Neighbours' James: 'It's hard to hand over Declan'

Neighbours' James: 'It's hard to hand over Declan'
Neighbours' James: 'It's hard to hand over Declan' (Image credit: five)

Neighbours star James Sorensen said his screen replacement doesn't need much advice on how to play Declan Napier as he has his own ideas. James is leaving the role after more than two years in Ramsay Street, and Erin Mullally will carry on in his place. In an interview with Holy Soap website, the departing star said: "Erin is coming in as an actor and he is a great actor, and he has his own ideas on how to play Declan - the only advice I've given him is not to stress out because it's a very fast-paced show, probably one of the hardest actor jobs in Australia." Erin has already started work, and James has been on hand to discuss the character and his history. James said the change-over from one actor to the next will be "nothing over the top". "I'm Declan one day and the next day it's Erin. Pretty simple. That's how it works, I can't continue so Erin comes in and picks up the baton. I think it's easier for the viewers to accept when it's a simple change-over." He admitted it will be strange to see someone else playing the part. "Of course it will be strange to see someone playing the part that I started and basically created, it's been my life. It's not just being Declan at the studio, I get 'Declan' on the street, at restaurants, everywhere. Declan is me so to hand it over is difficult." Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk’s weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.