Neighbours star Janet Andrewartha dies
Janet Andrewartha, renowned for her role as Lyn Scully in Neighbours, has passed away at the age of 72.
Joining the popular Australian soap in 1999 as the matriarch of the Scully family, Andrewartha left the show in 2006 but made several returns, with her last appearance in Erinsborough occurring in 2019.
The official Instagram account of Neighbours paid tribute to her, stating: “Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha. Cherished by fans for her role as Ramsay Street’s Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her extensive body of work, including her notable role as Reb Keane in Prisoner.”
Jackie Woodburne, who portrayed Susan Kennedy on the soap, described Andrewartha as “One of the finest actors of her generation and an extraordinary woman. Passionate, political, curious, delightfully eccentric, generous, and fun. She was a steadfast friend to me for over 45 years. I will miss her every day.”
Stefan Dennis, known for his role as Paul Robinson, expressed his sadness, saying: “I am so very upset to lose the lovely Janet. She truly was an exceptional actress who was a pleasure to work with and be around. We will all miss you dearly.”
Janet Andrewartha was also known for her roles in other Australian hits including A Country Practice and Blue Heelers.
She also had a successful theatrical career, starring in Othello, Jerusalem, and All My Sons.
Neighbors was canceled in 2022 but was revived the following year.
Neighbors launched in 1985 and ran until 2022 when it was canceled after UK broadcaster Channel 5 decided to drop the show from its schedules.
Unable to find alternative funding, producers announced they had “no option but to rest the show”.
At that point, the series had run for 37 years and broadcast more than 9,000 episodes.
However, just four months after its finale was broadcast, Amazon announced it had picked up the show for its streaming service Freevee, and the show was relaunched in September 2023.
Neighbors enjoyed a golden era in the 1980s and 1990s, during which time it developed a cult following, particularly among students, as it was screened on BBC One twice a day (including a repeat).
Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Vallance are among the stars who appeared in Neighbours early in their careers.
