If you watch soap operas in Australia or the UK you will no doubt be familiar with the Australian soap “Neighbours.”
The show, which has been running since 1985, explores the lives and relationships of the residents of Ramsay Street in Erinsborough. Recently, the day before the International Day of People with Disability — which was December 3 — the show announced that hard of hearing actor Nathan Borg would be joining the soap in a guest role – becoming the first actor on Australian TV to wear a cochlear implant.
We talked to Nathan Borg about his life with hearing loss and his career as an actor.
“Neighbours”
Hard of hearing actor Nathan Borg will be joining the long-running soap opera, which has been on the air since 1985 when it debuted in Australia. It was picked up the following year by the UK’s BBC1, which broadcast it for 21 years. It then moved to channel 5 in 2008. Famous names have appeared on the show over the years, including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, and Natalie Imbruglia.
Now Borg will play new teacher, Curtis Perkins, making his debut in episode 8546, which will air in the UK in early 2021. He will be featured alongside characters Susan Kennedy and Jane Harris, played by soap legends Jackie Woodburne and Annie Jones.
Borg, 24, will be the first actor on Australian TV to wear a cochlear implant. According to RadioTimes, Borg was born six weeks premature and had meningitis. He received a cochlear implant at age two.
HLM recently spoke with Borg about his big break and learned more about his story.
Interview with Hard of Hearing Actor Nathan Borg
HLM: What was your childhood like?
Borg: My childhood involved a lot of speech therapy, so I spent a lot of my time at the Eye & Ear Hospital in Melbourne. I had the “1997 SPrint Speech Processor,” which wasn’t exactly the lightest device to wear as a kid. It created some obstacles when doing physical activities. My mum would have to sew pockets onto my tees or make shoulder straps so I could wear my cochlear implant. In primary school, kids always accepted me as me and never questioned my disability. I always had great support from my family. My sisters always treated me as their little brother, just like siblings do.
To read the rest of this interview go to Hearing Like Me
