'Neighbours' star "sad" over Bonner exit

Alan Fletcher has admitted that he is "sad" over the news that Neighbours co-star Carla Bonner will leave the soap later this year.

Bonner announced last month that she is quitting her role as Steph Scully to pursue new projects after more than a decade in Ramsay Street.

Speaking of his colleague's decision, Fletcher - who plays Karl Kennedy - told Holy Soap: "I'm desperately sad about it. She's one of the best actresses on the show and one of the best characters on the show. She's gorgeous, she's a sexy girl but she's earthy. She's got the motorcycle thing going on, she's a little bit butch with it. She's such an interesting character.

"She sums up the Scully family in that sense. They are down-to-earth people, the Scullys. And Steph and her mother Lyn, played by Janet Andrewartha, are fantastic together. It's just with great sadness I see Carla go but everyone moves on. I know she's going to be very successful outside the show."

Asked about his own future in Erinsborough, Fletcher replied: "At the moment, I'm talking to Neighbours about continuing my contract past September."

Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower recently promised that Steph's departure will "do the character proud".