Neighbours star pays tribute to onscreen gay relationship following axe news
Takaya's character David was a part of one of Australia's first gay marriages on TV.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Instagram/@takayah
One of the stars of Neighbours has shared a heartfelt post on social media following news this week that Channel 5 is dropping the long-running Australian TV show from its schedule come August 2022.
Takaya Honda, who’s played David Tanaka on the show since 2016, told his followers what he thinks the show means to people, especially those often underrepresented in film and TV.
Posting on his Instagram on Tuesday (8 February) David told followers he loved them and that they were the reason he was still on the show.
“Really diverse and progressive for a soap”
Continuing, he says that plotlines can sound silly when a show is reduced down to them, which he says applies “to more shows than people are willing to admit” but that “not everything on Neighbours is silly and the affect it has on people certainly isn’t.
“I have, on multiple occasions received messages from fans stating that the show and David’s storylines have saved their lives, and they say this genuinely.”
He goes on to say that Neighbours has always allowed people a chance to escape and recently, this has especially been the case for underrepresented groups. One person referenced David’s character directly when speaking to the BBC about the show this week calling it “really diverse and progressive for a soap”.
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“I have been one half of, not only the first on-screen gay wedding in Australian history but, I’m pretty sure, also one of the longest-running on-screen gay relationships too. There are very few that span the length of time or episode count that @mattywilson and I have as #Daaron. I say this on top of being a POC too,” Takaya adds.
Takaya and Matt Wilson were indeed one of Australian TV’s first gay weddings in 2018. Takaya told Attitude at the time he was “really excited” to be a part of the TV moment and that the response to it from the audience had been “overwhelmingly” positive.
He finishes his post today (8 February) saying, “I am proud of being a part of this show, I am super proud of the work we have been producing over the past few months that you are yet to see, and I am proud to be a part of this team as we move towards June 10 and whatever lies beyond.
Thank you, for your passion, your love, and your overwhelming support”
There may yet be some hope for Neighbours as Deadline reports today ITV is being “tipped” by industry sources to become the show’s new home.
The Attitude February issue is out now. Get your copy here.
