Neighbours executive producer reveals the truth about Ryan Moloney’s exit from iconic Aussie soap

Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison has revealed the reason behind Ryan Maloney’s departure from the long-running Australian soap.

Maloney, 44, who plays Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi, announced in June that he was leaving Ramsay Street after almost 30 years.

Following his announcement, Maloney recently said that the decision to leave the soap was not his own choice.

Herbison has now revealed that the reason behind Maloney’s departure was the natural progression of the show.

“Like all long-running shows around the world, we want to continually evolve to best suit what’s happening in the world and keep the production model fresh and sustainable,” Herbison said. TV Tonight.

“We want to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, but also let the storylines flow naturally.”

Herbison added that while Toadie will be leaving Erinsborough, it may not be forever, with familiar characters such as Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, returning to Ramsay Street regularly.

“We recently welcomed Harold back to the show, as a semi-regular character rather than full-time. So much for his drowning in 1991,” he said.

‘It may seem like the end for Toadie, but in the future anything is possible.’

Interview with Australian soap opera website Back to the bay Maloney recently said he was grateful the choice to leave was made for him.

“Well, it wasn’t actually my choice. It was their choice,” he told the publication.

He admitted that he had been wanting to give up the soap for “a while,” but the lure was too great to resist.

“I’ve wanted to leave for a long time, but Neighbours is one of those jobs where you work with great people. You get paid really well. And if you had a mate who was in one of those jobs, you’d be like, ‘oh mate, what are you doing? You’ve got to stay there. Hang in there as long as you can,'” he said.

Maloney added that he had wanted to move on for a while, but that he always found it difficult to say no.

‘I am very grateful to them for making that decision for me, because I don’t think I could ever say ‘no’ to a contract.’

Herbison has revealed that the reason behind Maloney’s departure was the natural progression of the show

Maloney officially announced his departure from the show in June, and hinted at his future plans.

“Hi, I’m Ryan Maloney, formerly Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi from Neighbours. That’s right, I said formerly, because after 30 years of playing Toadie, I’m leaving Ramsay Street,” Ryan said in the clip shared on the Neighbours Instagram page.

‘I can’t tell you what’s going to happen to the character, whether we’ll see him again or not.

“Maybe I’ll be the next Jim Robinson, or maybe I’ll be the next Harold Bishop and just keep coming back for years to come.”

He added that while Toadie will be leaving Erinsborough, it may not be forever, as old characters such as Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith, regularly return to Ramsay Street.

Maloney added that while Toadie was leaving Ramsay Street, he would still be an important part of the Neighbours family.

“While I won’t be showing you our fantastic storylines on camera, I hope to show you the other side: behind the camera,” he said.

“I just started my directing degree and have just finished filming my first episode as a director. I really hope you enjoy it.”

Moloney concluded the clip with a heartfelt thank you to fans, adding: “I’m going to miss you, I’m going to miss him and I’m going to miss Erinsborough, but whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss what’s coming up on Ramsay Street.”

Maloney has become one of Neighbours’ most recognisable faces since first appearing on Ramsay Street as Toadie in 1995.

He was at the centre of a series of dramatic and heartbreaking storylines, including his tragic love story with Dee Bliss (Madeleine West).

Maloney’s final scenes are expected to air in September.

Maloney has become one of Neighbours’ most recognisable faces since first appearing in Ramsay Street as Toadie in 1995