List of Neighbours characters introduced in 2022
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and airs on digital channel 10 Peach. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show in 2022, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Jason Herbison. The 2022 season of Neighbours began airing from 3 January, following the first Christmas transmission break since 2018, and ran until the series concluded its initial run on 28 July 2022. Zara Selwyn was introduced in the first episode of the season, and Freya Wozniak and Sadie Rodwell made their debuts three weeks later. Kiri Durant made her first appearance in March, while Montana Marcel, [|Corey Smythe Jones] and Harriet Wallace first appeared in April. [|Asher Nesmith] arrived in May. Sian Caton, Alana Greyson, Estelle Petrides, and [|Sam Young] made their debuts in June, while Byron Stone appeared in July, just before the 2022 Neighbours finale.
From 7 January until 26 July, episodes aired on Channel 5 in the UK before their Australian broadcast. Dates below refer to the Australian broadcast, unless otherwise specified.
Zara Selwyn
Zara Selwyn, played by Freya Van Dyke, made her first appearance on 3 January 2022. Van Dyke confirmed her casting via her social media, where she also expressed her excitement at joining the cast. Zara is the teenage daughter of established character Amy Greenwood, who has been referred to on-screen since Amy's reintroduction in 2020, along with her two brothers. Zara's introduction was revealed in the trailer that followed the 2021 season finale in December, which shows Zara's arrival disrupting Amy's polyamorous relationship with Ned Willis and Levi Canning. Amy is also heard saying that her daughter needs to be her main priority ahead of the relationship. Van Dyke last appeared on screens as Zara on the final episode of Neighbours, broadcast on 28 July 2022.Zara walks in on her mother in bed with Ned Willis and Levi Canning, after they have just had a threesome. Amy explains that Ned and Levi slept over after an impromptu party, and Zara demands that she takes her out for breakfast. At The Flamingo Bar, Zara explains that she snuck away from home to hang out with Amy because her family does not understand what it is like to be a girl. Zara meets Amy's friend Toadie Rebecchi and gives her mother a Christmas present, which she hopes Amy will hand down to her. Toadie tells Zara to put Amy's alcoholic drink down after she begins drinking it. Later, Amy informs Zara that she is in a polyamorous relationship with Ned and Levi. Zara reacts badly to the news, and the following day treats Amy, Ned and Levi with increased hostility. After Amy gives her an ultimatum to get a part-time job while staying in Erinsborough, Zara reluctantly takes up Ned's offer to work at Harold's Cafe, where she meets Hendrix Greyson and learns of his past difficulties in bonding with his father and step-mother. Inspired by Hendrix's story, Zara begins to pursue Levi in an attempt to end her mother's relationships. Zara asks Amy to break up with her boyfriends, so they can enjoy time together, but believes Amy has lied to her when she witnesses her hugging Ned and Levi goodbye. Zara then invites herself into Levi's spa, and accuses him of sexual assault in front of Amy. However, when Amy insists on going to the police if her accusation is genuine, Zara admits it is untrue. Zara apologises to Amy and Levi in a bid to avoid repercussions. While Amy is willing to move on, Levi is unable to and breaks up with Amy.
Meanwhile, Zara is angered by Toadie objecting to her self-entitled behaviour at his house, and spikes the non-alcoholic jelly shots intended for Roxy Willis' hen's party with vodka, one of which is eaten by Toadie's daughter, Nell. Zara again evades any meaningful punishment by asking to move in with Amy permanently. Zara attends her first day at Erinsborough High, where principal Susan Kennedy and teacher Jane Harris tell Zara not to alter her uniform in future. Jane introduces Zara to fellow students Sadie Rodwell and [|Aubrey Laing], who soon ditch her. Zara is later disappointed to learn that her mother has purchased a food truck and, in anger, Zara sets off the school's fire alarms in front of Jane. Hendrix tells her to pull her head in, before she returns and floods the school toilets. Zara admits to Amy that she tried to get kicked out of school to spend more time with her, so Amy offers her a job at her food truck. However, the two argue again when Susan phones Amy and tells her about the flooding incident, resulting in Zara pushing Amy and walking off, unaware that Amy's broken ribs have punctured her lung.
Freya Wozniak
Freya Wozniak, played by Phoebe Roberts, made her first appearance on 25 January 2022 in Australia and on 20 January in the UK. The character and Roberts' casting was announced via the show's social media accounts on 30 October 2021. She began filming her first scenes the previous week, and is the first new addition to the serial's regular cast since Nicolette Stone in July 2020. Roberts expressed her delight about joining the cast, saying "Neighbours is such a huge part of the Australian film and TV industry, it's very exciting to be involved in something so iconic that is also so loved in the UK. As a kid, I tuned in to watch all the drama of Erinsborough unfold, it's surreal to now be a part of that drama!" Roberts' casting occurred shortly after she appeared in Lie With Me, created by Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison. He stated that the scriptwriters had "created a fascinating character for her that is complex, mysterious and a risk taker, she's going to be a lot of fun and Phoebe has already nailed the role." Her character was also billed as "the ultimate mystery girl" and someone who will "bend the rules" if necessary. Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy observed that while Freya does not share a surname with any of the current characters, there was still a possibility that she has a connection to them or a past character. In a promotional trailer for the show's 2022 episodes, Freya is shown to be a potential love interest for Levi Canning. Levi first encounters Freya in the aftermath of a fatal weather event at The Flamingo Bar. Freya's last appearance is on 28 July 2022 during the serial's finale.Levi Canning encounters Freya breaching the security tape around the wreckage of The Flamingo Bar, which is the site of a police investigation following the storm that resulted in the death of Britney Barnes. Freya removes a scarf from the bar, and Levi pursues her and demands its return. Freya insists the scarf is hers, but refuses to provide her details for it to be returned. Later, she asks Nicolette Stone about Britney before Sheila Canning tells her more about Levi. After leaving Sheila and Levi, she looks at a picture of an unknown man on her phone. Sheila sets Freya and Levi up on a date and they go Baker's Hill Winery. During their date, Freya asks to see photos from Levi's cousin's wedding and she notices Ned Willis wearing the scarf she picked up. Freya asks Ned if the scarf is his and he explains he picked it up while drunk. Freya then proceeds to ask Ned if he knows the unknown man in the photo, who she says is her cousin.
Sadie Rodwell
Sadie Rodwell, played by Emerald Chan, made her first appearance on 27 January 2022. Chan's casting details were announced on 18 January 2022. Sadie is introduced alongside mean girl Aubrey Laing in a storyline that sees Zara Selwyn being bullied at school. Sadie is the daughter of the preintroduced Andrew Rodwell and Wendy Rodwell. Neighbours executive producer, Jason Herbison, teased, "We also have a new family moving into the street." This led to fan speculation that Sadie, Andrew and Wendy could be promoted to regular characters and it was later revealed on screen that they would be moving into 26 Ramsay Street. In an interview, Chan revealed that she was unaware of Sadie's connection to Andrew and Wendy until the end of her first storyline. Chan was later added to the opening titles. Script producer Shane Isheev revealed that Sadie was planned to have siblings, however the serial's cancellation prevented them from being introduced. Sadie appears in the finale episode of Neighbours on 28 July 2022, and returned when the series recommenced in 2023.At Erinsborough High, Sadie is introduced to Zara Selwyn by teacher Jane Harris on her first day, along with her best friend, Aubrey Laing. Sadie and Aubrey quickly ditch Zara, but add her on social media after she sets off the school's fire alarm. They later ask her to join them for coffee and apologise for ditching her. Sadie and Aubrey pick up Zara from her house and notice that she lives near Hendrix Greyson, who they both have crushes on. Zara tells them they work together and are friends, and Sadie and Aubrey are surprised when Zara later convinces Hendrix to play frisbee with them. After watching Jane scold Zara for not handing in her homework, Sadie and Aubrey pull a prank on Jane, which Zara gets the blame for. Zara continuously tells Sadie and Aubrey that Hendrix is into her, but they doubt her story as he has a girlfriend, so they ask her to prove it. She sends them photos of a text seemingly from Hendrix declaring his love and an engraved pendent he gave her. The following day, the girls tell Zara that a bin was set on fire at the school and they ask Zara if she did it, but she tells them she was not even on school grounds. Zara wonders if Sadie and Aubrey started the fire to get back at Jane again, but they deny it. Zara learns that Sadie has been given her old job at the café and that she and Aubrey know about the fire outside Jane's house. Zara apologises for accusing them of starting the bin fire, which they accept.
When Sadie and Aubrey see Hendrix leaving Zara's house, and learn she is not moving back to Cairns, they send his girlfriend Mackenzie Hargreaves the link to their private group chat about him. When Zara confronts them and discloses that she will be sent back to Cairns now, Sadie is relieved that their plan to start another fire in the school will not have to go ahead; Aubrey, however, insists on continuing. Sadie feels guilty after the fire spreads and Mackenzie is trapped inside, with Zara taking the blame. After rescuing Mackenzie, Hendrix questions Sadie about Zara and the fire, but they are interrupted by Aubrey. He later overhears them talking and eventually Sadie admits that Aubrey started the fire and made her go along with it. Sadie goes to the police to confess and later apologises to Zara when they come face to face. Two months later, Sadie moves into Ramsay Street with her parents, but is nervous about encountering Zara and Hendrix again. Although Zara makes peace with her, they both learn that Hendrix requires a lung transplant following the events of the fire. Sadie is determined to move away again, but the family cannot afford to. Susan and Karl Kennedy visit the family to help manage the situation, but tell Sadie that Hendrix is not yet ready to hear her apology. However, after overhearing her talking to Wendy, Hendrix encourages her to stop blaming herself for his health difficulties. Sadie and her family are invited to Hendrix's wedding, but Sadie begins to feel heavy guilt when Hendrix dies a few days later from his lung transplant surgery complications. To try and do some right, Sadie and Zara go to a shack where Corey Smythe-Jones is hiding out. Corey knocks Sadie unconscious and kidnaps Zara, before Andrew and Levi Canning find Sadie and take her to hospital, where she recovers. Sadie and her family attend Toadie Rebecchi and Melanie Pearson's wedding a few days later, then follow their neighbours back to Ramsay Street for the wedding reception.
Sadie forms a friendship group with Mackenzie and Holly Hoyland. She is shown to be working as a nanny for Leo Tanaka, looking after his daughter Abigail Tanaka. Sadie becomes annoyed with Wendy's insistence she goes to university. Sadie reveals she wants to become a make-up artist instead of studying. She and Wendy clash, but Wendy later realises she reflecting her own regrets about not attending university onto Sadie and enrols herself. Paul Robinson asks Sadie to spy on Leo and his girlfriend Krista Sinclair in exchange for paying her make-up course fees which she accepts. Sadie witnesses Paul and Eden Shaw together. After Paul's son, is killed following an altercation with Eden. Sadie realises that Paul told Eden of Krista's whereabouts which inadvertently caused David's death. Sadie is conflicted about telling the truth but exposes Paul's involvement during an argument with Krista. Sadie reveals she has not yet lost her virginity and Holly suggests she ask their friend, Byron Stone. Sadie later decides against the idea and begins to spend time with Byron. At a party, the two spend time together and later have sex. Holly tells Byron about the idea and feels used due to his past as a male escort. Sadie explains that she has genuine feelings for him and they begin to date. Sadie requests that they do not tell her parents because they often meddle in her personal life. Bryon arranges a fancy dress themed date at his home. Sadie and Bryon become passionate on the sofa and Andrew walks in on them.