'Neighbours' star: 'Real-time episode was stressful'

Neighbours star Ashleigh Brewer has admitted that she found the soap's forthcoming real-time episode "exhausting" to film.

The actress's character Kate Ramsay will soon take centre stage in a special instalment of the show which sees police detective Mark Brennan make his departure from Erinsborough.

The 24-style episode follows the events of 30 minutes, focusing on a life-changing decision faced by Kate when she discovers that Brennan has to enter witness protection due to his involvement in a police corruption case.

After hearing the news, Kate has just half an hour to decide whether she wants to leave with Brennan or stay behind on Ramsay Street.

"It was incredibly stressful but I guess it was stress in a good way," Brewer told the Daily Star Sunday of the special episode. "There were months of preparation involved so that it could run like clockwork. So I guess it was stressful in the sense the emotional stakes were heightened for a two-week period.

"It was exhausting and I think we can all say we were happy once it was over. But the final result was worth it."

She added: "I had to do lots of running in shoes that I hadn't broken in. My feet were bleeding after the night shoots - it was ridiculous. But it was all for a good cause."

Scott McGregor, who played Brennan, is now pursuing career opportunities in the US and UK.

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