Neighbours stars Tim Kano and Majella Davis have shared details of their dramatic 40th anniversary storyline for the first time.
The actors’ characters Leo Tanaka and Krista Sinclair will take centre stage next month as Neighbours celebrates an impressive 40 years on the air.
Show bosses have now officially confirmed that the milestone episodes will focus on Leo and Krista’s wedding day.
Leo and Krista got engaged at Christmas, but storm clouds have been gathering for their relationship since then thanks to manipulation from Krista’s best friend Sebastian Metcalfe and her half-sister Fallon Morell.
“Then at the end of this meeting, he said: ‘And this is going to be for the 40th anniversary’. I was on the floor – I almost passed out!”
Taking up the story, Tim continued: “It didn’t really settle in until we walked out of the meeting. We were heading back to the green room like: ‘Hang on, what? What’s going on?'”
The first spoilers for anniversary week have been revealed today and they hint at big trouble for Leo and Krista’s future.
Upcoming episodes see Sebastian make his return to Erinsborough, just as Fallon is stepping up her own cruel attempts to cause trouble for Krista.
In a huge new storyline twist, Fallon tells a devastating lie to Krista by claiming to have slept with Leo.
Without verifying whether this is true, Krista makes an impulsive decision by giving into temptation with Sebastian, who has always harboured feelings for her.
Majella recalled: “I was devastated when Jason told us. He said: ‘Someone’s going to do something naughty’. My first thought was: ‘It’s going to be Leo – thank God I won’t have to do anything like that!’
“But Krista thinks that Leo cheated on her, so it’s a reckless moment of wanting to feel desired again when she thought that she wasn’t anymore. It was justifiable in my head, but also pretty heartbreaking.
“When Krista then finds out that Leo didn’t really cheat on her, it’s like the world is spinning around her. It’s Fallon and Seb who divulge all of the information to her. She also finds out that they used to be together, so it’s just bomb after bomb after bomb. Krista realises what she’s done and that Leo was not the cheater, so it’s just awful.”
Krista is then left with a major decision to make over whether she can still marry Leo after making such a big mistake.
Neighbours bosses aren’t giving away whether the ceremony goes ahead or not, but with the Aussie soap celebrating its 40th anniversary in style, fans can look forward to a lavish location shoot either way.
Majella added: “I think Krista is just in shock. It’s the day of the wedding, she’s overwhelmed with emotion and she doesn’t know what is the right thing to do. However, I think there are certain touchstones in her life who help her through – and Paul is one of those people.
“It was gorgeous and so magical to film on location, with all of us being there together. Normally when we shoot weddings or big events, it’s over the course of a couple of days. Because we were out on location for this, it was just one day. We all just focused and honed in on what we needed to film. It was such a great day.”
The other big question of the week is whether Leo will ever find out about Krista sleeping with Seb. As with the outcome of the wedding, show bosses won’t be confirming either way until the episodes air in March.
Sharing his thoughts, Tim told us: “Leo and Krista make a great couple, but Seb has put them to the test and I don’t think Krista has been that considerate with how she’s reacted.
“They’re both really good people. They’ve been through so much to become the people they are, but now these villains are trying to manipulate them.
“If Leo finds out the truth, I think it’d just be absolutely heartbreaking after getting this far and tolerating so much. Krista has been quelling Leo’s nerves and insecurities about Seb, then he finally went to accept Seb.
“But if someone treats you like that for so long, you have your suspicions and eventually you find out it’s true, maybe you’re done.”
Neighbours airs its 40th anniversary celebrations in the week commencing Monday, March 17.
