Alan Dale is returning to ‘Neighbours’ 25 years after his character died.
The 71-year-old actor – whose soap character Jim Robinson was killed off after personal rows with television bosses over his salary – will be returning to Ramsay Street for a Christmas special but has refused to reveal exactly how the writers have decided to bring the character back to life.
Alan told the Sun: "I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for people so I’m not going to say much except that I was thrilled to be there!
"I’m pleased they asked me back because being out there on the set again after all those years just laid a whole load of ghosts to rest for me.
"I had some unpleasant times with the producers and things. But I realised when I was walking around the set, seeing a load of old friends that I’d work with back in the day but were still there, that the show had been really very, very, advantageous for me personally."
His character Jim was father to sons Scott and Paul – played by Jason Donovan and Stefan Dennis – and exited the Australian soap in 1993 after he collapsed on the kitchen floor and died of a heart attack.
The actor gushed that he loved working with his "dear old friend" Stefan who he revealed he has kept in touch with since leaving the show.
He said: "We’re in touch every couple of months because we’re friends but it was just so much fun."
Alan moved to America in 2000 because he was struggling to find work in his home country and went on to become an American television veteran.
He has since had notable roles in ’24’, ‘The West Wing’, ‘Lost’, ‘Ugly Betty’, ‘The OC’, ‘Dynasty’, ‘Entourage’ and ‘ER’ and has also appeared in top Hollywood movies such as ‘Star Trek: Nemesis’, ‘Captain America’ and The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo’ amongst others.
Alan Dale’s dead character to return to Neighbours for Christmas special
