Christie Whelan Browne is returning to 'Neighbours'.

Christie Whelan Browne

Christie Whelan Browne

The 38-year-old star - who announced last month she is pregnant with her first child - is to reprise her role as Scarlett Brady on the Channel 5 soap, and she was five weeks pregnant when she resumed filming on the programme.

She said: "Scarlett is complex, and I knew the storyline that was planned was going to be very fun.

"It is fun to play her and try and empathise with her actions.

"It was so comforting to be able to continue to work during the pandemic. And the attention to safety and everyone's well-being was so strong, I never felt concerned.

"I arrived to start my stint on the show and I was five weeks pregnant. It was still a secret at that point, so Nurse Sally looked out for me every day."

Christie is delighted her unborn baby has already made his debut on the soap.

She added: "It was pretty amazing to think my baby was making a debut on one of Australia's most iconic shows while only a tiny embryo.

"That's something he can brag about to the other babies in the nursery at the hospital when he is born."

The last time Scarlett - who she played last year from September to October - was seen on screen came when the character was taken into police custody after she stabbed Ned Willis (Ben Hall) with a cheese knife, and slashed Yashvi Rebecchi's (Olivia Junkeer) leg.