Tess Carmichael
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Jason Herbison (executive producer) |
| Website | 10play |
Neighbours is an Australian soap opera broadcast on Amazon Freevee and Network 10 within Australia. This section outlines the characters introduced in 2023, all developed under the guidance of executive producer Jason Herbison. The show’s 39th season commenced with Episode 8904 on 18 September 2023, marking a return after a 14-month break caused by the departure of UK broadcaster Channel 5. The Varga-Murphy family—comprising JJ (Riley Bryant), Cara (Sara West), Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and Dex Varga-Murphy (Marley Williams)—alongside Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton) and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) made their debut in the season opener. Haz’s dog, Trevor (Bodhi), was introduced two episodes later. In October, Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) joined the cast, followed by Reece’s half-sister, Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis), arriving in November.
JJ Varga-Murphy
JJ Varga-Murphy, brought to life by Riley Bryant, first appeared on 18 September 2023 as a member of the newly formed Varga-Murphy family. He is part of a household including his parents Cara (Sara West) and Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and his brother Dex (Marley Williams). JJ’s character contributes to the series’ embrace of diverse narratives, particularly highlighting LGBTQIA+ themes. Executive producer Jason Herbison emphasized the family’s potential to deliver engaging storylines. JJ’s arc centers on uncovering the identity of his biological father, which prompts the family’s relocation to Ramsay Street. Cara explains that JJ’s father is an American sperm donor; however, JJ suspects that Andrew Rodwell, a local resident, might be his real father.
Upon settling into No. 24 Ramsay Street—recommended by JJ himself—he quickly forms connections with neighbours Nell Rebecchi and Sadie Rodwell, as well as Sadie’s father Andrew Rodwell. JJ confides in his brother Dex about his doubts regarding Andrew’s paternity versus the donor Cara mentioned.
Cara Varga-Murphy
Cara Varga-Murphy, portrayed by Sara West, was introduced on 18 September 2023. Her casting was revealed on 22 June 2023 alongside other members of the Varga-Murphy family: her wife Remi (Naomi Rukavina) and their sons JJ (Riley Bryant) and Dex (Marley Williams). West expressed pride in joining Neighbours and highlighted the significance of portraying a lesbian couple to authentically represent the LGBTQIA+ community. She characterized Cara as fiercely loving and passionate about her family, motivated by sincere intentions. Executive producer Jason Herbison noted that introducing this family marked a meaningful new chapter for Neighbours.
Journalists Laura Jane Turner and Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy recognized the Varga-Murphys among the year’s top sixteen LGBTQ+ television moments, commending their role in transforming perceptions of rainbow families and acknowledging Cara and Remi’s promise as memorable Ramsay Street residents.
Remi Varga-Murphy
Remi Varga-Murphy, enacted by Naomi Rukavina, also debuted on 18 September 2023. Introduced simultaneously with her wife Cara and their children JJ and Dex, Remi’s casting announcement coincided with Cara’s reveal. Rukavina expressed enthusiasm about joining Neighbours and praised the series for its authentic depiction of diverse family structures. Executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed that bringing this family into the storyline aligned with the show’s refreshed creative direction. Professionally, Remi is a doctor, as disclosed in her official introduction video.
Shortly after arriving in Ramsay Street, Remi quickly becomes involved in community life by assisting neighbour Mary Ryan during a choking emergency and formally introducing herself to Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher). Observing Cara struggling to find employment, Remi successfully negotiates with Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) to secure a position for Cara at Lassiters Hotel.
Dex Varga-Murphy
Dexter "Dex" Varga-Murphy, brought to life by Marley Williams, made his first appearance on 18 September 2023. His casting, alongside the unveiling of the Varga-Murphy family, was revealed on 22 June 2023. This role represents Williams' debut on television. The family unit features parents Cara (Sara West), Remi (Naomi Rukavina), and sibling JJ (Riley Bryant). West emphasized the family's role in representing the "beautiful LGBTQIA+ community," while Rukavina highlighted their close-knit nature. Executive producer Jason Herbison expressed excitement about the fresh narratives the Varga-Murphys would introduce.
Reece Sinclair
Reece Sinclair, portrayed by Mischa Barton, first appeared on 18 September 2023. Her casting was announced on 17 April 2023 as the initial new character following the series' revival. Reece is an American whose arrival in town conceals more than meets the eye. Barton shared her enthusiasm for joining this iconic show and portraying a complex, unpredictable character. Executive producer Jason Herbison anticipated that audiences worldwide would warmly receive her role. Although Barton had not previously watched the series, she was aware of it through Kylie Minogue's participation and found Reece suited her well. Reece's initial guest arc lasted ten weeks, concluding on 23 November, with social media hints implying a possible future return.
Haz Devkar
Hari "Haz" Devkar, enacted by Shiv Palekar, made his debut on 18 September 2023. Palekar’s casting was publicized on 7 June 2023 via official social media channels. Haz arrives as the new manager of Harold's Café and owns a dog named Trevor (Bodie). Upon moving in, he shares residence at Number 32 Ramsay Street with established characters Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone) and Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux). The trio has been cohabiting for three months, maintaining positive relations despite varied professional lives. Haz relocated from Geelong seeking a house share arrangement.
The writers positioned Haz as a potential romantic interest for Mackenzie, who is still coping with the loss of her husband Hendrix Greyson two years prior. Mackenzie is portrayed as ready to embrace new beginnings, with Stone underscoring the promising chemistry between them. In the Ramsay Street Revelations segment, Stone described Mackenzie’s journey into romance as pivotal, highlighting their "will they? won't they?" tension. Mackenzie is attracted to Haz’s kindness, sincerity, humor, and grounded personality—qualities that contrast with her previous trauma. Palekar noted Haz’s profound respect and admiration for Mackenzie, valuing honesty, fairness, and altruism.
The narrative explores relationship complexities including Mackenzie’s connection with Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo) and an interrupted romance with Billie Alessio (Georgia Walters), complicated further by Haz’s preference for his dog Trevor over Billie.
Trevor
Trevor, played by Bodhi, made his first appearance on 20 September 2023 as Haz Devkar’s (Shiv Palekar) canine companion. His introduction was announced through the official Neighbours X account ahead of the series’ return, continuing the tradition of featuring a dog character. Bodhi is a Groodle—a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle—provided by the talent agency "Paws on Film" and trained by Luke Hura, who has prepared several previous on-screen pets like Bouncer. Hura described Bodhi as intelligent but occasionally distracted during filming sessions. Lauren Sellwood also assisted as animal wrangler during Trevor’s scenes. Creator Palekar characterized Trevor as "gorgeous" and an "agent of chaos" destined to captivate every scene.
In 2024, a storyline introduced Trevor’s original owner, Alyssa Gavalas (Imogen Sage). Alyssa recognizes Trevor—originally named Bodie—while he is out with Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) and seeks to reunite with her lost dog. Haz becomes anxious about losing Trevor and seeks legal counsel.
Trevor is portrayed as an anxious rescue dog; consequently, Haz brings him to work at Harold's Café despite health regulations. His presence causes disruptions such as chewing Mackenzie Hargreaves’ pillows and shedding hair in food and beverages. Mackenzie agrees to look after him at home; however, Trevor struggles when left alone, damaging Billie Alessio’s (Georgia Walters) jumper. After Billie locks him outside overnight, Haz ends their relationship. Subsequently, Haz's next partner Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) destroys a scarf belonging to Mackenzie and falsely accuses Trevor; Haz later uncovers the truth.
When Alyssa tracks down Trevor through Byron and requests Haz’s contact details, he initially resists but consents after meeting Alyssa’s son. Trevor briefly returns to Alyssa but ultimately runs back to Haz, prompting the Gavalas family to decide to leave Trevor permanently with him due to his evident homesickness.
Eden Shaw
Eden Shaw, portrayed by Costa D'Angelo, made his first appearance on 16 October 2023 as a potential romantic interest for Mackenzie Hargreaves (Georgie Stone). Introduced at The Waterhole, he initially goes by "Ed" before it is unveiled that he is Holly Hoyland's (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) troubled former boyfriend, playing a pivotal role in ongoing storylines. D'Angelo characterized Eden as a "complex individual," with Armstrong Hall commenting on the poor treatment Eden inflicted on Holly.
OK! Magazine described Eden as a "bad boy," emphasizing his significant involvement during the show's flashback week, which revisits events occurring during the series’ hiatus. Armstrong Hall explained that Eden and Holly first met in the UK and subsequently traveled to Australia together. Holly planned to introduce Eden to her parents but delayed after witnessing familial conflicts. Instead, Holly, Eden, and Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) embarked on a backpacking trip, forging a close yet ultimately fractured bond when Holly discovered an affair between Eden and Krista.
Eden flirts with Mackenzie and manages to obtain employment at Yorokobi Winery. Upon encountering Holly, he flees and steals Mackenzie’s rings along with bags belonging to her friends. Holly and Haz Devkar (Shiv Palekar) recover most of the stolen belongings from a property, but Eden escapes following a violent altercation. Subsequently, Eden assaults Nell Rebecchi (Ayisha Salem-Towner), prompting police involvement after Nell goes missing. Holly is stunned to learn Eden was responsible for Nell’s injuries.
A year earlier, Eden betrayed Holly by cheating with Krista. After Melanie Pearson (Lucinda Cowden) pushed Krista into a pool causing injury, Eden coerced Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) into covering up the incident. Although Krista survived, she remained under Eden’s control until Holly and her friends rescued her from an abandoned estate, leading to Eden’s arrest.
Following his release from prison, Eden confronts Krista and her partner Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), revealing he is aware of her pregnancy. A physical confrontation ensues involving Leo and David Tanaka (Takaya Honda), resulting in David’s death after both fall from a cliff. While Eden survives surgery, he refuses to disclose how he discovered Krista’s whereabouts. Paul later admits that he informed Eden about Krista’s pregnancy and intentions, inadvertently contributing to David's demise.
Despite his medical condition, Eden escapes from hospital custody and takes Melanie hostage using a scalpel, triggering a police standoff. Toadie Rebecchi intervenes, subdues Eden, rescues Melanie, and ensures Eden’s re-arrest.
Krista Sinclair
Krista Sinclair, portrayed by Majella Davis, was introduced on 13 November 2023 as the half-sister of Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton). Her arrival was part of a mysterious storyline; Barton revealed that Reece came to Erinsborough searching for Krista. After surviving an apparent on-screen death on 21 November, official social media confirmed Davis's ongoing involvement under a year-long contract. From 27 November 2023 onward, Davis was featured in the show's opening credits. Previously, she auditioned unsuccessfully for roles including Chloe Brennan and Nicolette Stone. For this portrayal, Davis earned a longlist nomination for "Best Daytime Star" at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards.
Krista shares a friendship with Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall) and Eden Shaw (Costa D'Angelo), with their dynamic explored during a special flashback week designed to reveal narratives from the period when Neighbours was off-air. Armstrong Hall described their relationship as a youthful escape filled with fun; Krista and Holly grew close over the course of a year. Krista also becomes romantically involved with Eden, creating a "devastating" betrayal. On 12 November 2023, Amazon Freevee released a trailer spotlighting Reece’s quest to find Krista, confirming their connection.
In the digital series Ramsay Street Revelations, Davis characterized Krista as lively, entertaining, and eccentric—embodying the spirit of a partygoer. She only realized Krista’s link to Barton's character upon noticing their shared surname. Reluctant to participate in the family business, Krista arrives on Ramsay Street seeking to avoid it. Davis promised "many twists and turns" in Krista’s storyline with opportunities for redemption.
Others
| Date(s) | Character | Actor | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 September | Mary Ryan | Carissa McPherson | After experiencing choking during a meal at The Waterhole, she receives aid from Remi Varga-Murphy and Karl Kennedy. |
| 2 October 2023–12 March 2024 | Billie Alessio | Georgia Walters | Begins dating Haz Devkar following an introduction through an online dating app. Their relationship deteriorates due to disagreements involving Haz’s dog, culminating in Billie being disqualified from a contest after allegedly tampering with Haz’s food. |
| 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 event where underage drinking results in removal from the party. |
| 12 October | Pete Dawes | Gabriel Egan | Noah’s father, confronts school principal Jane Harris regarding his son’s suspension and threatens to reduce his school attendance. |
| Monique Fallon | Lily Mooney | Spotted from afar by Reece Sinclair. | |
| 18 October | Sandy Phillips | Juliana Begue | Works as a housekeeper at Lassiters Hotel, helps with managing lost property alongside Katrina Marshall. |
| 23 October | Garrett Wilkins | Scott Reid | Participates in a guided visit of Erinsborough High School. |
| Antonia Hammond | Katie Weston | Also takes part in the school tour. | |
| James Douglas | Andy Steuart | Architect commissioned by Terese Willis, inspects the proposed development site at Erinsborough High School. | |
| 23 October 2023–12 December 2024 | Tess Carmichael | Anica Calida | Oversees the Sinclair group's interests as the manager, key investors in Lassiters. Supervises hotel operations and monitors investor Reece Sinclair. Engages in fraudulent activities with associate Heath Royce, resulting in legal repercussions and a police escort back to Erinsborough where she accepts accountability. |
| 25 October | Tina Marin | Paris Valentino | Employed at the Lassiters Hotel Dayspa, shares information with Reece Sinclair. Initially dismissed for poor performance but reinstated due to political intervention by her father, councillor Anthony Marin. |
| 25 October 2023-27 March 2024 | Penny Shrewster | Jessica Husband | Employee at Lassiters who causes disturbances leading to termination; suspected of attempted theft and retaliatory actions against hotel management. |
| 1-15 November 2023, 21 November 2024- | Hudson Greene | Nikita Chronis | Mechanic at Fitzgerald Motors, involved in vehicle sales and company transitions. Continues as manager under new ownership and mentors apprentice Max Ramsay. |
| 1 November | Theo Kaloudis | Lawrence Hawkins | Student who sells Reece Sinclair a car that previously belonged to her missing sister Krista. |
| 9 November | Ted Munce | David Simes | Receptionist at a backpackers' hostel who does not recognize a photo of Krista Sinclair. |
| Date(s) | Character | Actor | Context |
|---|
|- ! scope="row"|
| Senior Sergeant Tony Thompson | Damien Aylward | Police officer engaged in investigations related to Paul Robinson and Krista Sinclair's death; handles incidents including an armed siege and internal disciplinary measures; assists Krista in locating a friend.
|- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 20 November
| Gillian Byrne | Sally Cheng | Councillor present at the proposal meeting concerning the integration of school and aged care facilities. |- | Anthony Marin | Gregory Caine | Conservative councillor bribed by Paul Robinson to endorse the proposal in exchange for reinstating his daughter’s employment.
|- ! scope="row"|
| Neil Martello | Steven Oktaras | Security guard employed to oversee Erinsborough High during protests; involved in an incident injuring Melanie Pearson.
|- ! scope="row"|
| Tamara Daine | Jodie Dry | Former client of Byron Stone’s escort services; attempts to rehire him for a vacation, but is discouraged by Byron’s sister following his recent breakup.
|- |}