Neighbours legend returning to soap despite retiring as Toadie just months ago

Ryan Moloney announced he was leaving his role as Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi behind after a lengthy 30-year stint on Neighbours, but he's not straying too far from the fold

Neighbours star Ryan Moloney is returning to the long-running Aussie soap, just months on from announcing his retirement from the show.

Ryan played much-loved character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi for 30 years, first appearing in Erinsborough as a fresh-faced 15-year-old. He had also briefly appeared the year before as small character Cyborg.

But it was taking on the role of Toadie that saw him rise to fame as a teenager in the soap - starting his career as many Australian celebrities did. But just a few months after he left the show, he's revealed he will return to Ramsay Street - this time behind the camera.

The 44-year-old has been spotted filming upcoming episodes for the show, directing his former castmates. One photo sees the actor in a scene with Susan Kennedy, who is played by Jackie Woodburne.

In another snap, obtained by industry blog Digital Spy, he could be seen filming with his on-screen wife Terese, portrayed by Rebekah Elmaloglou. It also appears another storyline witll see Toadfish's daughter Nell (Scarleyy Anderson) mark her 16th birthday.

Fans were devastated to hear that Toadie was leaving the show, with Ryan sharing a post that was then reposted by the Neighbours Instagram account.

He wrote: "After 30 years playing Toadie, I will be leaving Ramsay Street. I can't tell you what is happening to the character — maybe I could be the next Jim Robinson. Or maybe I'll be the next Harold Bishop and keep popping back over the years."

Ryan addressed his exit from Neighbours on Good Morning Britain back in August, reflecting on his lengthy stint on the show. he told hosts Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madeley: "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 with his character Toadie, and said of his future: "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!"

It comes as Melanie Pearson actress Lucinda Cowden also revealed she was leaving Neighbours, which was recently rebooted on Amazon Prime Video. Chatting to hosts Ben Bone and Ben Fenlon on the NeighBens YouTube show with , Lucinda shared "I'm unemployed! I'm off, it's true. I'm sorry."

She then let fans 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."

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