprising her role of Wendy Rodwell, manager of The Waterhole pub and matriarch of the Rodwell family.

Last week it was announced that her on-screen husband, Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd WIll) and daughter Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan) would be returning to the show, leaving fans wondering why Wendy hadn’t been announced. In leaked shots from set, eagle-eyed fans had already spotted Candice filming on Ramsay Street- along with her on-screen family, other returning regulars and a host of new faces.

Posting on Instagram, the show said “And Wendy makes three! We’re delighted that Candice Leask will be returning with the rest of the Rodwell clan in all new episodes of #Neighbours. We look forward to Wendy saying ”Yoo-hoo” again later in the year.”

The Rodwells were the last new family to join the show before the cancellation announcement in early 2022. In their short time on screen, they managed to make an impact with Wendy being responsible for damaging the Ramsay Street history book which lead to a story allowing many cast returnees during the final few episodes of the show in 2022. Producers revealed that the Rodwells were originally supposed to be a bigger family, with a son as well as daughter Sadie, however, their storylines were scaled back and plans to introduce the son were cancelled when the show was dropped by Channel 5.

We are hoping for plenty of unmissable drama from the Rodwells in the new season of Neighbours and the echo of Wendy’s signature “Yoo-hoo” around the houses of Ramsay Street.

New episodes of Neighbours are currently in production in Melbourne and will be streaming in the UK later this year on FreeVee.

By Matt Sole

Matt was a Neighbours fan through the late 1980s and 1990s. After a number of years living overseas he returned to the UK and fell in love with Ramsay Street again in 2017. Away from Neighbours, Matt spent many years working as an Entertainment Director for a major Cruise Line. He is also an avid quizzer and has appeared on many TV game shows including Bridge of Lies, competing with other members of the ramsaystreet.co.uk team.