Neighbours has launched its first-ever openly gay “throuple” storyline, ushering in a new wave of proudly queer representation on Ramsay Street.
This development comes as the beloved soap faces cancellation for the second time in under three years, but the writers are going out with one of their most unapologetically LGBTQ+ arcs yet.
The storyline introduces a love triangle between Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson), who is re-entering the dating scene following his husband’s death, and his two former partners, Rhett Norman (Liam Maguire) and Colton Key (Jakob Ambrose).
The trio’s romantic chemistry was put on full display during a playful and revealing yoga session, where Rhett awkwardly joins Aaron and Colton, prompting a hilariously tense handshake before class even begins.
The rivalry and banter between the men add humor to what is being hailed as a “confidently queer” storyline, as viewers are treated to characters who are entirely comfortable with their sexuality—adding depth and warmth to the narrative .
Liam Maguire, who plays Rhett, admitted he initially felt “intimidated” about competing with Jakob Ambrose’s Colton, but ultimately appreciated the fun and progressive tone in the script .
This storyline is a significant milestone for Neighbours, honoring the soap’s legacy of LGBTQ+ inclusion that dates back to 2004, when the show introduced its first lesbian character Lana Crawford and later its first male gay character, Chris Pappas .
The show has previously explored same-sex relationships, including a landmark wedding between Aaron and David in 2018, which was the first legal same-sex marriage in Australian television history.
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Previous brushes with LGBTQ+ representation have sometimes met backlash—like the controversy around a same-sex kiss in 2024—but Neighbours continued to lean into queer storytelling, defending representation as essential and inclusive .
The new throuple storyline reflects broader representation of polyamory and queer relationships on screen, engaging audiences with authentic, layered depictions rather than sensational drama .
While the show previously featured a polyamorous arc in 2021 between Amy Greenwood, Ned Willis, and Levi Canning, this is the first time it’s focused on an explicitly gay triad .
Actors have praised how the show embraces messiness and joy in queer relationships, with Jakob Ambrose describing the storyline as “funny and playful,” highlighting its refusal to conform to traditional soap norms .
As Neighbours prepares to wrap its current run, this bold LGBTQ+ narrative could serve as a beacon for future queer-inclusive stories in mainstream TV.
Audiences in the UK and US can catch the series on Amazon Prime Video starting June 23, while Australian viewers can tune into Channel 10 and 10 Peach.
With this confidently queer love triangle, Neighbours demonstrates that LGBTQ+ storylines aren’t just possible—they can be playful, progressive, and deeply human.
