Ben Hall, who plays Natalie Imbruglia’s on-screen son, has spoken out about how he feels about the recent revelation that he is portraying her on-screen son.
Although he was not seen on screen as a kid, Ben’s Ramsay Street character Ned Willis (who he has played since 2016) is the son of Beth Brennan (played by Natalie between 1992 and 1994) and Brad Willis (played by Scott Michaelson in the early 1990s and Kip Gamblin between 2013 and 2017).
Natalie was asked if she ever watches Neighbours see how Beth’s son is doing during a BBC Radio Wales interview earlier this year, and the singer and actress admitted that it was the first time she’d heard of Ned, saying: “Is it true that I have a son? What? Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness, I had no idea. That’s fantastic.”
Ben has now spoken exclusively to Digital Spy about how he responded to the news, revealing that he was tempted to contact his on-screen mother after hearing it.
“That was something I noticed! I was inclined to respond and say hello, but decided against it “he stated “It was fantastic, in my opinion. I’m pleased she’s finally realised she has a son on the programme.”
Ben couldn’t help but poke fun at Natalie for not knowing Ned was back on the show, in typical family form.
“Come on!” he laughed, “she should really be staying up to date and watching every night!” “It was hilarious to hear her say she enjoyed it and thought it was fantastic. It was enjoyable.”
Following the interview, Neighbours used the opportunity to indicate that Beth was ready for a return to Erinsborough, tweeting from its the UK and Australian Twitter accounts, “It must be time for a visit!”
Natalie is set to release her new album, Firebird, so a Neighbours reunion seems unlikely for the time being, but Ned is already preoccupied with his love predicament.
Ned is presently polyamorous with Amy Greenwood (Jacinta Stapleton) and Levi Canning (Richie Morris), and Ben told us that the arrangement “certainly addresses” the problem of rivalry between Ned and Levi at first, though there will be “moments where they’re feeling a little more envious.”
