He was the golden boy of the nineties. Between the bouncy blonde mullet of Henry Ramsay on Neighbours and the chart-topping pop success of "Mona," Craig McLachlan wasn't just a star; he was a permanent fixture in the Australian living room. Fast forward to 2026, and the scenery has shifted dramatically. If you're wondering where is Craig McLachlan now, the answer isn't a simple "he retired." It’s a messy, loud, and ongoing saga of a man trying to claw his way back from a total career collapse.
Honestly, it's been a rough ride. McLachlan spent years in a kind of forced exile following a 2018 scandal that essentially nuked his reputation overnight. While he was legally acquitted of all criminal charges in late 2020, the industry doors didn't exactly swing back open. In 2026, he’s still navigating the fallout, and his recent attempts at a comeback have been nothing short of explosive.
The Cluedo Fallout and the Cancellation That Won’t Quit
Just when it looked like the dust had settled, 2025 threw another curveball. McLachlan was cast as Colonel Mustard in a high-profile Australian tour of Cluedo. It was supposed to be the "big return." The announcement, however, triggered an immediate and fierce reaction from the Australian theatre community.
Within days, the social media backlash grew so intense that McLachlan stepped down from the production. He didn't go quietly, though. In a raw Instagram post that racked up over a million views, he called the campaign against him "bullying" and "a grubby ordeal."
His partner, acclaimed conductor Vanessa Scammell, has been vocal about this. She recently launched a podcast titled Not Guilty – The Craig McLachlan Case in January 2026. The series doesn't just rehash the trial; it takes a "forensic" look at what Scammell calls the "poster boy" treatment of McLachlan during the Me Too era. She argues that while the courts cleared him, a small, powerful group in the industry is still acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
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Where is Craig McLachlan Now? Life on the Pub Circuit
If he’s not on the main stage, where is he? Mostly, he’s found a home in smaller, more intimate settings.
Since 2024 and throughout 2025, McLachlan has been touring a show called Six String Stories. It’s a stripped-back performance where he plays guitar alongside his long-time mate, "Dangerous" Dave Williams. No massive sets, no flashy costumes—just a man, a guitar, and a bunch of stories from his forty years in the business.
He’s been playing everywhere from the Hunter Valley to regional towns like Yarram. He even plays a medley of Rocky Horror hits, reclaiming the songs that were at the center of his legal battles. It seems that while the "industry" might be cold, a specific segment of the public is still buying tickets.
A Surprise Leap Back to Film
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for those following his acting career. As of early 2026, reports have surfaced that McLachlan is poised to star in a new Australian feature film. He described the offer as "the ultimate vindication."
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Details are still under wraps—thanks to the usual non-disclosure agreements—but pre-production is reportedly underway. This marks his first significant acting role since The Doctor Blake Mysteries was halted back in 2018.
The Legal Context: Why the Shadow Lingers
To understand why people are still so divided over where Craig McLachlan stands today, you have to look back at the 2020 verdict.
A Melbourne magistrate dismissed all 13 charges of indecent assault and common law assault. However, the magistrate also described the accusers as "brave and honest witnesses." This created a paradox that hasn't gone away: McLachlan is legally innocent, but the court’s commentary left enough room for his critics to keep the "cancelled" tag firmly attached.
Later, McLachlan dropped a multimillion-dollar defamation suit against the ABC and Nine newspapers, citing the toll on his mental health. In 2026, he seems to have traded the courtroom for the recording booth and the pub stage.
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What's Next for the Actor?
Basically, McLachlan is living in a strange middle ground. He’s not the untouchable superstar he was in the eighties, but he’s not quite the pariah he was in 2019 either.
His current focus is twofold:
- The Podcast: Not Guilty is currently dropping episodes, attempting to flip the narrative and address the "cherry-picked" reporting of his case.
- The Screen: If the rumored feature film makes it through production without another "Cluedo-style" backlash, it could be the true test of his longevity.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Observers
If you're following the Craig McLachlan story, there are a few places to keep an eye on. His official website remains the primary hub for his Six String Stories tour dates, which are still being added for the 2026 season. If you want to hear his side of the legal saga directly, the Not Guilty podcast is available on major streaming platforms and provides the most recent "unscripted" interviews with the actor.
For those looking for his earlier work, much of his discography has been remastered and is available on Spotify under My Little Acoustic Record. Whether he can fully bridge the gap between regional pub tours and mainstream television again remains the big question of 2026.
Next Steps: You can check his official site for the latest Six String Stories tour dates or listen to the first few episodes of the Not Guilty podcast to get the full context of his current comeback attempt.