For the first time ever Neighbours was aired over Christmas this year, delighting fans of the soap both here and in Australia.

And while the festive episode on Christmas Day was everything viewers had hoped it would be, there was one major thing that everyone was tuning in for – the highly anticipated return of Jim Robinson.

The legendary Ramsay Street character was last seen on the soap 25 years ago when he met his maker after suffering a fatal heart attack –  but fans have claimed his return was well worth the wait.

There has been plenty of speculation about how the show would bring the dead character back ever since it was revealed actor Alan Dale has reprised his role for a one-off episode, and fans couldn’t have been happier when he appeared as a figment of Paul’s imagination – in a Christmas bauble!

Jim was back to see his son Paul in a moment of desperation after new character Delaney Renshaw told him that he was responsible for the death of his nemesis Mannix Foster.

But as Paul was forced to head to the location that Delaney said Mannix’s body was buried, disaster struck when he lost control of the car and hit his head as he crashed off the road.

When he regained consciousness, Paul saw visions of his late father in a Christmas bauble hanging in the car – but it wasn’t to be a happy reunion.

Alan Dale’s long awaited return to Neighbours didn’t disappoint!

Jim set about telling his son that he needed to change his ways if he wanted to keep his children close by… ending his life-affirming speech by telling Paul that it was never too late to be the man he wants to be.

But as Paul continued to the location where Delaney told Paul the shallow grave was in, he was horrified to start digging, only to discover a corpse’s foot. But is Paul really a murderer twice over?

And will Jim’s chat be enough to make for Paul change his ways?

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5

Picture credits: Channel 5, Alan Dale image: Gregory Pace/REX/Shutterstock