Glen Donnelly (Richard Huggett) has had his fair share of drama in Neighbours, since returning to the show.
The character, whose previous stint Ramsay Street was back in 1990, staged a memorable comeback last year, and has gone on to feature in a number of huge storylines since.
From issues with addiction, to making contact with long-lost daughter Kiri Hua Durant (Gemma Bird Mattheson), and of course his attraction to Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou), it’s been quite a year Glen!
Neighbours’ untimely end, however, is almost upon us, after Channel 5 controversially decided to drop it from their schedules in favour of ‘original UK drama’, which the broadcaster claims has a ‘strong appeal’ for audiences.
The show finishes out in a delightful way this Friday (July 29), with an hour-long outing that celebrates everything Neighbours is, was and still could’ve been.
Before the big finale, however, Metro.co.uk caught up with several of the show’s cast members, including actor Richard, to discuss his thoughts on Neighbours’ ending, as well as what lies in store for Glen before the credits roll on the final episode.
How are you feeling about Neighbours coming to an end?
It’s funny – Today there were a few of us hanging out the back of a set, having a chat, and I was just thinking that things are getting real now. That was with Rebekah and Jackie [Woodburne]. For them I think it must be really hard because they’ve been on the show so long. It’s getting sad now – everyday its like: “This is the last time we do this!”.
Neighbours is one of those shows you thought would run forever!
Oh absolutely. Even though we’ve known for some time, it’s still a shock and it seems to surreal that it is coming to an end.
Do you think the finale will be a proper celebration of the show and its success over the years?
Yes! I refuse to read it until the day before we shoot it, but I’ve heard that it is really celebratory and poignant, and beautifully written.
There are a number of characters and faces coming back – are you excited to see so many old faces and is there any of the returnees you’d like to share a scene with?
I’d love to share a scene with Kylie and Jason, but I don’t think I will be [laughs].
It’s 30-odd years since I was on Neighbours first, so there is a lot of people who have been on it since who I don’t know. I know them as actors, but not as characters, so there are a few scenes coming up with a few different characters Glen doesn’t know, but that he’s going to meet!
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Have you enjoyed playing out the Kiri and Glen storyline?
Oh yes! That’s been really good. The whole secretiveness of it all. Her finding out but also the way she founds out! The whole downfall for Glen and Paul and for Kiri – and everyone that was involved [laughs]. That was really great to play, especially all the vineyard stuff when she did find out.
Before the credits roll on the final episode, are you hopeful that Glen and Kiri might start to form something of a relationship?
I would hope there is some sort of resolution. For Glen, it would be his ultimate dream that he’d be her father, or in her life at least, and that she is in his life.
You took part in some really dramatic scenes over the past few months, including when Glen ended up injuring himself while working up at the vineyard!
That kicked off another storyline for him as well, because of his injuries, he’s being told that he should be taking painkillers, but he’s scared of getting addicted to painkillers, so there’s that whole storyline that goes along [ahead of the finale].
What was it like to film that scene where the barrels fell on him?
That was pretty technical, to film! [laughs]. We had a stunt guy there, because Glen did fall, so I had a double who sort of looked like me I guess [laughs]. Same height at least! That was fun to film, but it was a long cold morning, laying on the concrete for hours.
You’ve been at the centre of some incredible storylines over the years – do you have a favourite?
I think my most favourite is when I first came back this time around, surprising Paul and hooked up with Terese. Especially because we were filming on location, that will stick with me the most.
Do you think Terese and Glen will end up together, or do you think there’s a part of Terese that will always be drawn back to Paul?
I think Glen is more in love with Terese more than she needs him. I don’t know if they’ll end up together, but she does have a connection with Paul, and that’s always in the back of Glen’s mind. Glen and Paul can’t bear each other, especially since Paul told Kiri the truth. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
The relationship between Glen and Paul is such an interesting one – would you like to see them back on the same page before the final episode?
I think they’ve accepted that they are past that. Civility will prevail, in some way.
Will it be difficult to say goodbye to Glen?
Yes. But for me, I’ve only been back for a year, so it’s showbusiness. Things come and things go, and you move on. Even now you’re going for other roles, so you’re thinking about the future. I will be sad to see him go – he’s a flawed character, but it’s always so good to play flawed characters.
What’s next for you, do you have anything planned for when the show ends?
Nothing planned. Just a big road trip at the moment. I’m moving back to Brisbane, because I moved to Brisbane from Sydney about five years ago, and then I was in Melbourne for a year, so I’m going back to Brisbane. Me and my wife will probably go via South Australia and take a couple of weeks to drive back, and just have a bit of a holiday!
Neighbours: The Finale airs Friday July 29 at 9pm on Channel 5.
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