Neighbours fans fuming as star is sacked after 37 years saying 'I can't do anything about it'

After almost four decades, Melanie Pearson will be leaving Ramsay Street behind as actress has announced she was "unemployed" - but viewers are having none of it.

The actress, 59, first joined back in 1987 but left the programme a first time four years later. After a cameo role in the programme's 20th anniversary documentary in 2005, Lucinda Cowden returned to the set of the show on a regular basis in 2021.

In recent scenes of the popular Australian soap, which was by Video, Melanie has been embroiled in an explosive love triangle with Jane Harris and Vic Stone - but her time in Erinsborough is drawing to a close.

During a chat on the NeighBens show with hosts Ben Bone and Ben Fenlon, Lucinda broke the news before sharing her despair as she first shared: "I'm unemployed! I'm off, it's true. I'm sorry."

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She then let admirers know that the decision hadn't been her own: "I can’t do anything about it, it wasn’t my decision. Mel’s off in her truck and doesn’t have any plans to return, immediately." Before claiming she'd faced a "year of a lot of goodbyes" on the show.

"So I rang Ryan [Maloney] to say, 'Sorry babe, I'm off' and got the shock of my life when he said, 'Me too! ' You know, you could've blown me over with a feather. It kind of made a little bit of sense for me rather than if it was just me."

Lucinda's announcement triggered a wave of reactions online, more particularly X, as many Neighbours fans were unhappy about the decision. "Why is everyone leaving Neighbours? Firstly Haz and Mack, then Toadie, and now Melanie is set to depart. Not sure how much longer the next chapter will last tbh", one wrote.

"Well this sucks. Melanie/Lucinda is one of the show’s best. I presume it’s budget reasons, but it was a mistake with Sonya, a mistake with Toadie, and another mistake with Mel. I hope someone sees sense soon", another echoed. A third branded the decision "ridiculous" as they penned: "#Neighbours Thank you for axing one of our favourite characters - absolute ridiculous decision. Melanie is a legend and should stay in the show."

One final watcher then recalled: "In 1996, Lou Carpenter was written out of #Neighbours. Viewers created petitions calling for his return and the strength of their reaction caused the producers to reconsider their decision and reinstate him. The same can be done for Melanie Pearson!"

Much like Lucinda, and as mentioned, Ryan Maloney was the latest Neighbours legend to leave the show. Shooting to fame for portraying the beloved Jarrod "Toadie" Rebecchi, Ryan Maloney announced he was on his way out of Ramsay Street earlier in the year after an incredibly 30-year run.

Speaking about his exit on in August, he reflected on his lengthy Neighbours stint by telling presenters and: "It's been my life, really. I started when I was 15, so I've grown up on the show and me personally I've gotten married, had kids, built farms, learnt lots of other bits and pieces. It's very much my life. I've spent more time on Neighbours than I have off."

Ryan opened up about how he blended his own life experiences , suggesting a "schizophrenic" mix has emerged over time.

Discussing his future plans, Ryan mused: "I'm really just leaving the slate open for whatever. I'm not particularly attached to continuing on. I've been acting for over 30 years now, if that continues then fantastic. Directing has really got my synapses firing again, so hopefully that happens."

He further admitted finding joy in simpler pursuits, "But I'm actually really quite happy building farm fences and playing with animals and spending time with the kids. So if I never get employed and I do that again, then happy days!"

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