A Neighbours script producer has shared a “beautiful” moment from the finale that was cut from the final broadcast, leaving fans emotional at the sweet scene.
The finale episode of Neighbours on Channel 5 attracted an average audience of 2.5 million, the broadcaster has said, after the double-episode special aired on Friday.
The closing episode brought the Australian soap to an end after 37 years and saw Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and Melanie (Lucinda Cowden) tie the knot in a jubilant ceremony.
However, Neighbours script producer Shane Isheev has now shared a special scene between Callum (Morgan Baker) and his new stepmother Melanie after his dad exchanged his vows.
Isheev shared a screenshot of the script with the dialogue which viewers did not get to see, writing on Twitter that it was his “favourite moment to write”.
He wrote: “This was my favourite moment to write… Unfortunately it was cut short for time, so we never got Callum’s beautiful speech. @CowdenLucinda was brilliant (as always).”
In the sweet moment that wasn’t shown in the finale, Melanie is left ‘speechless’ after her new stepson gifts her with a crystal pig ornament.
“Do you like it? Dad said you were into pigs,” Callum says.
Melanie responds: “Callum, it’s perfect”, before Callum adds: “It’s my way of welcoming you into the family.”
Callum goes on to explain that when his mum died, he “worried a lot about Dad and the kids”.
He said: “Especially living so far away. But I realised the other day, all that worrying has stopped. It’s because you’re here. Thank you for making our family whole again.”
Melanie then wipes away her tears, saying: “I thought you said no more mushy stuff,” before the pair share a hug.
One Neighbours fan thanked Shane for sharing the dialogue of the moment, tweeting: “What a gorgeous scene.”
“Not sure I could have coped with that, I’m already a mess and it’s only lunchtime,” someone else wrote, as a third tweeted: “Just stopped crying. Now, I’m crying again.”
The closing episode featured a host of favourite characters returning to the cul-de-sac community of Ramsay Street to see off the soap opera.
Singers Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who starred as couple Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell in the 1980s, made their long-awaited return, with Minogue donning her classic denim overalls once again.
Also among the cameo appearances was Oscar-nominated Margot Robbie, who previously played Donna Freedman, who delivered a fond message describing her years living on Ramsay Street as “some of the best of my entire life”.
Another major plot point in the finale was the return of Mike Young, played by Guy Pearce, who decides to move back to Ramsay Street to give his relationship with his former love interest Jane Harris, played by Annie Jones, another chance.
