Neighbours legend sparks rumours he's joining UK soap after bosses savagely axed show for a second time
NEIGHBOURS legend Alan Fletcher has revealed he wants to land a TV role in the UK and would love to "gatecrash" EastEnders.
The 68-year-old Aussie soap veteran is currently focused on his music career and a 34-date UK and Ireland tour.
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Alan Fletcher is concentrating on his music
Credit: Lime Tree Music
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He had a cameo on EastEnders in 2022
Credit: BBC
However, he's also on the hunt for a UK agent that can bag him a role on the box on our shores after filming his final Neighbours scenes.
The long-running soap has come to an end after Amazon MGM Studios decided against making more episodes beyond 2025.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Alan says: "Like a lot of Aussie actors, I would crave to come and work in the UK. And I'm looking to try and find myself a UK agent because I think the UK makes some of the best television in the world.
"I think in terms of comedy, which I love to be involved in, the Brits are like the Australians. We do understand satire and so there's incredibly sharp and witty television made here.
"And in terms of drama, the thing I really love about being in the UK is seeing how older actors, and I put myself in that bracket now, how older actors really get a good run on television and film. And some of the best UK actors, of course, are the older contingents."
Alan previously had a cameo in Albert Square in 2022 when he popped into the Bridge Street café and asked for a taxi.
Kellie Bright's starstruck Linda Carter was lamenting Neighbours coming to an end (it was previously shelved in 2022) when Alan stepped in.
Regarding a possible return to the show, Alan says: "That would be enormous fun as well, just to sort of gatecrash EastEnders. I actually went in and filmed a little skit of them a few years ago, which was enormous fun. Yeah, so there's all sorts of doors opening."
But for now music takes precedence.
He explains: "Now that I can dedicate myself to music, it takes an enormous amount of time to write and produce and record music and then to plan tours and to get out on the road. So, you know, it's an exhausting job."
I collapsed after being rescued from terrifying drowning on Neighbours set, reveals Karl Kennedy star Alan Fletcher
"I mean, this tour I'm on now around the UK, this is 34 venues. It's the length and breadth of the country. The logistics alone are incredible to plan, not to mention ticket selling.
"So it's a very testing experience, and it's one I embrace and want to do more of."
The Karl Kennedy star is on the promo trail for his latest single, Back To School, a poignant ballad on how to nurture a loving relationship.
"The title was about what I've learnt in studying philosophy, that love is something you can't take for granted, you have to really look at it," says Alan.
"I mean, that's a bit of a cliche, but a lot of people don't spend the time. So it's really saying, let's get back to school and learn how to love.
"It's a very musical, laid-back track, and it gets a great reaction from people."
Both Alan and wife Jennifer went back to school, as it were, when they attended a lecture on love by philosopher Alain de Botton that helped to improve their own relationship.
"It was quite transformative for us, because it reminds us that perfect love is a bit of an 18th century creation," says Alan. "And in reality, we all love each other's flaws, rather than trying to change each other.
"And once we heard that, and kind of accepted that, and went, 'yes, absolutely, that's what it is'. So now if either one of us in the relationship do something that the other one would normally think is annoying or troublesome, now we look at it and go, 'oh, it's adorable that you do that'.
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Alan has played Karl Kennedy since the mid-90s
Credit: Courtesy of Freevee
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The tour comprises of 34 dates and is underway now
Credit: Lime Tree Music
"So just accepting that we are who we are, and trying to change people, mold them to be the perfect human being, is a waste of time."
At the tail end of last year Alan also released a classic slice of Americana in Tell 'Em, a duet with Jennifer that tells the tale of lost love.
"It really is the first cut, the deepest I suppose, that notion of the first relationship you have and how it kind of never leaves you, even though you break up and move on with your life and you have other loves, there's some little tiny part of you that's still wishes that somehow you've been able to work it out all those years ago.
"So essentially just saying, look, I know we'll never be together, but I just think of you all the time, or in flashes."
Both tracks will be joining Alan on his tour which is taking place now and runs until September.
Alan Fletcher's 2025 UK Tour and Ireland
BACK TO SCHOOL UK TOUR DATES:
July 22 – The Bedford – Balham
July 23 – Studio 6 – Maidstone
July 24 – The Factory Live – Worthing
July 25 – The Attic – Southampton
July 26 – The Steam and Whistle – Cheltenham
July 27 – The Clarence Hall – Crickhowell
July 29 – The Exeter Phoenix – Exeter
July 30 – The Poly – Falmouth
July 31 – The Hen and Chicken – Bristol
Aug 1 – The Globe – Cardiff
Aug 2 – St George's Hall – Bewdley
Aug 3 – The Stables – Milton Keynes
Aug 6 – The Portland Arms – Cambridge
Aug 7 – The Garage – Norwich
Aug 8 – The Witham Public Hall – Witham
Aug 9 – The King Alfred Phoenix Theatre – London
Aug 12 – The Sugar Club – Dublin
Aug 13 – The Spirit Store – Dundalk
Aug 14 – The Black Box – Belfast
Sep 8 – The Gorleston Pavilion – Gorleston-on-Sea
Sep 9 – The International – Leicester
Sep 10 – Newhampton Arts Centre – Wolverhampton
Sep 11 – Southside – Lincoln
Sep 12 – The Yard – Manchester
Sep 13 – Arts Club – Liverpool
Sep 17 – The Wardrobe – Leeds
Sep 18 – The Georgian Theatre – Stockton-on-Tees
Sep 19 – Pocklington Arts Centre – East Yorkshire
Sep 20 – Arts Centre Washington – Sunderland
Sep 21 – The Voodoo Rooms – Edinburgh
Sep 23 – The Blue Lamp – Aberdeen
Sep 24 – Centre for Contemporary Arts – Glasgow
Sep 25 – The Empress Ballroom – Mexborough
Sep 26 – Castle & Falcon – Birmingham
Buy tickets here
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