Neighbours - why have Nell and Hugo Rebecchi been recast?

Daniel Kilkelly

Neighbours spoilers follow from Tuesday's episode (September 19), which is streaming now on Amazon Freevee.

Neighbours fans had a reintroduction to Toadie Rebecchi's children Nell and Hugo in Tuesday's episode, but they were both looking different.

Although Nell and Hugo did appear briefly as wedding guests in Monday's big comeback for Neighbours, it wasn't until episode two that their identities were properly explained to viewers.

Scarlett Anderson played the original version of Nell from the character's birth in 2013, right up until the July 2022 finale episode.

Meanwhile, John Turner appeared as Hugo between 2018 and 2022.

hugo somers and nell rebecchi in neighbours
Fremantle - Channel 5

In the new-look Neighbours, Ayisha Salem-Towner has taken over the role of Nell, while Tanner Ellis-Anderson has been cast as Hugo.

The show newcomers are credited in the closing titles as semi-regulars, so we'll be seeing much more of them moving forward.

Neighbours' decision to recast Nell and Hugo was a necessity after show bosses decided on a two-year time jump twist for the new season.

As the events of the new episodes are set two years on from the day of Toadie's wedding to Melanie Pearson, show bosses naturally had to bring in older actors to play the roles.

nell, toadie and hugo rebecchi in neighbours
Amazon Freevee / Ray Messner

Announcing the news on social media recently, Neighbours chiefs said: "With new episodes of Neighbours jumping two years ahead, our Nelly and Hugo have grown up too.

"Introducing the wonderful Ayisha Salem-Towner and Tanner Ellis-Anderson, who we know you will fall in love with."

Speaking recently about the recasts, Ryan Moloney – who plays Toadie – told Digital Spy and other press: "I've got mixed emotions as I really loved the kids, the old lot. The old kids were born on the show and they never actively decided, 'Hey, I want to be an actor'.

"They had fun and we made it as fun as possible, but they missed out on their normal kid life because they were always in and out filming. I think it's really nice for them to go and be kids.

ryan moloney as toadie rebecchi in neighbours
Jane Zhang / Amazon Freevee

"The new kids who are a few years older now, they're actors. The content of the stuff that Ayisha has to carry and do, she's pretty phenomenal. I'm loving working with these new guys."

Neighbours fans can look forward to seeing how Nell and Hugo cope with Toadie's new marriage to Terese Willis, following Melanie's shock decision to walk out on the family.

Ryan added: "The relationship has to be believable. It's an interesting dynamic to have to immediately create with a child, that you are a family, but they're brilliant and it's only getting better."

Check out more of our Neighbours coverage:

Neighbours releases new episodes from Mondays to Thursdays for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US. In Australia, the show airs from Mondays to Thursdays at 4.30pm on Channel 10, with a 6.30pm repeat screening on 10 Peach.

Read more Neighbours coverage on our dedicated homepage

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