Dex Varga-Murphy

Neighbours

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	March 18, 1985 (1985-03-18)
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia
Key people	Jason Herbison (executive producer)
Products	Television soap opera
Website	10play.com.au/neighbours

Neighbours is a long-running Australian soap opera that premiered on 18 March 1985 and is currently broadcast on Amazon Freevee and Network 10 within Australia. The characters introduced in 2023, all under the guidance of executive producer Jason Herbison, are listed below. Season 39 commenced with Episode 8904 on 18 September 2023, marking the show's return after a 14-month break following the exit of UK broadcaster Channel 5. The Varga-Murphy family—comprising JJ (played by Riley Bryant), Cara (portrayed by Sara West), Remi (Naomi Rukavina), and Dex (Marley Williams)—alongside Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton) and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) all made their first appearances in this episode. Haz’s dog, Trevor (Bodhi), was introduced two episodes later. Subsequently, Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) joined the cast in October, followed by Reece’s half-sister, Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis), in November.

JJ Varga-Murphy

JJ Varga-Murphy, portrayed by Riley Bryant, was introduced on 18 September 2023 as a member of the newly formed Varga-Murphy family. Alongside him are his parents, Cara (Sara West) and Remi (Naomi Rukavina), as well as his brother Dex (Marley Williams). Rukavina commented on the family’s close-knit dynamic both on-screen and off, while West emphasized their significance in representing the LGBTQIA+ community. Executive producer Jason Herbison pointed out that this family would introduce "many new stories to tell." During an interview, it was revealed that JJ is on a quest to find his biological father. West explained that JJ uncovered details motivating the family’s relocation to Ramsay Street, convinced that his father resides there despite his mother’s assertion that an American donor was involved.

JJ arrives with his family after proposing they rent out 24 Ramsay Street. Upon arrival, he interacts with locals including Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner), Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan), and Sadie’s father, Andrew Rodwell (Lloyd Will). Later, JJ confides in Dex that he suggested Ramsay Street because he suspects Andrew might be his biological father.

Cara Varga-Murphy

Cara Varga-Murphy, played by Sara West, made her debut on 18 September 2023. Announced on 22 June 2023, Cara is a member of the newly introduced Varga-Murphy family alongside her wife Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and their children JJ (Riley Bryant) and Dex (Marley Williams). West expressed pride in joining the cast and highlighted the family’s role in representing the LGBTQIA+ community. She described Cara as a fiercely loving and passionate mother who always acts with good intentions. Executive producer Jason Herbison remarked that introducing this family was an ideal way to launch a fresh era for Neighbours.

Laura Jane Turner and Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy selected the arrival of the Varga-Murphys as one of the top 16 LGBTQ+ television moments of the year. They praised how the family reflects changing societal attitudes toward rainbow families and acknowledged their potential to become memorable characters on Ramsay Street.

Remi Varga-Murphy

Remi Varga-Murphy, portrayed by Naomi Rukavina, made her debut on 18 September 2023. Introduced alongside Cara and their children, Remi is established as a medical professional. Rukavina conveyed her excitement about joining Neighbours and commended the show’s genuine depiction of diverse family units. Executive producer Jason Herbison highlighted the importance of bringing a new family into the series during this phase.

Shortly after arriving on Ramsay Street, Remi became an active member of the neighborhood, notably assisting neighbour Mary Ryan during a choking incident and introducing herself to Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) as a nurse. Aware of Cara’s difficulties in securing employment, Remi successfully convinced Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) to provide Cara with a job opportunity at Lassiters Hotel.

Dex Varga-Murphy

Dexter "Dex" Varga-Murphy, played by Marley Williams, also first appeared on 18 September 2023. His casting was revealed alongside the introduction of the Varga-Murphy family on 22 June 2023, marking Williams’ television debut. Dex is a member of this new family unit, which includes parents Cara (Sara West), Remi (Naomi Rukavina), and sibling JJ (Riley Bryant). West emphasized that the family represents the "beautiful LGBTQIA+ community," while Rukavina spoke about their unique closeness. Executive producer Jason Herbison expressed excitement about the Varga-Murphys and looked forward to exploring numerous fresh storylines through them.

Reece Sinclair

Reece Sinclair, enacted by Mischa Barton, was introduced on 18 September 2023. Her casting announcement came on 17 April 2023 as the first new character following the series revival. Reece is an American whose arrival in Erinsborough carries hidden motives. Barton shared her enthusiasm for joining such an iconic show and taking on a role characterized by unpredictability and complexity. Executive producer Jason Herbison anticipated that viewers worldwide would warmly receive her character. Although Barton had not previously watched Neighbours, she was familiar with it through Kylie Minogue and felt that Reece suited her well. Reece’s initial storyline spanned ten weeks, concluding on 23 November, with social media hints suggesting she might return in the future.

Haz Devkar

Hari "Haz" Devkar, brought to life by Shiv Palekar, debuted on 18 September 2023. The casting was announced via the show’s social media platforms on 7 June 2023. Haz arrives as the new manager of Harold's Café and owns a dog named Trevor (Bodie). Upon moving to Ramsay Street, Haz shares a house at Number 32 with established characters Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux). The producers framed this trio as housemates cohabiting for three months, each maintaining separate careers but fostering a harmonious living arrangement.

The writers quickly positioned Haz as a possible romantic interest for Mackenzie, who is still coping with the loss of her husband, Hendrix Greyson (Ben Turland), two years earlier. Despite her past grief, Mackenzie is portrayed as open to moving forward. Stone described their dynamic as a "will they? won’t they?" tension, emphasizing Haz’s attributes—being "kind," "genuine," "funny," and "down to earth"—which resonate with Mackenzie’s desire for lightness after trauma. Palekar explained that Haz holds deep admiration for Mackenzie, valuing qualities like honesty, fairness, and compassion.

The storyline also explores relationship complexities, including Mackenzie forming bonds with Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) and Billie Alessio (Georgia Walters), while Haz’s close connection to his dog Trevor introduces friction with Billie.

Trevor

Trevor, played by Bodhi, made his first appearance on 20 September 2023 as the canine companion of Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar). Announced prior to the show's return through the official Neighbours X account, Trevor upholds the series' tradition of including a dog as part of the storyline. Bodhi is a Groodle—a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle—supplied by the animal talent agency "Paws on Film" and trained by Luke Hura, who has previously worked with other on-screen pets such as Bouncer. Hura characterizes Bodhi as intelligent, though sometimes prone to distraction during shoots. Lauren Sellwood also contributed as the animal wrangler for Trevor's scenes. Creator Shiv Palekar described Trevor as a "stunning" catalyst for delightful chaos who captivates every scene he is in.

In 2024, the narrative introduced Alyssa Gavalas (Imogen Sage), Trevor's original caretaker. She recognizes Trevor while he is being walked by Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) and reveals that his initial name was Bodie. Alyssa attempts to reclaim her lost dog, which causes Haz to worry about losing Trevor and seek legal counsel.

Trevor is portrayed as a rescue dog with anxiety issues, leading to complications at Haz’s workplace, Harold's Café. These include health and safety concerns due to dog hair contaminating food and damage to customers’ belongings. Mackenzie Hargreaves agrees to look after Trevor at her home because of his separation anxiety. Tensions arise when Haz’s girlfriend Billie Alessio locks Trevor outside overnight, resulting in their breakup. Later, Haz’s subsequent partner Holly Hoyland damages a scarf and falsely accuses Trevor, but Haz uncovers the truth. After Alyssa contacts Haz via Byron, he initially resists returning Trevor but eventually agrees. However, when Trevor runs away back to Haz and exhibits signs of missing home, the Gavalas family decides to permanently leave him with Haz.

Eden Shaw

Eden Shaw, portrayed by Costa D'Angelo, was introduced on 16 October 2023 as a potential romantic interest for Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone). First appearing at The Waterhole under the name "Ed," Eden quickly develops romantic tension with Mackenzie. It is later revealed that Eden is Holly Hoyland’s (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) ex-boyfriend, whose complicated history with Holly fuels much of the ongoing drama. D'Angelo described Eden as a "troubled individual," while Armstrong Hall mentioned that Eden treated Holly poorly.

OK! magazine referred to Eden as a "bad boy" and emphasized his central role during the show’s flashback week, which delves into events occurring during Neighbours’ hiatus. Armstrong Hall disclosed that Eden was Holly’s first love; they met in the UK and traveled together to Australia. Holly intended to introduce Eden to her parents but postponed after an uncomfortable encounter with Izzy Hoyland and Shane Ramsay. Instead, Eden, Holly, and their friend Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) went backpacking in search of freedom and youth. Their friendship deepened over more than a year but ended painfully when Holly discovered Eden had been unfaithful with Krista.

Following his meeting with Mackenzie, Eden takes up work at Yorokobi Winery. Upon spotting Holly, he flees and steals Mackenzie’s rings along with bags belonging to friends. Holly and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) recover most of the stolen property; however, Eden locks Holly inside a shed, assaults Haz, and escapes before police arrive. Further incidents include Eden knocking out Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner), triggering a police search that uncovers his involvement.

It comes to light that Eden betrayed Holly by cheating with Krista a year earlier. After Melanie Pearson pushed Krista into a pool causing injury, Eden blackmailed Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) into keeping Krista’s accident secret. Although Krista survived, she remained under Eden’s control. Holly and her friends eventually locate Krista at an estate belonging to deceased relatives; subsequently, Eden is arrested.

After serving time in prison, Eden confronts Krista and her boyfriend Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), revealing he knows about her pregnancy. A confrontation between Eden and Leo ensues; during this fight David Tanaka (Takaya Honda) intervenes and both fall off a cliff. David insists on rescuing Eden first but dies in the process. Eden survives surgery but refuses to explain how he found Krista. Later Paul admits he informed Eden about Krista’s pregnancy and intentions, indirectly leading to David’s death. Weakened from surgery, Eden escapes from hospital custody and takes Melanie hostage with a scalpel, prompting a police standoff. Toadie Rebecchi intervenes by subduing Eden, freeing Melanie, after which Eden is rearrested.

Krista Sinclair

Krista Sinclair, portrayed by Majella Davis, made her first appearance on 13 November 2023. She is introduced as the half-sister of Reece Sinclair (played by Mischa Barton) and was at the heart of a mystery plotline prior to her debut. Barton disclosed that Reece's arrival in Erinsborough was motivated by her search for Krista. On 21 November, after it was revealed that Krista had survived on-screen, official Neighbours social media channels confirmed that Davis would remain in the role under a contract spanning one year. Davis was added to the opening credits beginning 27 November. Before securing this role, she had auditioned for the parts of Chloe Brennan and Nicolette Stone. For her portrayal of Krista, Davis was longlisted for the "Best Daytime Star" category at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards.

Krista shares friendships with characters Holly Hoyland (played by Lucinda Armstrong Hall) and Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo). Their relationships are explored during a special flashback week created to provide additional context during Neighbours' broadcast break. Armstrong Hall described their connection as a youthful escape, noting that Krista and Holly developed a close friendship over a year, while Krista’s bond with Eden grows more intimate, culminating in a significant betrayal.

On 12 November 2023, Amazon Freevee released a trailer spotlighting Reece’s quest to find Krista, which included an image of Krista alongside Holly and Eden, confirming their association.

In the digital series Ramsay Street Revelations, Davis characterized Krista as sociable, lively, and unconventional, embracing a party-centric lifestyle. She mentioned that she only realized the familial connection to Barton’s character after noting their shared last name. Krista is hesitant to become involved in the family enterprise, which drives her journey to Ramsay Street as a means of avoidance. Davis hinted at numerous challenges ahead for Krista, including potential storylines involving redemption.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context
21 September	Mary Ryan	Carissa McPherson	A woman who receives assistance from Remi Varga-Murphy and Karl Kennedy after choking on food at The Waterhole.
2 October 2023–12 March 2024	Billie Alessio	Georgia Walters	Engages in a relationship with Haz Devkar after meeting through an online dating app. Their romance ends due to disputes involving Haz's dog, Trevor. Subsequently, Billie is disqualified from the Lassiters Lie-In contest for sabotaging Haz.
12 October 2023–3 January 2024	Noah Dawes	Zane Ciarma	A student who bullies Dex Varga-Murphy because he has two mothers; receives a three-day suspension. Attends a New Year's Eve party where underage drinking is uncovered.
12 October	Pete Dawes	Gabriel Egan	Father of Noah Dawes who challenges his son's suspension and threatens to limit his school attendance.
	Monique Fallon	Lily Mooney	Seen from afar by Reece Sinclair.
18 October	Sandy Phillips	Juliana Begue	A housekeeper at Lassiters Hotel, coordinating lost property with Katrina Marshall.
23 October	Garrett Wilkins	Scott Reid	Participates in a tour of Erinsborough High School.
	Antonia Hammond	Katie Weston	Also joins the high school tour group.
	James Douglas	Andy Steuart	An architect inspecting the proposed development site at Erinsborough High School alongside Terese Willis.
23 October 2023–12 December 2024	Tess Carmichael	Anica Calida	Oversees the Sinclair group as manager; they are principal investors in Lassiters. Monitors Reece Sinclair's activities and later collaborates with Heath Royce in a scheme against Krista Sinclair and Lassiters. Following police involvement and a violent confrontation, Tess is arrested and accepts responsibility.
25 October	Tina Marin	Paris Valentino	Employed at the Lassiters Hotel Dayspa; provides guest information to Reece Sinclair. Initially dismissed for poor performance but later reinstated due to political influence involving her father, #Anthony Marin.
25 October 2023-27 March 2024	Penny Shrewster	Jessica Husband	Works at Lassiters but causes disturbances resulting in termination. Attempts theft and is suspected of endangering Krista Sinclair, leading to serious repercussions.
1-15 November 2023, 21 November 2024-	Hudson Greene	Nikita Chronis	Mechanic at Erinsborough#Fitzgerald Motors, involved in car sales connected to Reece Sinclair's investigation. Continues as manager after ownership changes; mentors apprentice Max Ramsay.
1 November	Theo Kaloudis	Lawrence Hawkins	A high school student who sells Reece Sinclair a vehicle previously owned by her missing sister, Krista.
9 November	Ted Munce	David Simes	Receptionist at a backpackers' hostel who fails to recognize Krista Sinclair from a photo shown by Reece and Byron Stone.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Context

|- ! scope="row"| 16 November 2023, 30 September-4 December 2024

| Senior Sergeant Tony Thompson 
| Damien Aylward 
| Conducts questioning of Paul Robinson regarding Krista Sinclair's death; oversees various police operations including an armed siege and internal disciplinary measures; assists Krista in locating an acquaintance. 
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 20 November 
| Gillian Byrne 
| Sally Cheng 
| Councillor in Erinsborough attending discussions about merging a school with an aged care facility. 
|-
| Anthony Marin 
| Gregory Caine 
| Conservative councillor bribed by Paul Robinson to back the proposal in return for reinstating his daughter's employment. 
|-
! scope="row"| 4 December 
| Neil Martello 
| Steven Oktaras 
| Security guard hired by Terese Willis to patrol Erinsborough High School amid protests; unintentionally causes injury to Melanie Pearson. 
|-
! scope="row"| 20–21 December 
| Tamara Daine 
| Jodie Dry 
| Former client of Byron Stone’s escort service who tries to re-engage his services but is advised against it following Byron’s recent breakup. 
|}