Neighbours stars Takaya Honda and Matty Wilson reveal the soap’s first gay wedding will ‘save lives’

The marriage between their characters, David Tanaka and Aaron Brennan, is set to make history Down Under by being the country's first gay wedding to be shown on television after equality was won but more importantly the impact will be greater for LGBT+ people.

That's because it marks the first time a gay wedding will air on Australian TV, just 10 months after the country voted in favour of same-sex marriage and they have been told by a prominent LGBT activist how it will save lives.

The importance of the wedding episode is not lost on either of the actors playing the couple – Takaya Honda and Matty Wilson – and they felt a great responsibility to do the LGBT+ community justice.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun Online's Soap Bubble, Takaya – who plays David – said: "I feel a huge honour for being a part of it as a whole, to get to play David and through his whole story of coming out, to finding his dad to meeting Aaron and working with that relationship to where it is now.

"It's such an honour to be part of what is such a historic moment in the Australian TV landscape."

Matty – who plays Aaron – is in total agreement, saying: "It’s a huge moment, it’s hard to believe, I still pinch myself.

"When we see the hype around this episode in particular you start to realise this is a huge responsibility and a huge moment in history.

"It has the ability to affect a lot of people so it’s quite a powerful episode."

David and Aaron – or Daaron as their fans have nicknamed them – haven't had the easiest path to the altar, splitting at the beginning of the year with David moving on to romance the mysterious Rafael Humphreys, played by our very own Ryan Thomas.

However they reunited a few months later and proposed to each other on the beach in May, setting the ball rolling for the big TV wedding, which will air in September.

Takaya added: "Having to be the first marriage between two men on screen since it's been legalised has a lot of responsibility, but it was the motivation for Matty and I to work really hard on making a really truthful relationship between David and Aaron, so the audience would be behind us at this moment."

The storyline has been in the works since Takaya first joined the show in 2016, and he added: "I think it's a credit to the show as well as to Matty and myself that we're able to get here and have the audience behind us."

Indeed, the audience – overall – have been extremely supportive of the storyline and the relationship between David and Aaron.

Both actors admit they have been taken aback by the response, with Takaya explaining: "The things that are really special to me are the private messages you get, like when David did come out on the show, how much strength people found in that moment.

"I’d get messages from people’s mothers or men themselves saying thank you so much for that storyline, my brother, myself, my friend was able to use that as a segway into coming out to their families.

"Those moments were really special for me."

Sadly there is still some negativity out there towards a gay couple being portrayed on screen, however Matty has little time for it.

He said: "I still find it hard to believe there are actually people out there who are opposed to it.

"I mean, everyone has their right to an opinion but I just don’t see why someone would deny love.

"But if people are creating hashtags and investing into you positively, it’s pretty cool.

"It’s so surprising, they’ll take time out to do sketches and drawings of the couple and write poems, it’s a bizarre feeling.

"They’ve been egging it on for us to get married and we’re finally here."

The episode gets an extra special touch as acclaimed actress and comedian Magda Szubanski – who campaigned strongly for marriage equality in Australia ahead of the historic vote – plays the celebrant who conducts the ceremony.

Speaking about the Kath and Kim star, both actors couldn't praise her enough.

Takaya said: "She said when we were filming, ‘In all seriousness what you’re doing today will save lives, it’s that simple’.

"It was a masterclass, she was a figurehead for a push for marriage equality, so having someone like that be part of the storyline was huge and a huge gift for the show."

Matty agreed, saying: "She is an absolute genius, she’s always been a superstar in my eyes.

"When we found out she was coming I was so nervous.

"She’s absolutely lovely, so humble and a beautiful person to talk to."

However, soap land weddings never run smoothly, so can fans expect any drama before they reach the altar?

Takaya says: "There are a few things leading up that put spanners in the works, but I think the writers and producers knew the wedding itself holds its own and is special enough, and doesn’t need too much adding to it to make it more interesting than it already is.

"It’s an important moment for both the characters, and Australian TV and Australia as a whole, so why would you add anything if you don’t need to?"

Meanwhile Matty confirmed Ryan's character Rafael will not be one of the previously mentioned spanners, and won't be turning up to ruin the couple's big day.

However Ryan – who Takaya describes as "a wonderful man" – did play a prank on Matty that made him think otherwise at one point.

He explained: "I would have loved Ryan Thomas’ character to come back, that would have been perfect.

"He sent me a message a while ago and he joked to me, he said ‘hey my character comes back and we get it on’ and I was like 'what?'

"I kept trying to call him and he wouldn’t answer because he was pulling my leg, that would have been good.

"But it is a full circle, beautiful storyline with a really nice ending. Unlike most soap weddings there isn’t a traumatic ending."

Once the viewers have had chance to savour the big moment on screen, they will want to know what's next for the married couple, could children be in the equation?

At the moment, Matty isn't sure, telling us: "I would love that, I’d love that storyline to come about but so far there hasn’t been any kids storylines on the scripts we’ve seen, but hopefully we can get to that."

While the pair don't know what will happen next for David and Aaron, fans can rest assured they're staying in Erinsborough for the foreseeable.

Matty said: "We’re still working and with the amount of energy that’s been invested into this one episode it would be pretty rude to just have us slide to America or drive off a cliff or something!"

SCENE OF THE WEEK

Coronation Street's Mary Taylor's hilarious rant

MARY had Coronation Street viewers in stitches this week with a hilarious rant about hen parties.

The flower flogger – who is played by actress Pati Claire in the ITV soap – proved that Corrie is still streets ahead of the rest with its comedy by delivering a perfect-timed comedy monologue about the horrors of hen parties planned by Beth Tinker.

Talking to Adam Barlow about her woes, Mary told him: "I am here to moderate some of Beth's more outré suggestions.

"I'm not a snob Adam, I've been to Nandos. But Beth's idea of a good night is 12 pints in 12 pubs, Angels on the karaoke and a good grope of a stripper.

"And then paying a cab driver £50 whilst he wearily picks out bits of doner kebab from the back of his beaded eat cover."

Nothing could beat this scene this week.

BIGGEST SOAP NEWS

Ex Coronation Street boss moves to EastEnders

KATE Oates has finally confirmed The Sun's exclusive report that she's joining EastEnders as Senior Executive Producer.

The former Coronation Street and Emmerdale boss – who's currently working on the second series of ITV drama Bancroft – will oversee the running of the BBC One soap, as well as Casualty and Holby City.

Kate's appointment means temporary returning boss John Yorke will step down from his role on Albert Square.

Kate said: "Working across EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City is an amazing opportunity for me to have creative input into three of the UK’s leading dramas.

"I’m excited about meeting the teams and talent behind each show and can’t wait to get stuck in and tell some unmissable stories."

Emmerdale hunk joins EastEnders

EMMERDALE hunk Stephen Rahman-Hughes will join EastEnders and become Honey Mithchell’s new love interest, the Sun’s Bizarre TV column can reveal.

He is moving to Walford as Adam Bateman the Square’s dentist and is setting his sights on Billy’s estranged wife who he recently cheated on with Tina Carter.

Stephen has previously starred in Doctors and played DCI Vikesh Dasari on the Dales soap.

A soap source said: “He’s the perfect catch — suave, sophisticated and with a dazzling smile, this well-respected professional will do anything for anyone.

“When Honey needs emergency dental care, he is quickly on hand and as sparks fly in the dentist chair the pair soon end up going on a date.

“This will cause a bit of stir on the Square especially for Billy who doesn’t want to let go of his relationship with Honey.”

Which soap did you watch last week? Ratings revealed…

SPOILER ALERT

What's coming up next week?

In Coronation Street next week Billy Mayhew is consumed with guilt after rapist Josh Tucker is blinded, and homeless Sean Tully cries as he is forced to beg for money after being fired from the Rovers for stealing vodka.

Conman Lewis Archer returns Gail Platt's £40k as he hands himself into police for fraud in an effort to win Audrey Roberts back, and there's a tragic death as Rana Nazir's father Hassan succumbs to his stroke.

 

But in nicer news, Sophie Webster's new cougar lover will make her debut, but it comes after Sally is arrested and accused of her own shock affair and her husband Tim is also arrested when he attacks conman Duncan.

Meanwhile Carla Connor reunites with Peter Barlow as they buy Underworld together after Alya Nazir has a change of heart.



Over in Emmerdale Megan Macey and Frank Clayton fight for their lives after horror car crash and Sarah Sugden refuses life saving heart operation as her devastated mother Debbie Dingle struggles to cope.

David's other woman Maya Stepney tells a devastated Jacob Gallagher about his step-mum Tracy Metcalfe's secret abortion and Amelia Spencer runs away with kidnapper Beth again leaving her family devastated.

In heartbreaking scenes Zak Dingle horrified as he discovers Monty the dog being abused by his owner and vows to save the poor pup.

In Walford Keanu Taylor will be told the truth about his abusive father after he becomes violent towards mum Karen and Ted Murray gets a shocking message from the dead from late wife Joyce.


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