Neighbours confirms arrival of new family

Neighbours have confirmed that the Kapoor family will be part of the soap’s regular cast and will move to Ramsay Street.

The Australian soap has announced that the Kapoor family will become a regular fixture from early next year. Anjay Kapoor (Sachin Joab) has made several appearances in Neighbours already, as a local councillor, since the Summer. Priya Kapoor (Menik Gooneratne), his wife, has also been recently introduced to viewers having been made Acting Principal of Erinsborough High – something yet to happen on UK screens.

The duo will be joined by their daughter Rani (Coco-Jacinta Cherian) in the New Year. The slow introduction of the family to the soap is part of the bosses plans to ensure the characters are accepted by the audience – and not outright rejected as soon as they move onto Ramsay Street as has happened with some families in the past.

“I’m delighted by how the Kapoors have been introduced. Viewers already know them because of their role in the community and link with other characters, and their cultural background is secondary.We have had many individual characters who have been representative of Australia’s diverse cultural landscape, however to have a family of Indian and Sri Lankan heritage join the neighbourhood is very exciting.” – Susan Bower, Neighbour’s executive producer

Neighbours has been criticised in the past for not reflecting Australian’s modern multi-cultural society. It has addressed these criticisms in the past by introducing ethnic characters though usually on a short-term basis. In recent years the soap has tried to modernise it array of characters to reflect changes in society; the introduction of a regular gay character being one example.

Susan Bower announced in the Autumn that she was stepping down as executive producer on the soap after four years in charge. Bower will be replaced by Richard Jasek.