Iconic Neighbours star reveals the truth behind his exit from the soap after 30 years: ‘It wasn’t my choice’

Neighbours actor Ryan Maloney has revealed that the decision to leave Ramsay Street was not his own choice.

Ryan, who plays Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi in the popular soap, announced in June that he would be ending the iconic character.

Speaking to Australian soap website Back to the Bay, Ryan, 44, said he was grateful the choice had been 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.

Ryan added that he’s wanted to move on for a while, but he’s always found it hard 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.’

“I think I would always think, ‘Oh yeah, okay, I’ll make one more.’”

Ryan 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.

“Well, it wasn’t my choice actually. It was their choice,” he told Australian soap opera website Back to the Bay

“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.”

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

Ryan ended 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.”

Ryan 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).

“So I’m very grateful that they made that decision for me because I don’t think I could ever say no to a contract,” he added.