Burns returns to childhood

Armstrong Creek resident Brandon Burns is set to return to TV screens next year, reprising his childhood role on popular Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Brandon will begin shooting next Tuesday November 14 at the Melbourne-based set on Pin Oak Court, in Vermont South, fictitiously known as Ramsay Street.

“I’m reprising a role from when I was 15. Fans of neighbours may remember Drew Kirk and Libby Kennedy; I was Drew’s younger brother Dougal who had travelled down from Queensland for his funeral,” Brandon said.

“I’ll be returning obviously a lot older, with a storyline involving my nephew Ben Kirk, the son of Drew and Libby. This will be a block of two to four episodes but I’m hoping the writers will be able to find a more permanent role for my character.

“They’ll have to test how my character is received by viewers and the ratings associated with my return. It depends on how I resonate with the audience but also how well I work with the person playing my nephew.

“Fremantle Media called me out of the blue and asked if I would be willing to make a return and of course I said yes.”

Since Brandon’s role on neighbours in 2002, he’s kept himself within the industry by teaching at Mooregrace Acting Studios on Pakington Street in Geelong.

“Besides acting I’ve done voiceovers for cartoons such as Dogstar, The Flamin’ Thongs and Wakkaville on 7mate, and I also sing in my own band for weddings and events.

“For those that don’t watch Neighbours, they may know me from my time getting to the Top 20 on Australian Idol in 2003; the season with Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll.

“I’ve had cameos in Round the Twist, Blue Heelers, High flyers, End of Town, Dugong, Rush and ABC’s Bed of Roses and recently sang the national anthem at the Geelong races which was heaps of fun!

“My advice to anyone wanting to get into acting is to have patience and stick to it. A good strike rate is getting the job in 1/8 auditions, but it’s not easy; I get that.

“As well as patience, you need to be able to show you can be directed. Directors don’t want someone who isn’t able to change how they do things on the go.”

Brandon was born and bred in Geelong and has lived in Lara and Highton prior to his move with his wife and three children to Armstrong Creek.

“We couldn’t get over how well the Armstrong Villawood Estate had been designed. It was an easy decision to move.

“Myself and other dads started our own Auskick league and we’re hoping to get our own football and netball club too. We have amazing new facilities that have so much potential so it’s exciting to see how this area will grow.”

Despite his success outside of Geelong, Brandon is passionate about small-business and his local community having started a local networking group.

“I started a networking event called 3217 Collaboration Co, giving community members within the 3217 postcode an opportunity to network with other like-minded people in the area.

“It’s been amazing. Villawood have made donations to the group so we’ve been able to run on every third Wednesday night of the month.”

Brandon’s Neighbours episodes will air on Channel 11 in March 2018.