NEIGHBOURS star Kym Valentine has been forced to pull out of the show to recover from a collapsed lung and pneumonia.

McLeod's Daughters favourite Michala Banas will step into the role of Libby Kennedy from tomorrow as Valentine takes a one-month break.

Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower made the difficult and unusual decision to bring in Banas during the week.

Valentine, who has played Kennedy for more than 11 years, said handing over the role was extremely hard.

"It is heartbreaking. It is very, very hard to do, but I am trying to be strong about it and do what is best for me," Valentine said.

"I will be back. Don't you worry about that.

"I am so grateful for Michala. I am just so happy to be handing the role to her."

Valentine suffered a collapsed lung during a flight from New York to Australia on July 4.

She had oxygen administered by cabin staff when she passed out. She was taken to hospital in Melbourne and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Banas said taking over the popular character was a huge challenge.

"I am going to be Libby, but I am not Kym Valentine."


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thats weird. i can see why they might have done it if kym is going to be off for a while due to illness and she obviously feels thats whats right for her, but instead of recasting such a popular and well known character could they not have just written her out for a while as they do in typical soap fashion? lol its gonna be so random when susan or anyone else starts calling this person who is so not libby, libby!!

i hope kym does come back though

Eh?! weird much?

Could have sent libby and ben away for a while =/

Michala rocks, but eh?

It'll be like, that's not libby yo.

i love kym! she makes libby!

she really does make libby! she's great, it'll be a shame to see her replaced for a while even if it is 'needed'

How strange Surely it would of been easier and alot more "true to life" if Libby had just gone off on a long holiday with Ben or something. For instance Toadie went to East Timor for a while, he wasn't recasted. Seems like a really weird move and it will be very odd to watch, but interesting none the less.

Hope Kym gets well soon though

Libby probably has a massive storyline that they couldn't just "write her out" for...

It would be a bit weird if you're in the middle of a huge storyline and you're like "i feel like going on a holiday"...

i think it would be funny!
A massive event & Libby just walks out, bye bye going on holidays ta ta!

I don't watch this show anymore.. but that would be weird..

imposter!

she obv will have a big storyline, to not just go away... i hope she doesnt get with dan while theres an imposter in her place! noooooooo!!!

Poor Kym

Eek I hate how they do that though, they should just kill her off. They're never the same.

Kym will be back though! So no killing off. Not that I watch it. But I always liked Libby!

*Recast, not recasted

It's pretty stupid how they're doing that, I agree they should have just written Libby out for a while

Ergh if those pictures are recent I feel for Kym you can tell how exhausted she is by those pictures (don't get me wrong she looks pretty but she has this whole warn out look to her) I hope she feels better soon.

That's going to be weird, but I love Michaela. McLeods Daughters is awesome

am just grat Kyn us coming back

yeah im rather glad too that its not a permanent thing!

Yeah it would be a bit weird if Libby is involved in a big storyline and goes "i want to go on a holiday".
I'm wondering if the new Libby will be better but it's such big shoes to fit as Kym Valentine has been playing her for 11 years.

That is lame!! Yeah I agree they could not write about her for awhile, not recast someone who looks completely different. MEAH!

Artin

^They're in the middle of storylines, and she'll only be off for a month. She's probably too sick to film enough scenes to be written out anyway.

I don't think this is a bad idea at all, they couldn't have seen this coming so it's not like they could have planned for it. It's damage control, and I'm sure it will work out fine.

I think it'll work out fine. If they chose a random, then I would have doubts, but it's Michala... And she's worked with both Brett Tucker and Scott Major so there's bound to be good chemistry there.


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