Over twenty years later, the show's UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed that Hall had been cast in the role and would make a short guest appearance.

His storylines during his second and third stints included an on-off relationship with Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta), the introduction of his married former lover Regan Davis (Sabeena Manalis), and his arrest for arson.

Kendall also reprised her role as Lauren to help facilitate Ned's permanent move to Erinsborough, as it emerges that he still has feelings for her and needs to give her and Brad some space.

Later, Ned embarks on a polyamorous relationship with Amy Greenwood (Jacinta Stapleton) and Levi Canning (Richie Morris), a storyline which was critiqued by fans and reporters.

[2] In September 2015, the serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, told Inside Soap of the show's intentions to introduce Ned to and said that production was "keeping him in reserve".

[3] On 10 March 2016, the show's UK broadcaster Channel 5 announced that the character was being introduced on 6 April with actor Ben Hall cast in the role.

[5] In June 2016, Sophie Dainty of Digital Spy confirmed that Hall had returned to filming, after the actor posted various photos of himself on the set to his social media accounts.

[9] Hall admitted that he was initially had doubts about joining the cast full time, as he had been offered some other acting jobs, but he found himself enjoying the role and considered committing to a longer stint.

[11] In an interview with Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap, Hall thought Ned had the potential to be a bad boy character, and he enjoyed playing him when he flirted with that line.

[16] Hall commented that Ned was raised by a single mother, so Lauren's kind nature helps to settle him in and make Erinsborough feel like home.

"[7] Following Hall's return to filming, the actor confirmed that Ned would be receiving a new love interest and producers paired his character with the newly introduced Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta).

[12] Later that night, Ned meets Elly in the Back Lane Bar in the city and after they have a small argument, they decide to stop playing games and give their relationship a go.

"[7] He went on to say that the pair's romance was initially based on lust and was quite "unstable", but it had potential to develop into love and become a long-term relationship, which would play out over a number of months.

[23] Writers soon devised a break up story for Elly and Ned, beginning with the revelation that Regan's husband was recurring villain Jacka Hills (Brad McMurray).

[27] Hall later thanked viewers for their support on his social media accounts, and added "it was an absolute honour to be a part of the crazy world of Erinsborough and work with such kind and talented people.

[34] Hall thought that with Kendall working on the show as a director, it would be easier to write Lauren back in if the writers ever wanted to explore the relationship between her and Ned further.

[35] It later emerges that Cassius killed his father Hamish Roche (Sean Taylor) and let Piper's former boyfriend Tyler Brennan (Travis Burns) take the blame.

Hall said that their friendship starts off "coincidentally", as Ned offers to walk Bea home when she thinks she has seen her former partner and villain Finn Kelly (Rob Mills).

He commented "their friendship blossoms from there – but it's early days..."[32] Hall also said that while Ned is definitely over Elly, and their romance ended amicably, if he and Bea became a couple it could be "uncomfortable and a bit weird".

[35] Hall believed the couple made a good match, saying "Ned knows Bea has been through a lot having been manipulated and fooled by Finn and realises this needs to be a slow burn, she is very delicate right now.

[35] Anderson told Alice Penwill of Inside Soap that Bea enjoys her friendship with Ned and she feels safe with him, although she puts her guard up occasionally.

Ned's former lover Regan Davis (Sabeena Manalis) comes to warn him that her husband Jacka Hills (Brad McMurray) has found out about their affair and is after revenge.

Jacka's mother Maxine Cowper (Kate Hood) turns up at the reception, and it emerges that Ned unintentionally started a fire that burnt her house down.

Ned walks Elly's sister Bea Nilsson (Bonnie Anderson) home when she fears that her former boyfriend Finn Kelly (Rob Mills) is following her.

While Ned is waiting for a flight to Queensland for Terese's wedding to Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis), he meets Scarlett Brady (Christie Whelan Browne), who has been jilted by her fiancé.

Zenin Alexio (Axle Whitehead) threatens Ned, as he think he has told Yashvi about the illegal gun ring he is running at the fight club.

Inside Soap's Sarah Ellis wrote, "There are certainly a lot of attractive men on Ramsay Street right now, but none of them have caught our attention in quite the same way as man of mystery Ned.

[42] Kilkelly later quipped, "Neighbours fans went Ned Willis crazy when he was first introduced to the show earlier this year, so it's not too much of a surprise that the producers have decided to quickly bring him back for another guest stint.

[43] The Daily Express's Rebecca Miller had a similar observation, saying "Neighbours fans have been going wild ever since Ned Willis reappeared on screens in several episodes as a guest".

"[22] Simon Timblick from What's on TV found the character's looks aesthetically pleasing, dubbing him "hunky" and commenting "it was nice to see Ned regularly walking about, showing off his chest tattoo.