Sneak peek: Jessica Marais' Rafters farewell

Packed to the Rafters will return next week with the departure of Rachel (played by Jessica Marais).

"I’ll never forget the first time I stepped on set when we filmed the pilot," Marais told TV WEEK.

"I was still at drama school and the disbelief I felt standing on a set with Bec, Erik (Thomson) and Michael (Caton)… I was so nervous and absolutely in awe of them! I remember looking at Hugh (Sheridan) and thinking, 'How did we get here? How did this happen?'"

Check out the extended preview of the series return above.