Neighbours star Kym Valentine has told OK! magazine that she “balled her eyes out” when she heard from the show’s bosses that another actress would play her role for five weeks.

Kym has been playing the part of Libby on and off since 1994 but when she contracted pneumonia last year, she had to take a break from filming for the show. However, her character was at the centre of an upcoming storyline at the time, so show bosses brought in actress Michala Banas to replace her.

Kym became unwell in July last year when she suffered a collapsed lung while on a flight to London from New York. She told the magazine, “It became clear the only way I was going to get better was to take a break.

“When I found out I went into the bathroom and absolutely balled my eyes out.

“I was devastated. It was a terrifying feeling.”

Kym was in the middle of filming scenes for a wedding when she fell ill but she was back on set earlier this year.