Jason Donovan "cried" when he heard his daughter had been cast in ‘Neighbours’.
The 51-year-old star – who rose to fame playing Scott Robinson on the soap for three years until his exit in 1989 – is delighted to see his daughter Jemma Donovan, 19, playing Harlow Robinson after making her first appearance last summer.
He told The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine: "I remember getting the phone call from my agent saying, ‘I’ve got some news’, and I cried.
"It just made me so happy that she has an opportunity, that there is a foundation, and a good reason for it. ‘Neighbours’ is the perfect home for Jemma."
While Jason is "very proud" of his daughter – and she’s delighted to continue his soap legacy – Jemma is keen to earn her own plaudits rather than relying on the Donovan name.
She said: "I love that people associate us together, but I want to show people I’m not just on ‘Neighbours’ for my last name.
"I need to prove to people that I can do this. That was also great because it gave me a lot of drive."
Meanwhile, Jason – who was involved in a famous storyline when he married Charlene Mitchell, played by Kylie Minogue – previously insisted a soap comeback isn’t really on the cards.
Scott and Charlene’s wedding, which aired in the UK in 1988, was watched by 20 million viewers – and he thinks the "publicity" would overshadow the story.
He explained: "It doesn’t feel like something I need to do. I have absolute respect for the show and what it’s given me, but the problem with going back would be that the publicity becomes bigger than the moment."
Jason Donovan ‘cried’ when his daughter joined Neighbours cast
