Neighbours star Alan Fletcher, who played Dr Karl Kennedy in the soap for 28 years, has said he is "thinking of going into medicine" in real life after the show's finale.
The long-running Australian soap, which aired on Channel 5 in the UK and focused on the fictional characters living on Ramsay Street, ended on Friday 29 July after 37 years on air.
Alan was one of the longest-serving and most-loved cast members on the show, having played Dr. Karl for nearly all of the programme's decades-spanning run.
Dr Kennedy first came onto screens in 1994 served as the local GP for many of the central characters in the fictional Ramsay Street.
It seems his character has inspired Alan to think about going into medicine in real life after the show finally came to an end, as he contemplated his future not acting on the soap.
Speaking on Magic Radio Breakfast after the broadcast of the final episode, Alan was asked if he ever took on the role of doctor off-set.
He said: “I try not to. But in fact, while I’ve been on Neighbours, I religiously don’t give medical advice, because I’m really worried of the authorities tracking me down.
“But now that I’ve finished Neighbours, I’m thinking about actually going into medicine.”
Reflecting on the finale, he added: “All I can say to you is that we have already had a celebration of a show that people have loved for 37 years.
“We want to see tears in the eyes in lounge rooms all over the UK. That’s our objective.
“As we’re saying thank you to the audience for being on the journey with us, it’s a great way to finish, I think it’s a beautifully crafted finish. Hopefully people will be happy with it.”
Alan also praised the show for launching the careers of pop stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan as well as Hollywood actors Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie.
“The treat, to me, is the pinnacle of what Neighbours can achieve in terms of training people and guiding them,” he said, when asked about Oscar-nominee Margot, who has since starred in Hollywood films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and I, Tonya.
He added: “Mind you, when she walked into the studio very early on… Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan, literally turned and went ‘OK, she’s [Margot] the bees knees’.
“She’s got everything. She can do comedy, she can do wonderful high drama.
“Margot is a natural talent that was always destined to go to the top. She’s just marvellous, absolutely marvellous.”
The double-episode finale on Friday on Channel 5 attracted an average audience of 2.5 million, according to the broadcaster.
Channel 5 said this was the highest viewing figure for the show on the channel since it moved over in 2008.
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