Neighbours

Start date: Country of Origin: Australia Genre: Director: Producer: Writer: Cast: Quirky Quote:

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Now Australia’s longest-running drama series, Melbourne-based soap opera Neighbours began on the Channel Seven network in 1985, a creation of Reg Watson. Following poor viewing figures initially, the show was dropped by the Seven network, only for Channel Ten to secretly negotiate its resurrection and nurture its ensuing success. The show is set within a cul-de-sac called Ramsey Street, within a fictional district called Erinsborough (the name of which derived from an anagram of “neighbours” with an extra “O” and “R” added). The show’s characters (“neighbours”) interact and share problems, creating the basis for the show’s storylines. In reality the programme is filmed in a road called Pin Oak Court in the Vermont South area of Melbourne, which has become a popular tourist spot.

The late 1980s almost certainly saw the show’s most popular period, with the storyline of Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell’s (Kylie Minogue) forbidden relationship featuring prominently. With the Mitchells/Ramseys and Robinsons at neighbourhood war, the Romeo & Juliet style story had a magnetic effect on viewing audiences, so much so that Scott and Charlene’s eventual wedding received an audience of 19.1 million people in the UK. Incidentally, the UK still provides Neighbours’ biggest audience, with the show attracting 3 million viewers at lunchtime next to just over a million in Australia at evening prime time.

Many of the Neighbours cast have gone on to greater success, either still in acting or with pop careers. Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene Mitchell, has since gone on to huge success with an international pop music career. Jason Donovan similarly achieved initial music success in both Australia and the UK, among other countries, before focusing on stage acting. Guy Pearce has arguably achieved most notable acting success, with leading roles in many major Hollywood films, including Factory Girl (as Andy Warhol), a remake of The Time Machine, The Count of Monte Cristo and Oscar-winning thriller L.A. Confidential, alongside Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe. Delta Goodrum appeared in Neighbours in 2002 and has since paved a very successful international music career.