Jackie Woodburne 'excited with Neighbours story'

Neighbours actress Jackie Woodburne has described her latest storyline involving Susan and Karl Kennedy as "exciting".

It was recently revealed that Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan's (Woodburne) son Malcolm (Benjie McNair) will be returning to the soap in order to help save his parent's marriage when Susan becomes attached to another man.

Woodburne told Holy Soap that changes in Susan's life have led to her feeling "emotionally attached" to a new man, adding that she has been enjoying the new plot.

She said: "I'm very excited about it. It takes the Kennedys into a different direction because this isn't another infidelity story; it's a couple who have been married for a very long time and their lives are changing.

"She is at a point in her life where her children are now independent and she has to redefine herself. The 'other man' as such is Jim Dolan (Scott Parameter), who is terminally ill, and for a number of reasons she feels she needs to help this man, so she develops very strong emotional attachments."

On how Susan reacts to Malcolm's return, she said: "Initially she is thrilled to see Malcolm, but she does sense there is an agenda as to why he is here - it's been a long time - and then she realises that all the children have been talking about the situation. Someone has to step up, and I guess it's Malcolm's turn."

When asked whether the Kennedys' marriage will survive this latest setback, she added: "Hell yeah! It has survived an awful lot - affairs, illness, not just your run of the mill lying and cheating.

"I think they are a couple that are pretty strongly connected, and I think it would take a lot to sever the tie completely. They are so strongly bound to each other, I can't imagine it would break."

On McNair's return to the soap, she said: "Oh, it's great. Benjie is a terrific guy, and because he was an original Kennedy, he has stepped back into that familiarity and sense of family."

Woodburne recently told Digital Spy that she still felt challenged playing Susan Kennedy in Neighbours.