Jordan Smith signs new Neighbours contract

{jcomments off}Jordan Smith has signed a new contract to remain with Australian soap Neighbours.

TV Tonight reports the actor has signed a new contract to keep playing the role of Andrew Robinson – the son of Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) – for a further two years. The actor joined the cast of the soap in 2009 when his character of Andrew arrived in Ramsay Street to ask his father for money to pay off some debts. Neighbours fans with long memories will remember that Andrew’s mother was Christina Alessi (Gayle Blakeney), one of Paul Robinson’s many wives.

Smith, talking of his new contract with Neighbours, told TV Tonight ‘There’s so much to learn. I learned more in my first week here than I did in any acting course.’ Of his characters future storylines the actor predicted ‘Andrew is pretty ambitious, so whatever he does he will always be making money. Even though he wants to be Paul, I think he wants to be equal with Paul. Eventually they will have to clash or start taking from each other. Whatever he does, he’ll go hard at it.’

Meanwhile it has been announced that actor Sandy Winton will be exiting his role of Michael Williams, principal of Erinsborough High, in the new year. However, Michael’s daughter, Natasha (Valentina Novakovic), will remain with the soap for the time being. The Williams family were first introduced to Ramsay Street in May 2010 and by the time Winton exits he will have been with the Australian soap for nearly two years.

It was recently revealed that Neighbours’ executive producer, Susan Bower, was stepping down from her role after four years in the role. Richard Jasek will replace Bower as executive producer while Alan Hardy will join Neighbours as a producer. Bower’s time with the soap has seen its ratings decline and earlier this year move from Channel Ten to digital station Eleven.

Neighbours airs weekdays on Channel 5, in the UK, at 1.45 with an evening repeat at 5.30pm.