Valentine 'couldn't watch' replacement

Neighbours star Kym Valentine has revealed that she couldn't watch close friend Michala Banas take over the role of Libby Kennedy in her absence.

In August 2008, the 31-year-old was forced to take a month's break from filming after her lung collapsed from pneumonia. Instead of writing Libby out, Neighbours' producers took the unusual step of temporarily re-casting the role.

"I love Michala but I just couldn't watch it," Valentine told DS. "When they first told me, I was so devastated that I didn't talk to anyone. For two days I locked myself in the house and cried hysterically."

Looking back, Valentine admits that producers made the right decision and only had her best interests at heart.

"It's only now in hindsight that I think, 'What was I thinking? How did I even think I could keep going?'," she said. "It was so ridiculous, and the producers and doctors did the best thing for me.

"They really looked after me. I couldn't see it at the time, though. I couldn't see how sick I was but luckily they could and they did the best thing for me."

> Click here to read our recent interview with Kym Valentine