Alan Fletcher believes rejecting a lengthier stint as his authentic character on Neighbours was “destiny” as he ended up having a prolonged profession within the beloved position of Dr Karl Kennedy.
Earlier than he was the good-looking physician on the enduring Australian cleaning soap opera, the 68-year-old actor had a short run s Greg Cooper, who labored with Kylie Minogue’s mechanic character, Charlene.
He recalled on Saturday Evening with Hayley Palmer: “I truly did three weeks enjoying a personality referred to as Greg Cooper.
“He was a mechanic who was introduced on to be the supervising mechanic for Kylie Minogue’s character, Charlene.
“So yeah, I had my first little three-week stint then.”
Alan determined to do theatre as an alternative of take up a one-year contract on Neighbours.
He continued: “They requested me to remain for a 12 months and supplied me a 12 months contract the next 12 months and I turned them all the way down to do theatre.
“You understand, the destiny’s met.
“Because of turning that down, I then went on to do one other actually high-quality drama for 3 years referred to as Embassy.
“After which after all, alongside comes Dr Karl.”
Karl made his debut as Karl in 1994, and is the third longest serving actor in an Australian tv serial, after House and Away actors Ray Meagher and Lynne McGranger.
Neighbours is ready to finish later this 12 months, after Amazon gave it the boot as soon as extra after folding its revival of the present – which initially aired on Seven Community earlier than transferring to numerous broadcasters – in 2022.
Alan insists he did not anticipate the programme returning for the lengthy haul.
He advised Hayley within the interview which airs in full on September 6 on Freeview channel 271: “It finishes on the finish of this 12 months.
“Amazon – I believe it was at all times in all probability a short-term technique in thoughts, I do not know.
“I am unsure what the plans have been however in the end, you realize, it might be uncommon for them to maintain it on without end.
“What occurred with Amazon approaching and their injection of experience of being an American manufacturing firm and mixed with the expertise of our crew, they constructed Neighbours from the bottom up.
“It was a spectacularly good product and I am very pleased with it to complete and see it as a template for the long run.”
