Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison has revealed the reason behind Ryan Moloney’s departure from the long-running Australian soap opera.
Moloney, 44, who plays long-running character Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi, announced in June that he would be leaving Ramsay Street after nearly 30 years.
After making the announcement, Moloney recently said the decision to leave the soap was not his choice.
Herbison has now revealed that the reason behind Moloney’s departure was the natural progression of the show.
“Like all long-running shows around the world, we want to constantly evolve to better adapt to what’s happening in the world and keep the production model fresh and sustainable,” Herbison said. Television Tonight.
“We want to keep viewers on their toes while still moving the stories forward in a natural way.”
Herbison added that while Toadie will be leaving Erinsborough, it may not be for good, as historical figures such as Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, frequently return to Ramsay Street.
“We recently welcomed Harold back to the show, as a semi-regular rather than full-time character. You can’t say he drowned in 1991,” he said.
Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison has revealed the reason for Ryan Moloney’s (pictured) departure from the long-running Australian soap.
‘Even though this may seem like the end for Toadie, anything is possible in the future.’
Speaking to the Australian soap opera website Back to the bay Moloney recently said he was grateful the decision to leave had been made for him.
“It wasn’t really my choice, it was theirs,” she told the publication.
She admitted that she had been wanting to leave the soap opera for “some time” but that its appeal had proven too great to resist.
“I’ve wanted to leave for a long time, but Neighbours is one of those jobs where you work with amazing people. They pay you really well. And if you had a friend who had one of those jobs, you’d be like, ‘Oh, mate, what are you doing? You’ve got to stay there. Hang in there as long as you can,'” he said.
Moloney added that while he had wanted to move on for some time, he had always found it difficult to say “no”.
“I’m very grateful that they made that decision for me, because I don’t think I could say no to a contract.”
Herbison has revealed that the reason behind Moloney’s departure was the natural progression of the show.
Moloney officially announced he would be leaving the show in June and hinted at his plans for the future.
“Hi, I’m Ryan Moloney, formerly Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi from Neighbours. That’s right, I said that earlier because after 30 years of playing Toadie, I’m leaving Ramsay Street,” Ryan said in the clip shared on Neighbours’ Instagram page.
‘Now, I can’t tell you what’s going to happen to the character, whether we’ll see him again or not.
“Maybe he can be the next Jim Robinson, or maybe he’ll be the next Harold Bishop and keep coming back over the years.”
He added that while Toadie will be leaving Erinsborough, it may not be for good as historical figures such as Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, frequently return to Ramsay Street.
Moloney added that while Toadie planned to say goodbye to Ramsay Street, he would remain a very important part of the Neighbours family.
“Although I won’t be able to tell you our fantastic stories in front of the camera, I hope to be able to tell them to you from the other side: behind the camera,” she said.
‘I’ve just started my training as a director and just finished filming my first episode as a director, so I really hope you enjoy it.’
Ending the clip with a heartfelt thank you to fans, Moloney added: “I’m going to miss you, I’m going to miss him and I’m going to miss Erinsborough, but whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss what’s going on in Ramsay Street.”
Moloney has become one of the most recognisable faces on Neighbours since he first appeared on Ramsay Street as Toadie in 1995.
He has been at the center of a number of dramatic and heartbreaking stories, including his tragic love story with Dee Bliss (Madeleine West).
Moloney’s final scenes are expected to air in September.
Moloney has become one of the most recognisable faces on Neighbours since he first appeared on Ramsay Street as Toadie in 1995.