Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on 18 March 1985 and currently airs on digital channel Eleven. The following is a list of characters that appeared in the show in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the shows executive producer Jason Herbison. The 33rd season of Neighbours began airing from 9 January 2017. Andrea and Willow Somers made their debuts during the same month. Teacher Finn Kelly was introduced during March, while Dipi, Kirsha and Yashvi Rebecchi, along with Dipi's sister Mishti Sharma, arrived in April. Jeremy Newell and Mannix Foster appeared in June. Evan Lewis and Fay Brennan were introduced during the following month. September saw the first appearance of Hamish Roche, while Cassius Grady (uncredited until May 2018) and Rory Zemiro made their debuts in November. Joanne Schwartz appeared in December.
Andrea Somers
Andrea Somers, played by Madeleine West, made her first appearance on 20 January 2017. West previously played Dee Bliss, who was presumed dead in 2003 when her husband Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) accidentally crashed their car into the sea. On 15 September 2016, Tiffany Dunk of News.com.au reported that West had reprised the role of Dee. West returned to filming that same week. However, during the episode broadcast on 2 February 2017, it was revealed that Dee was actually an impostor named Andrea Somers. Andrea is impersonating Dee to gain money from the Bliss family estate. She also includes her daughter Willow Somers (Mieke Billing-Smith) in the scam, by pretending that she is Toadie's daughter. Five months after Andrea's exit, West made a surprise return to the show on 14 August 2017. Her appearance was not announced beforehand and the closing credits stated it was a "Special appearance by Madeleine West", leading viewers to speculate that it was the real Dee and not Andrea. West later appeared during the season finale on 8 December 2017. Her character was seen watching Toadie's vow renewal from a taxi. Her character name was again withheld. She was seen again during the return episode on 8 January 2018. It was later confirmed on-screen that Andrea had been in Erinsborough to check up on Toadie, and Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy believed Andrea was the woman in the taxi. A set of flashbacks broadcast on 27 June 2018 showed Andrea had fallen pregnant after having sex with Toadie. She later fled town leaving her son Hugo Somers (John Turner) with Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington). As Andrea and the real Dee Bliss came face-to-face in July 2019, West revealed that they are twins, who were separated at birth.
Jasmine Udagawa
Jasmine Udagawa, played by Kaori Maeda-Judge, made her first appearance on 26 January 2017. Maeda-Judge joined the show's cast on a recurring basis, and on-screen Jasmine challenges business rival Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). Jasmine soon becomes involved in the mystery story surrounding the paternity of David Tanaka (Takaya Honda) and Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano). Jasmine shifts her attention from Paul to Leo, who she believes is related to her. Not wanting him to inherit Lassiter's she concocts a plan to sabotage his backpackers business and force him to leave Erinsborough. Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) soon becomes suspicious of Jasmine's vendetta against Leo and snoops in a secret file and is shocked to learn he could potentially gain control of Lassiter's. Discussing Jasmine's ruthless plan to run Leo out of Erinsborohough, Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy said that "talk about a u-turn! [...] she certainly doesn't mess about." He added that the "very intriguing" story would progress with Amy Williams (Zoe Cramond) discovering the truth about Jasmine's file on Leo. It soon became clear that Jasmine's theories were incorrect.
Terese sees Jasmine working with her investor James Udagawa (Samuel David Humphrey) and mistakes her for his new assistant. Jasmine introduces herself as James's sister, before leaving to look around the Lassiter's complex. James explains that Jasmine has convinced their dying grandfather that she needs to step in and he warns Terese to watch her, as he is being relocated. Jasmine returns and has some questions for Terese after going through the books. A couple of weeks later, Jasmine brings her grandfather. Toshiro Udagawa (Lawrence Mah), to see an exhibition at Lassiter's Hotel and reacts to the mention of Leo name. Terese raises the moment with Jasmine, who decides to look into it. She asks Terese to continue to bring down Paul's business, but later changes her mind and tells Terese to drive Leo and his business out of Erinsborough.