After months of waiting, she's finally here! Hot on the heels of last year's explosive Dee Bliss return (well, actually, about that…) another of Ramsay Street's most iconic characters is making her much-anticipated return in a dramatic Neighbours late-night special. Yes, Izzy Hoyland is back.
In the mere four years from 2003 to 2007, the character made the kind of impact soap producers can only dream of. Lies, infidelity, baby secrets, daddy issues, bitchy one-liners, and she even took part in star-studded trip to London. Ramsay Street truly was never the same again.
So in preparation for the return of one of soap's most notorious homewreckers, freshen up on your Izzy facts here.
1. Who even are the Hoylands?
The Ramsay Street landscape has changed since Izzy's stilettos first clattered into Erinsborough. She was introduced as Max Hoyland's flirtatious younger sister and provided the much-needed kick to their happy household.
Max was married to Steph Scully and both had to hold their tongue when Izzy brought trouble to their front door. With the Hoylands now long gone, only Steph is still around, and it remains to be seen whether absence has made the heart grow fonder for the once-warring sisters-in-law.
2. She was the first 'soap bitch' of Ramsay Street
The soap 'superbitch' has long been a staple of the British shows, but although it's hard to believe, Izzy was Neighbours' first. Guest villains came and went, but Izzy changed the game by taking up permanent residence on Ramsay Street.
Izzy's strengths, however, lay in her complexities as she often resorted to lies to protect herself. Less 'tart with a heart', more 'bitch with a back story'. Her difficult upbringing shaped her into a woman who was emotionally difficult and desperate to seek the approval of older men. Speaking of men…
3. Izzy was not a girl's girl
Izzy had many men falling at her feet, but the character wasn't simply a notorious man-eater. Izzy simply found it easier to connect with men – not only romantically, but also in terms of friendships. Almost immediately after her arrival, Izzy was making enemies of Ramsay Street's female population: Steph, Susan, Sky…the list was endless.
The men, on the other hand, were quickly wooed. From her no-strings fling with Steph's teenage brother Jack, to her surprising friendship with Harold. What did tuba-playing Christian Harold and Izzy have in common? We're not exactly sure either…
4. Izzy is responsible for one of the biggest plots in Neighbours history
Karl may have cheated on Susan before (who can forget The Slap?), but Izzy's slow-burn seduction of Karl had viewers gripped. Izzy took great glee in taunting and rousing new enemy Susan's suspicions, and coupled with Karl's drink problem, it led to a story that shook the soap world.
Izzy's charms and Karl's mid-life crisis saw Karl admitting 'I just don't love you anymore' to Susan and we were all left sobbing, including her.
5. Izzy had her fair share of baby dramas
Izzy received a big shock when she realised she was carrying the baby of her unstable ex-boyfriend Gus Cleary. Hearing that she was lucky to conceive at all, Izzy decided to keep the baby… after quickly seducing Karl and convincing him that the child was his.
Izzy was set for the love and stability she'd always wanted, but this being soap, the truth had to come out. Not only did Izzy eventually lose the baby, but when the truth came out about Gus, she resorted to her darkest lie yet, telling Karl that Gus had raped her.
When she was found out, Izzy was disowned by Karl and her brother Max, and so it seemed the whole of Ramsay Street.
6. Karl was not the only man for Izzy
With Karl gone and Ramsay Street out for blood, it wasn't long before Izzy teamed up with Erinbrough's other most-hated individual, Paul Robinson. It was clear early on that Izzy would never love Paul like she did Karl, but she quickly settled into a life of dysfunctional bliss with Paul.
Izzy made the most of her millionaire boyfriend and enjoyed a rich and fabulous lifestyle of regular villainy, attempted murder by Paul's evil son notwithstanding.
7. Holly is not the product of an affair
Contrary to popular belief, Karl and Izzy's daughter Holly isn't the result of their affair or relationship, as both were free agents at the time. The story behind her conception was a bit more convoluted, including a remorseful and heartbroken Karl mistaking Izzy for Susan when he had overdosed on sleeping syrup. Yes, really.
Izzy was eager to make amends and realised how lucky she was to conceive again, so lied about carrying Karl's child and left Ramsay Street to start a new life.
8. Izzy's been living it up in London
Never one to do things by halves, Izzy had moved to London by 2007 and hooked up with a married premiership footballer. As luck would have it, she bumped into Karl and Susan, who had taken the trip of a lifetime to get remarried. Having been urged by her new squeeze to tell the Kennedys the truth, a heavily pregnant Izzy turned up at the ceremony on a barge – only to go into labour with Neil Morrissey and Sinitta as witnesses!
Karl unknowingly delivered his own daughter and Susan eventually overheard Izzy's big secret. It wasn't long before Susan told Karl the truth and now his visits to Holly provide explanations for actor Alan Fletcher's annual holidays! As for Izzy, who knows what she's been up to in the last decade, but we can't wait to find out.
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