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TODAY MARKS THE thirtieth anniversary of Australian soap opera ‘Neighbours’.
The show was first broadcast in Australia on 18 March 1985 and now goes out to more than 50 countries around the world.
As part of the show’s anniversary, a special programme has been broadcast on Channel 10 in Australia featuring a number of the show’s former cast members.
Careers launched
The show has launched a large number of international careers over the years.
Personalities who started out in the show include Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Liam Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth and Alan Dale.
Oscar winner Russell Crowe also briefly appeared in the programme in a four-episode stint as Kenny Larkin in 1987.
Reunion
Several former cast members have been paying tribute to the show on Twitter. There has also been a tribute made to the programme by the cast of Eastenders.
Harold Bishop, a character famous associated with the Salvation Army, has been praised from the group on Twitter.
The anniversary is set to see Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, returning to the soap – despite her character having been killed off in 2001.
This will see her reunited with her husband, Harold Bishop. She had previously appeared in the show for two periods between 1986 and 1992 and between 1996 and 2001.
The only character remaining on the programme from its original broadcast is resident Ramsey Street bad guy Paul Robinson.
Robinson, played by actor Stefan Dennis, is set to be accidentally diagnosed with leukaemia in a forthcoming episode. Dennis recently told DigitalSpy that the storyline would take Paul on a “dark journey”.
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You left out Jason Donovan, FFS.
Cannot believe I just read an article about Neighbours and no mention of Jason Donovan!!!! Shameful…
Maybe he didn’t R.S.V.P.?
Is he off the smack?
Well I’d say he’s still give you one if you asked nicely…
Ouch.
Used to watch it religiously every day back in the 80′s. And then I woke up one morning and realised it was rubbish and have not watched it since.
I don’t know why it sticks but for some reason I remember some bit about a play and a lady playing the part of the “maniacal mud pie”
It pops into my head every flippin time anythin neighbours related comes up…
Was it Mrs Mangled?
Got stopped from watching neighbours in 87/88 because of the story line between Kylie and Jason. They were discussing where/when they should get it on and my dad asked if I knew what they were taking about. I said ‘yes’ and that was it, neighbours banned. I was 7/8 at the time. Haven’t watched it since.
I do love Home and Away though.
Haha that’s gas, twas about the same time I stopped, not because of that ridiculous love story but I realised at that same young age I simple hated soaps and all that manufactured drama. I still avoid all forms of relationship stories/drama soaps and series today. I had already stopped watching Cornation St and Glenroe and used to play with lego while my parents or sisters watched them. Living with other in my early twenties reintroduced me to Home&Away and I started drinking tea for a reason to get up, leave the room and make a pot for everyone and then I’d go get dinner while the 1.5hr of soaps were on nearly everyday of the week.
Brings back memories of waiting for my friends to finish watching their stupid soap so they could come out and play like normal kids.
No tv?
Still stings…
How many countries is that great Irish soap Fair City sold to? Lol
Several including all over the United States, where people voluntarily pay a premium subscription for it.
Didn’t know that. I knew it was sold to a small UK based channel that went belly up years ago. Never heard of the US subscription service or it being expired to other countries. Good stuff.
*exported*
Home & Away for life!
How does madge come back into it?
A bit like how Spock returned in Star Trek.
By Madgic
She’s a figment of Harold’s imagination. No, seriously.
Was Chris Helmsworth not in Home And Away?
Yes he was but the article is about his bro liam who was in it!
It say Chris who was in home and away not neighbours
I remember when Bouncer saved Madge from a chip pan fire and his his crazy dream sequence!
Helen Daniels…
Hubba hubba
i remember watching the first episode….starting to feel old now!
Soaps are usually awful.
From stupidly created situation which obviously go’s awry to a cheating/back stabbing storys which then gets flogged to death from anywhere to a week to six months. Its always negative crap and I think it’s unhealthy for the nation to be glued to the depressed fictional lives of saps every day of the week. How that’s seen as ‘entertainment’ by so many still baffles me.
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