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"Karl is all Sarah has ever wanted!"
Nicola Charles on Sarah’s dramatic return to Neighbours!

How does it feel to be back?
Great. It’s definitely a sense of going home, which is lovely because having left the entertainment business, I didn't expect to feel that way. Driving into the studio was emotional, and so was getting back into character of Sarah. It's taken me by surprise.

Has much changed since last time you were in the show?
No! Although they have got some pretty cool sets now as they've built all the gardens and they have a pool and tables outside. But the indoor studio set and the crew are all pretty much the same, so it felt very familiar.

Were any of your old friends around?
Obviously Alan (Fletcher aka Karl), Jackie (Woodburne, Susan) and Ryan (Moloney, Toadie). It's always good to work with Jackie and Alan, and I still think that were it not for Sarah’s affair with Karl, Susan and Sarah could have been friends! But that's often the cast for wives and the other woman. They tend to have something similar about them: that's what attracts the guy.

Sarah has quite a dramatic return!
Yes – in the aftermath of the Lassiters explosion she comes face to face with Karl. He's the first person she sees after it's happened, which is very emotional. She was in the shower at the time of the explosion trying to beautify herself for him! Their romance was the most important relationship she's ever had in her life and she wanted to look a million dollars... not covered in blood and dust, and feeling weepy! Of course there is the analogy there of her being rescued by Karl... It makes it doubly sad for her because Karl isn't hers.

Does she want Karl back, then?
If she were honest about her feelings then yes. She wouldn't hurt Susan again, but in her heart of hearts Karl is all she ever wanted. If Sarah has ever known true love it's because of Karl and you can't turn those feelings off.

Is Karl surprised to see her?
He's shocked, but I have a confession... He knew she was coming! Susan had no idea, but they have been in contact prior to her return at least once!

Where has Sarah been since we saw her leave Erinsborough?
In the UK with her husband – but he's now her ex because he's run off with someone else. You could say that karma came calling!

How does Susan react when she comes face to face with Sarah?
Not well! Let's be honest, it was never going to be pretty. There were some crew members having to hold Jackie back when we were filming – it was terrifying!

Do you think Susan sees Sarah as a threat to her marriage?
Not a realistic threat, no. Sarah's just a living embodiment of Karl's infidelity. It was the start of Karl being unfaithful – he did things after Sarah that even shocked me! But Sarah was the one who found the cracks in their marriage.

So Sarah is hiding a big secret... is that linked to why she's back?
Yes, it's very traumatic – especially because it relates to something that happened to me in my personal life at Christmas. When they sat down and explained the script to me I cried and cried. I also wanted to do the storyline justice. It's a massive thing for me and I'm going to be portraying an important event in someone's life, so it's flattering to be asked back, but also challenging because I want to do the best job possible.

Is her secret connected to the big question she has for Karl?
Yes – but she keeps debating whether to ask him. She has a lot of thinking to do before she drops her bombshell. After the explosion she wonders if she should continue with her plan – but she decides she's there so might as well go ahead with it. Sarah likes to surprise people – and like everything she's brought to the Kennedys' table in the past, her revelation will be shocking!


Changing times

Despite many of the cast and crew remaining the same since Nicola was last a regular, she's revealed there is one major difference... "Twitter did exist then," she laughs. "So people either knew who you were because they watched the show, or they had no idea who you were. But now you can do something in the studio and five minutes later it's online for all to see!"

Claire Crick

Pages 40–41

How did Sarah Beaumont get caught up in the Lassiters explosion? 5 days to go until the biggest week of #Neighbours ever!