As I'm a freelancer, I work from home. This means that lunchtime tends to (deliberately) coincide with Neighbours. Yes, Neighbours is still on the telly. But over the last couple of days, something strange has happened. Lovely Libby Kennedy appears to have morphed into someone else entirely! What? How did that happen? As our Anna said on Twitter yesterday: "why is some random actress playing libby in neighbours..?!" I want to know why!
For some reason, Aussie soaps think we won't notice if they swap our favourite characters for some other actress we've never seen before for a couple of days. And what's more annoying is that they don't even look the same! And they're often not very good. It feels a bit like getting a supply teacher at school. They did the job, but it was strange and always a bit rubbish.
Can you imagine if Corrie decided to replace Emily Bishop? Or Eastenders gave Phil Mitchell a couple of days off and hired someone else to grunt in his place? It's just not right. There would be soapy uproar if that happened over here!
I know sometimes people need time off, but it feels strange. Very strange. Can't they just rewrite a little bit instead of getting someone else in? Apparently Kym Valentine is back tomorrow, just a few days after this strange Libby imposter took over. Doesn't really seem worth it. Still, it'll be nice to have Neighbours back to normal. If anyone in Australia is reading this, can you all take note please? Stop messing with the soap casts! We don't like it!
Does anyone know why this happened? Anna said it was sick leave, but does anyone know the full story?
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Collapsed lung + pneumonia = sick leave.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24153854-2902,00.html
apparently Kym was taken really ill on a flight (collapsed lung and pneumonia according to one paper) and they had to call someone in last minute because it was too late in the day to change schedule / scripts. Apparently the two actresses are friends.
Apparently the real libby came down with pneumonia very suddenly and has had to take time out. I too wish they would write her out temporarily, it spoils things when they use a replacement.
Im from Aust so ive seen it all and Kym was sick she had a collapsed lung and pneumonia and apparently she nearly died. But she isn't back in a couple of days Micheal Banas plays Libby for five weeks, i hated it too coz we all love Kym in Aus!
Great to hear Kym's well and did return, we thought she had left for good so im sure we can put up with just 5wks.
Here's the official story -
NEIGHBOURS star Kym Valentine has been forced to pull out of the show to recover from a collapsed lung and pneumonia. McLeod's Daughters favourite Michala Banas will step into the role of Libby Kennedy from tomorrow as Valentine takes a one-month break. Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower made the difficult and unusual decision to bring in Banas during the week. Valentine, who has played Kennedy for more than 11 years, said handing over the role was extremely hard. "It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.
"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.
"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her."
Valentine suffered a collapsed lung during a flight from New York to Australia on July 4. She had oxygen administered by cabin staff when she passed out. She was taken to hospital in Melbourne and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Banas said taking over the popular character was a huge challenge.
"I am going to be Libby, but I am not Kym Valentine."
http://www.neighboursfans.com/forum/index.php
I was shocked to find out that the real libby in neighbours was very ill I hope she is well now
sorry to hear about kym, miss her in neighbours.glad to hear you are coming back. wishing you a very speedy recovery. very best wishes from jan grossman x x x