ITV stuns fans into silence after soap star spotted on TV eight months after tragic death

viewers were left stunned after an iconic soap legend was seen on television screens eight months after she died. Janet Andrewartha was best known for her role as Lyn Scully in Neighbours and first made her on-screen debut on the drama in 1999. Her character was the mother of Stephanie (Carla Bonner), Felicity (Holly Valance), and Michelle (Kate Keltie), and was married to Joe (Shane Connor), for around 20 years from 1999. The actress sadly died in her sleep at the age of 72 last year in her home city of Melbourne, Australia less than three months after she received a cancer diagnosis.

Viewers were shocked to see Janet appear on-screen once again in the new ITV drama Fake. The Australian-born actress starred as Kath Tovey in the gritty series in a supporting role. The show focuses on a smart magazine writer named Birdie (Asher Keddie) who seems to have found her ideal match. On a dating app, she meets a successful farmer, but she later discovers that all is not as it seems.

The Australian romance scam thriller, despite its title, is actually based on real life events and the true story written by Stephanie Wood who opened up on her own experience in a memoir.

Janet had a number of on and off stints on Ramsay Street, before departing Neighbours for the final time in 2019.

At the time, her friend - and Neighbours co-star - Jackie Woodburne paid a heartfelt tribute to her pal.

She said: "[Janet] was one of the finest actors of a generation. I will miss her every day."

Announcing her death on Instagram in July last year, the official account for the soap wrote: "Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha.

"Beloved by viewers for her role as Ramsay Street's Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her wide body of work."

Fake is available now on ITVX to stream and airs Saturdays on ITV at 10.10pm