Neighbours at 30: Memorable moments - BBC News BBC News Neighbours at 30: Memorable moments By Genevieve Hassan Entertainment reporter 18 March 2015 Read more about sharing. Close share panel On 18 March 1985, Neighbours was first broadcast in Australia. Thirty years on it's still going strong and broadcast to more than 50 countries around the world. To mark its 30th anniversary - and its 7,083rd episode - we give you 30 of the soap opera's memorable moments. 1. Scott and Charlene's wedding Image copyright Fremantle We begin with perhaps the most famous Neighbours moment. The wedding of Scott and Charlene Robinson - played by Jason Donovan and pop princess Kylie Minogue - was watched by some 20 million people in the UK when it was broadcast in November 1988. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Charlene walked down the aisle to Angry Anderson's power ballad Suddenly. And who caught the bouquet? Nosy neighbour Nell Mangel. 2.

The only surviving cast member (just) Image copyright Fremantle Stefan Dennis - aka Paul Robinson - is the only actor from the first episode to remain on Ramsay Street. Along the way, he's had five marriages, been held hostage, become mayor, survived a tornado and had his leg amputated (although eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted that the afflicted leg has changed from time to time). For the show's 30th anniversary, the character will be mistakenly diagnosed with leukaemia. "You are going to see a very, very different side of Paul," Dennis told Digital Spy . "He will take you on a rollercoaster. We will see a dark and very vulnerable side of him." 3. Famous Hollywood face #1 - Russell Crowe Image copyright Fremantle Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe appeared in four episodes of Neighbours in 1987. He may not have been memorable in his role as ex-con Kenny Larkin, but his mullet certainly was. 4.

Famous guest star #1 - Lily Allen Image copyright Fremantle The pop star appeared on the soap as herself in 2009, appearing as a guest on Zeke Kinski's local radio show while a star-struck Karl Kennedy looked on. She even performed a couple of bars of her track 22. 5. Des and Daphne's wedding Image copyright Fremantle Des and Daphne appeared in the very first episode of Neighbours, where Daphne was a stripper at Des's stag party. After Des was jilted at the altar, Daphne moved in with him to help pay his mortgage and romance blossomed. Their first attempt to get married ended in disaster after the wedding car was hijacked by a bank robber dressed in a gorilla suit. But after a six-month period apart, eventually made it down the aisle in 1986. 6. Daphne gives birth Image copyright Fremantle In Episode 544, Des and Daphne were out for a picnic when Daphne suddenly announced: "it's happening". Although he was initially disappointed at forgetting to bring his cigars, Des rallied round and helped his wife breathe and push as the contractions became closer and closer.

With a bit of help from Jim Robinson and Beverly Marshall - who happened to be in the same area for a fishing trip - the baby boy was delivered safely. And all without Daphne removing her tights. Miraculous. 7. Famous Hollywood face #2 - Guy Pearce Image copyright Fremantle Memento/Iron Man 3/The Hurt Locker star Guy Pearce appeared as Mike Young from 1986-89, when he was a school friend of Scott and Charlene (and later Scott's best man). Abused by his violent father, Mike moved in with Des and Daphne after they offered to become his legal guardians. He was known for his relationship with Jane Harris, who later ended up engaged to Des, much to Mike's annoyance. 8. Famous guest star #2 - Paula Abdul Image copyright Fremantle The Opposites Attract singer dropped in at Lassiter's last year in a storyline which saw Karl reveal a long-time crush on the former American Idol judge. Sadly, Abdul was not accompanied by MC Skat Kat. 9.

Henry gets locked out the house Image copyright Fremantle Played by Craig McLachlan, Henry Ramsay (brother to Charlene) was seen as the soap's prankster, always coming up with crazy schemes to make money... which inevitably failed. One of his most memorable moments came when he was locked out of Bronwyn's house in nothing but a towel and was forced to make a hasty, naked retreat after the towel got caught in the door. 10. Bouncer's dream sequence Image copyright Fremantle In a bizarre moment in Neighbours history, Bouncer the dog got his own dream sequence . While watching a video of the wedding of his second owners Joe and Kerry Mangel, he dozed off and dreamt of marrying his sweetheart, Rosie the sheepdog, who lived next door. Bouncer ended up moving to the country with the Mangels, but not before he fathered a litter of puppies in Anson's Corner. 11. Melanie Pearson's laugh Image copyright Fremantle Madcap Melanie (played by Lucinda Cowden) was best known on the soap for her foghorn, seal-like laugh and her frequent trips to the local Erinsborough astrologer, Madame Zolga.

She ended up marrying Joe Mangle, who fell in love with her after his wife Kerry was killed while out protesting a duck hunt. The marriage didn't last long though - they separated after a few years and Melanie moved to London. 12. Famous Hollywood face #3 - Alan Dale Image copyright Fremantle Alan Dale played Robinson family patriarch Jim Robinson for eight years, before falling out with producers over his pay. "I didn't like it there, they were not nice people," he later recalled . Australia's loss was Hollywood's gain, as Dale became one of US television's most sought-after bit part players, with roles in Ugly Betty, The OC, The West Wing, ER and 24, in which he played the vice president. For some reason, he always ended up dying... although nothing could top his Neighbours exit, in which Jim, mid-heart attack, knocked a fruit bowl to the floor in a suburban re-enactment of The Godfather's famous orange-spilling scene. 13. Famous guest star #3 - Little Britain Image copyright Fremantle Little Britain characters Lou and Andy made a cameo appearance in the background of a bar scene in 2007.

True to form, Andy rose from his wheelchair to play a motorbike arcade game while Lou was given directions by Harold Bishop. 14. Lassiter's fire Image copyright Fremantle The Lassiter's complex has suffered a number of unfortunate incidents over the years. An explosion hit the area in 1993, destroying everything but the Waterhole pub; and an unknown arsonist (who later turned out to be Paul Robinson) set fire to two buildings in 2004, which devastated half the area - and handily led to a revamp of the soap's sets. 15. Mark and Annalise's wedding Image copyright Getty Images Mark Gottlieb and Annalise Hartman's wedding didn't quite go to plan in 1994. With both parties feeling pre-wedding jitters on the day, it was Mark who ended up backing out in the church. He later explained to his jilted bride it wasn't that he couldn't marry her, he couldn't marry anyone - and had decided to become a priest instead. 16.

Helen Daniels' death Image copyright Getty Images Anne Haddy played Jim Robinson's mother-in-law Helen Daniels from the soap's start until 1997. Best friend to Madge, budding artist and head of the international Daniels Corporation, Helen was the caring grandmother of Ramsay Street. Over her time, she was duped by a conman who took her life savings, had an affair with her daughter's fiance, fell down a flight of stairs and suffered a stroke. Trying to settle a feud between the Ramsays and the Robinsons, Helen gathered the two families to watch Scott and Charlene's wedding. But as everyone remembered the old times and put their differences aside, Helen quietly passed away on the sofa. 17. The Lou, Madge and Harold love triangle Image copyright Fremantle The love triangle between Madge Ramsay (Anne Charleston), Harold Bishop (Iain Smith) and Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) was a storyline that began before Neighbours even aired. The trio first met at high school, where Madge first fell for the old "fuddy duddy" Harold, although she preferred the more roguish Lou. Then, unexpectedly, she married Fred Mitchell - a union that proved more than volatile.

Realising her mistake, Madge and Harold reunited and he proposed. But Lou flew down to Erinsborough to fight for Madge's affections, leading to many comedic moments. Madge ultimately chose Harold and they married in 1988. After Harold's death, Lou pursued Madge again and they were set to be married, although he called it off when he realised he could never replace his love rival, whom he nicknamed "Jelly Belly". 18. Harold returns from the dead Image copyright Fremantle Loveable Harold was killed off in 1991 (aired in the UK in 1992), apparently swept out to sea when Madge's back was turned. All he left behind were his glasses. Five years later he returned to Erinsborough, afflicted by that most convenient of soap opera diseases, amnesia. Ramsay Street stalwart Helen Daniels stumbled across him while in a Salvation Army shop and reunited him with his beloved Madge. 19.

Madge's death Image copyright Fremantle Fiery Madge Bishop was a much-loved character on Ramsay Street - which was named after her grandfather - appearing from 1986-92, and again from 1996-2001. After reuniting with Harold after he returned from the dead, the couple renewed their vows and took in foster child Paul McClain. But tragedy struck when Madge was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Told she only had months to live, it was further shortened when she developed septicaemia after cutting her finger. Returning home, Lou confessed his never-ending love for her and she died in the arms of her beloved Harold. 20. Famous Hollywood Face #4 - Liam Hemsworth Image copyright Fremantle The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth starred as paraplegic Josh Taylor - who was injured in a surfing accident - from 2007-08. Caught in a love triangle between regular characters Bridget Parker and Declan Napier, he dated Donna Freedman to get back at Bridget, but ended up losing both girls in the process.

Liam wasn't the first Hemsworth brother to appear in the soap, either, Chris - aka Thor - played Jamie Kane in 2002; and older brother Luke played Nathan Tyson in 2001 and 2002. 21. Susan's memory loss Image copyright Fremantle You know the saying "don't cry over spilt milk?" Well, in Susan Kennedy's case, that is terrible advice. In 2002, the character slipped on an upturned bowl of cereal and sustained a head injury, erasing 30 years of memories. She started to believe that she was 16 years old again - a state of affairs that only got more complicated when she accidentally wandered into a 1970s theme party. Jackie Woodburne, who plays the character, is Neighbours' longest-serving actress, having filmed more than 5,000 episodes of the show. 22. Toadie's weddings Image copyright Fremantle Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi has been unlucky when it comes to weddings.

His marriage to Dee Bliss in 2003 (above) came to an abrupt end within hours of their nuptials when he lost control of their car and drove off a cliff into the ocean. Her body was never found. On his second wedding day in 2010, Toadie left Steph Scully at the altar after realising she didn't really love him. And on his third, to Sonya Mitchell in 2013, a gas bottle exploded during the reception which destroyed their marquee, leaving Sonya with a fractured skull and no memory of the wedding. The explosion also killed characters Priya Kapoor and Rhys Lawson. 23. Like father, like son Image copyright Fremantle Following in his son Jason's footsteps, Terence Donovan joined the soap for a four-year stint in 1990 and came back for a brief appearance last year along with his on-screen wife, Pam, where it was discovered he was developing Alzheimer's Disease. 24. Characters return with a head transplant Image copyright Fremantle Neighbours has never been averse to sending a character away and bringing them back with another actor in the role.

Lucy Robinson has been played by no fewer than three different actresses - beginning with Kylie Flinker (1985-87), Sasha Close (1987-90) and Melissa Bell (pictured above, 1991 to date). Other characters to be played by multiple actors include Cody Willis, Cheryl Stark, Summer Hoyland and current Ramsay Street residents Brad Willis and Lauren Turner (nee Carpenter). 25. Famous Hollywood face #5 - Margot Robbie Image copyright Getty Images Margot played feisty teen Donna Freedman in the soap from 2008-11 before she went on to disrobe in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. During her time on the show, Donna had numerous storylines which saw her search for her biological father, explore her bisexuality and get involved in numerous love triangles. The 6,000th episode of the soap featured Donna's wedding to Ringo Brown (played by Sam Clarke, pictured above), but a month later the groom was run over by Steph Scully's motorbike and died. Donna ended up leaving Ramsay Street for a fashion design school in New York. Probably for the best.

26. Pop princesses Image copyright Fremantle Many who got their start in Neighbours went on to forge pop careers - although not all on the same scale as Kylie Minogue. Holly Valance starred as Felicity "Flick" Scully (1999-2002), who was best known for chasing most of the neighbourhood boys and left Erinsborough to work for Lassiter's hotel branch in New York. Delta Goodrem appeared as aspiring singer Nina Tucker (2002-05), written in to specially promote her single, Born to Try. Nina ended up finding success as a Bollywood star in Bombay, before becoming a film and TV star. And Natalie Imbruglia played Beth Brennan (1992-94), a simple country girl who fled to Erinsborough after being abused by her stepfather. She was meant to marry Brad Willis, but left him at the altar after he admitted he was having an affair with her best friend Lauren. 27.

The plane crash In a storyline almost Hollywood-esque in ambition, a bomb on board an aeroplane killed off three characters - Harold's son David, daughter-in-law Liljana and grand-daughter Serena - back in 2005. The Lassiter's 20th anniversary party ended in tragedy when the plane Paul Robinson had chartered for a joy flight exploded mid-flight and plunged into the sea. Thanks to some strobe lights, dry ice and a wave machine, Ramsay Street residents were left fighting for their life while rescue helicopters scrambled to their aid - but it was too late for David who died. Liljana and Serena's bodies were never found and it was assumed they met a watery fate. Hmmm… does that sound a little familiar? 28. The Eclipse Image copyright Fremantle Set around an annular eclipse, episode 6,646 in May 2013 saw the lives of several Ramsay Street residents change. Detective Mark Brennan returned from the dead, Kyle Canning did serious damage to his eyesight by looking at the sun (after his dog Bossy ran away with his safety glasses) and there was also a child kidnapping.

It also saw the return of Brad Willis (complete with head transplant) to the street with his wife and two children (pictured above). 29. The Erinsborough tornado Image copyright Fremantle The residents of Ramsay Street were left in a spin when a tornado unexpectedly hit Erinsborough in August 2014. There were broken ribs, the cracking of a prosthetic leg, and a marriage proposal, but it was unfortunate Kyle who was found trapped in a portable toilet when the wind hit. Let's hope he flushed first. Poor Lou Carpenter became trapped in Harold's Store, lodging a piece of food in his throat. Luckily, Susan Kennedy was on hand to perform an emergency tracheotomy and save his life. As you do. 30. Neighbours vs Zombies Image copyright Youtube A 2014 web-only Halloween special saw several Neighbours characters come back to life... or, rather, death. The cast included Drew Kirk (Dan Paris) who died in a horse riding accident in 2002, and Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas), who was written out with a brain aneurysm in 2007. To give the spooky mini-series a twist, the dead were unaware they'd passed away.

"Could a dead person punch you in the arm?" Stingray asked a slightly startled Bailey Turner. The answer, it transpired, was yes. Additional research by Mark Savage and Caroline Briggs. Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's TV kid reveals hopes for Neighbours cameo | Daily Mail Online Share this article Share While he hasn't had the opportunity to meet Kylie Minogue or Jason Donovan, who famously portrayed the 80s couple, the 26-year-old actor says he's honoured to play such a highly anticipated role. He told Studio Ten : 'Everyone knows Scott and Charlene's wedding so to be their kid, it's really cool!' Happy: The handsome 26-year-old revealed that Scott and Charlene, who were made famous by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, are happy and still married Huh? The actor looked bemused in a later interview when the show's hosts insisted on speaking to him in character With the rugged good looks of his on-screen father and the sultry stare of the lovely Charlene, the handsome 26-year-old set hearts alight as he strolled onto the set.

But the handsome actor couldn't help but seem somewhat uneasy when he took his seat at the table as the Channel Ten hosts insisted on speaking to him in character. 'We're just looking at your parents and their big day, how long after that moment were you conceived?' asked Sarah Harris launching straight into an awkward question for his character Daniel. 'Ah…' stumbled the bemused actor in reply, before finding his footing. Angry: Tim made his Neighbours debut on Tuesday night and riles up Imogen straight away Here comes Paul: Angered by his nonchalant attitude Imogen calls for backup but didn't know she'd asked his uncle The show's storyline sees his character Daniel stop in Erinsborough to visit his uncle Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) while travelling the country on the road trip of a lifetime. 'We (Paul and Daniel) get along really well,' said the bond-haired actor. 'He's still kind of evil but the nice thing is I'm sort of like a good influence on him which is really cool and is going to create a lot of good conflict between us.

'He's going to try and get me on the straight and narrow, I'm a little too laid back and don't have much direction but happy to have a good time.' 'G'day, Paul': Daniel greets his uncle with a cheeky smile Happy: Paul looked overjoyed to be reunited with his estranged nephew after his unexpected arrival in Erinsborough Of his own character, he said that like his tomboy mechanic mother, Daniel also enjoys working with his hands. '(Daniel)'s very hands on, like his mum, but photography is kind of my main creative outlet.' Tim made his Neighbours debut on Tuesday night when his character drove his red station wagon up to banks of Lassiters Lake and had an angry run in with Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan). Infuriated by the young man's laid back attitude she calls in Paul who yells: 'Whoever you are, you can pack up your bags and get out of here,' at the back of Daniel's head. 'G'day, Paul,' Daniel says as he turns around with a cheeky smile on his face and hugs his delighted uncle.

Scott's gone country: Jason Donovan was photographed enjoying a line dance while filming The One Show in London Yee haw! The Australian actor looked to be having a ball as he clutched at a cowboy hat and danced in formation A far cry from the mullet he once flaunted, Daniel's on-screen father Scott - also known as Jason Donovan - was photographed sporting a long haircut and a shadow of a moustache on Wednesday. A cowboy hat in hand, the actor, 45, was seen in the midst of a country-style line dance as he filmed BBC's The One Show in London. Linking arms with a host of dancers he smiled brightly as he hotfooted his way around the set. Jason and Kylie's characters Scott and Charlene attracted some of the highest ratings in Neighbours' history when they married in 1987. Kylie left the show in 1988 to pursue her singing career while Jason followed suit a year later. In the soap, Scott and Charlene left their family behind in Erinsborough to start a new life in Queensland.

Popular couple: Scott and Charlene's wedding brought in some of the series' highest viewer ratings Back in the day: Charlene, played by Kylie Minogue, and Scott, played by Jason Donovan, on their wedding day Read more: Neighbours: The Perfect Blend | Kylie & Jason at 40 . Features > Kylie & Jason at 40 by Ryan Once they were the worldï¿½s teenage sweethearts ï¿½ but this week Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, the actors behind Scott and Charlene, both hit the big 4-0. Join us as we look back at the careers of the two biggest stars in the history of Neighbours. When BBC1 decided to fill 50 minutes of its new daytime schedule with an Australian soap opera back in 1986, no-one could have predicted that less than 18 months later, that little soap opera would be a national obsession. In early 1988, Neighbours was given a teatime slot to reflect its soaring popularity, due in no small part to the teenage romance between Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell.

At the same time the actress behind Charlene, Kylie Minogue, was on her way to Britain to meet the biggest producers in pop, Stock, Aitken and Waterman, on a mission to launch a music career. In the right place at the right time, Minogue began the same rapid ascent to fame as the show she came from ï¿½ and a true phenomenon was born. Minogueï¿½s debut single I Should Be So Lucky had an inauspicious beginning; Pete Waterman admitted to having written it in a matter of minutes, having completely forgotten the young hopeful was coming to see him. Its chart debut at Number 54 on 17th January 1988 seemed equally unpromising. Four weeks later, it was Number One, where it would stay for five weeks. From then on, Kylie was the biggest star of the moment, and as her stock rose, so did that of Neighbours; it was the ultimate beneficial relationship. But would one survive without the other? In June 1988, Minogue decided to find out when she quit the show.

Having begun her singing career a year previously in Australia with a cover of The Locomotion, Minogue was established in her homeland; for her UK career, it was more of a risk. However, even back then, the young Minogue was showing some of the astute vision she has since become known for. The canny actress realised that with UK viewers 18 months behind those in Australia, her British fans would continue to see her in Neighbours until late 1989, enabling her to take advantage of the exposure it generated whilst spending much of her time in Britain promoting her pop career. The strategy quickly paid off; by October Minogue had scored four Top 2 singles, and was streets ahead in the race for the biggest selling album of the year with her self-titled debut. It was little wonder that Kylieï¿½s on-screen husband, and off-screen boyfriend, Jason Donovan also wanted to get in on the act. Donovan joined his girlfriend in the PWL stable in late summer, and while his debut single Nothing Can Divide Us narrowly missed out on the Top 5, it actually outsold more than one of the yearï¿½s chart-toppers.

Huge publicity surrounded the pairï¿½s open secret of a relationship, and as Scott and Charleneï¿½s wedding screened in the UK, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were the names on everyoneï¿½s lips. The inevitable duet soon followed ï¿½ only Cliff Richardï¿½s Mistletoe and Wine kept Especially For You from bagging the Christmas number one, and it became the first chart-topper of 1989 soon afterwards. 1989 saw Jason Donovanï¿½s solo star begin to rise, as he scored two UK number ones in a row. If 1988 was the year of Kylie, 1989 was the year of Jason; his debut album Ten Good Reasons would become the yearï¿½s top seller. Donovan followed Minogue out of Neighbours early that year, and for a while it seemed the question had been answered ï¿½ the show needed Scott and Charlene more than they needed it.

But things were about to change dramaticallyï¿½ Charlene finally disappeared from UK screens that November, but the potential impact of this on Kylie Minogueï¿½s career was almost forgotten in the wake of far more shocking news: Kylie had dumped clean-cut heartthrob Jason for wildman of rock Michael Hutchence. TVï¿½s golden couple were no more on screen or in reality; the phenomenon was over. And while the association with Hutchence shattered Kylieï¿½s squeaky clean image, its effect on her career was largely positive. Minogue was no longer Kylie/Charlene, but an artist in her own right. The publicity was also an undeniable boost to the fortunes of her first feature film, The Delinquents, which proved a commercial (if not critical) success. For Donovan, the break-up proved far more damaging. His first new single of 1990, Hang On To Your Love, just made the Top 10, with the follow-up, Another Night, peaking at a very disappointing No. 17. In October 1990, Jason released Iï¿½m Doinï¿½ Fine ï¿½ but his lowest chart position yet (No.

22) suggested otherwise. In 1991, Kylie Minogue made history when her single Shocked made No.6, meaning each of her first 13 releases had made the Top 10 ï¿½ the most successful start any artist had had to their chart career at the time. However, this came to an abrupt end when her next single, Word is Out, stiffed at No. 16, suggesting Minogueï¿½s transition to a more mature sound would not be as easy as initially thought. Meanwhile, the lead in a new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat led to something of a career renaissance for Jason Donovan, who scored what would be his final number one with Any Dream Will Do. However, after a successful (and perhaps premature) greatest hits collection, Donovanï¿½s next original single, Mission of Love, proved something of a flop, while Kylie recovered from the relative failure of Word is Out with two consecutive Top 5 hits. By the end of 1992 both Minogue and Donovan had left PWL, by then a shadow of the hugely successful pop stable it had once been.

Kylieï¿½s final single for the label was a cover version that barely scraped the Top 20, although her greatest hits collection would prove a big seller. When Donovanï¿½s much-delayed third album failed to make the Top 40 in 1993, his pop career was all but dead (an ill-advised decision to sue The Face magazine over allegations of homosexuality doing little to help). The music market was changing, as it seemed were Britainï¿½s tastes. Neighbours, the show that had made Kylie and Jason stars, was also fading in popularity, suggesting they had all needed each other all along after all. While the eighties had made them superstars, the nineties proved a more turbulent time for Minogue and Donovan. After nearly two years without releasing material, Kylie signed to hip record label Deconstruction in attempt to reinvent herself as a serious dance act. Her first single for the label, Confide in Me, proved successful, peaking at No.2, with the album Kylie Minogue reaching the same position; her best since 1989ï¿½s Enjoy Yourself.

Minogueï¿½s attempts to return to acting proved less successful ï¿½ ï¿½awfulï¿½ was her own verdict on the film Street Fighter in which she starred with Jean-Claude Van Damme. However, her next album for Deconstruction ï¿½ originally titled Impossible Princess, but hastily renamed Kylie Minogue in the wake of Diana, Princess of Walesï¿½ death ï¿½ proved a commercial failure. While the confusion caused by releasing two albums in a row with the same title did little for its prospect, a radical change in sound for the lead single, Some Kind of Bliss, was perhaps most damaging. Fans of ï¿½Kylie, Pop Princessï¿½ were alienated by its indie-inspired sound, whilst indie lovers were alienated by preconceptions of a pop princess. Ironically, just as Minogue was attempting to shake off her past, Neighbours was enjoying something of a renaissance by embracing that past, having reintroduced the characters of Charleneï¿½s mum and stepdad, Madge and Harold Bishop.

Asked in a Live and Kicking interview if sheï¿½d follow them back to the show, Kylieï¿½s tongue in cheek reply was ï¿½I might go back in a year ï¿½ please let me back on!ï¿½ But with mixed reactions to her new sound and her acting career seemingly dead in the water, critics were quick to suggest Minogue should not dismiss the possibility. However, her failing fortunes were nothing compared to those of her former co-star. In the late nineties Jason Donovanï¿½s drug problems were seized upon by the tabloids, and after a spate of public collapses, he became the poster boy for fame gone wrong. Asked in a TFI Friday interview whether she had seen Jason lately, Kylie wryly commented ï¿½heï¿½s fine; he wasï¿½ upright the last time I saw himï¿½ï¿½ While still something of a pop culture icon, Kylie Minogue no longer seemed actively relevant to the music scene as a new century began. But those who had written Minogue off had reckoned without the smart businesswoman behind the ever-changing image.

The worldï¿½s former favourite girl next door had spotted a gap in the market, and for her 2000 album Light Years, she embraced her PWL past with a series of infectious pop tunes. It worked like a charm. The album produced a string of hits, including her first number one in a decade, Spinning Around. The formula proved even more successful with Minogueï¿½s next album, Fever, in 2001, which produced her biggest selling single to date, Canï¿½t Get You Out Of My Head, and was also her first material to gain any significant attention in the USA since 1988. While her 2003 release Body Language didnï¿½t enjoy quite the same success, it didnï¿½t matter; the fact was Kylie was a major star again. When she was struck down with breast cancer in 2005, the British publicï¿½s level of concern, and support, was unprecedented. In 2007, Kylieï¿½s status as a national treasure was confirmed with the ultimate accolade ï¿½ an honorary OBE.

As Kylie Minogueï¿½s comeback made the headlines, Jason Donovan was enjoying a quieter return to better times. His early nineties West End success served Donovan well as he began building a steady career in musical theatre, and in 2003 he made a return to TV in his homeland, with a well-received role in MDA. Although he cited fatherhood as the reason behind his career turnaround Donovan, like his one-time girlfriend, was embracing his past rather than being embarrassed by it. Questions about Neighbours were no longer brushed off; even the old songs he had once virtually disowned were dusted off and performed on a tour of student nights across the UK, where the former teen heartthrob would enjoy a universally rapturous reception. It was no longer fashionable to sneer at Jason Donovan as a has-been; now he was nostalgically appreciated as an iconic figure from the childhoods of millions. In 2006 the turnaround was complete, as Donovan gained almost universal approval during his stint on Iï¿½m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! It wasnï¿½t just Kylie and Jason who were making the most of 80s nostalgia in the 21st Century.

The show they came from also decided to grab a slice of the retro pie, reintroducing the original character of Paul Robinson. As Paul was Scottï¿½s brother, the names Scott and Charlene invariably began appearing in Neighbours scripts again, and equally invariably, the press began to speculate that they might be seen on screen again too; especially when in 2005, several major former cast members were approached to return for a special 20th anniversary episode. Sadly, despite all the rumours, it wasnï¿½t to be. Kylie and Jasonï¿½s newfound appreciation for the Neighbours era did not run to a cameo appearance in the show. However, in 2007 the pair were finally reunited on screen at last, when Donovan appeared in his former on-screen wifeï¿½s TV special for ITV, sending up his relative obscurity by pretending not to remember her. It was the first time the two had appeared together in over 18 years, and while it barely lasted five minutes, it gave fans hope that one day they might be prepared to revisit their alter egos.

So as the one-time teen dreams reach the grand age of 40, both seem to have found their place in the world; Kylie Minogue as an institution of the pop world, Jason Donovan as a settled dad with his wild days behind him, and a career thatï¿½s turned full circle with a return to soap in Echo Beach. And what of Neighbours, the show that made them international stars? Like its former biggest names, it too has had a turbulent time over the years; times when fans thought it was all over. But like Kylie and Jason, it has always recovered, and also seems to have found its place in the world. Generations of fans who have never heard the names ï¿½Scott and Charleneï¿½ have grown up with the show; however, for millions more, those two names will always epitomise it.

Neighbours debut for Scott and Charlene's son Daniel - BBC News BBC News Neighbours debut for Scott and Charlene's son Daniel 2 December 2013 Close share panel Image caption Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan played the quintessential girl and boy next door in Neighbours Daniel Robinson, the 21-year-old son of classic Neighbours characters Scott and Charlene, is to make his debut in the Australian soap opera. The pair, played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue in the late 1980s, had their son after leaving the Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough for Brisbane. An actor to play him has yet to be cast, but will need to resemble his screen parents, producers say. Scott and Charlene's wedding was seen by some 20m viewers in the UK in 1988. Series producer Jason Herbison said: "Charlene and Scott are the quintessential love story who have the happy ending. More than 25 years on, they are still remembered worldwide.

"It is fantastic that we can re-open this chapter of Neighbours' history for a new generation of viewers." He added the introduction of Daniel, who has been referred to in dialogue on the show, could give Minogue and Donovan a reason to make their Neighbours comeback. "I would love to see Kylie and Jason return to Ramsay Street. They were part of such an iconic period for the show and fans remember them with such affection. "We do ask former actors to return from time to time, and with the 30th anniversary looming, it would be a perfect opportunity for them to do that." Producers added that Daniel will arrive in Erinsborough to see where his parents fell in love. He will be introduced to his paternal uncle Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis. He is the only actor in the current show to have appeared on screen with Minogue and Donovan, who left Neighbours in 1988 and 1989 respectively to pursue UK-based pop music careers. The first episode of Neighbours was shown in Australia in 1985, and gained a strong following when it arrived in the UK the following year. It moved homes from BBC One to Channel 5 in 2008.

Daniel Robinson is expected to make his screen debut in Australia next year. Neighbours » Television.AU Print this Page Neighbours Neighbours cast in 1988: Back row (l to r): Stefan Dennis, Fiona Corke, Paul Keane, Anne Charleston, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue, Lisa Armytage, Ian Smith, Annie Jones, Craig McLachlan. Middle row: Anne Haddy, Alan Dale, Vivean Gray, Guy Pearce. Front: Kristian Schmid, Sally Jensen. Neighbours — the longest running drama production on Australian television — was created by Reg Watson of Grundy Television Productions in the early 1980s. Watson was no stranger to devising popular drama, having masterminded a number of other soaps for Grundys, including Prisoner (a.k.a Prisoner Cell Block H) and Sons And Daughters. In its early stages, Neighbours had a number of working titles including One Way Street and Living Together, but the essential premise was the same — the day to day lives of a suburban neighbourhood — loosely based on the neighbourhood of Watson’s own childhood. Neighbours was reportedly offered to the Nine Network who declined in 1982.

Though the Seven Network already had a successful drama line-up headed by A Country Practice and Sons And Daughters, the network purchased Neighbours in 1984. The plan was for Neighbours to provide a strong drama-based lead-in to the evening news, emulating a similar strategy employed by Nine in the late 1970s with The Young Doctors. With an initial production budget of $8 million, Neighbours made its debut on Monday 18 March 1985, but from day one it was headed for trouble as the members of the Seven Network — ATN7 Sydney, HSV7 Melbourne, BTQ7 Brisbane and ADS7 Adelaide — ended up slotting the series in different timeslots. HSV7 and ADS7 scheduled it weeknights 6.00pm, leading into the news at 6.30pm. While ATN7, which had their one-hour news at 6.00pm, slotted Neighbours at 5.30pm putting it squarely up against the hugely popular game show Perfect Match – another Grundy production.

BTQ7, who delayed their premiere by a week, did the opposite and scheduled it at 7.00pm following their news and current affairs hour. Neighbours enjoyed a solid following in Melbourne where it is produced, and also in Brisbane and Adelaide. However any chance of the show’s survival was dependent on the support of Sydney, which was not forthcoming from the viewers. Then network politics between rivals Sydney and Melbourne got involved, with ATN7 all but withdrawing any support for the series. Having failed to grab a decent audience at 5.30pm, ATN7 then shifted Neighbours to the even less-appealing 3.30pm timeslot, while the other Seven’s maintained their respective timeslots. Despite heavy lobbying by HSV to keep the series, the Seven Network management ultimately put its support behind its Sydney-based dramas A Country Practice and Sons And Daughters, claiming there was no money for a third series. By September 1985, Neighbours was cancelled by Seven after 170 episodes.

Elaine Smith, Peter O’Brien and Ally Fowler (Picture: TV Week, 1986) Despite the cancellation, Grundys executive Ian Holmes still had faith in the concept and then did the unthinkable and offered the series to rival Network Ten. Ten accepted the offer, creating Australian television history as it was the first time a drama series had ever swapped networks. Although Ten had a popular early evening line-up with Perfect Match at 5.30pm and Eyewitness News at 6pm, the network was somewhat let down by re-runs of the US series MASH at 7pm. Ten immediately decided to slot Neighbours into 7pm, hoping to create a strong link between Eyewitness News and the evening schedule. Production for Neighbours began at Ten’s Melbourne studios in Nunawading in November 1985. Conveniently, the real-life neighbourhood (Pin Oak Court) that formed the exterior for ‘Ramsay Street’, was located in the Melbourne suburb of Vermont South, only a short drive away from Nunawading. Following a heavy advertising campaign over the normally quiet summer period, Neighbours made its debut on Ten at 7.00pm on Monday, 20 January 1986.

In inheriting the series from Seven, Ten ordered considerable changes to the direction of the series, predominantly in the casting, to reflect a more youthful approach. Joining the cast in the transition to Ten were relatively unknown talents such as Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Charlene Fenn, Geoff Paine and later Annie Jones and Craig McLachlan. Also joining the cast were more familiar faces Ally Fowler, previously from Sons And Daughters, Anne Charleston who had just come out of a failed Grundy’s soap Possession, and Vivean Gray, then better known as the gossipy Mrs Jessop from The Sullivans. Dr Karl Kennedy’s (Alan Fletcher) affair with Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) sparked a boost in ratings (Picture: TV Week, 1999) Then in April 1986, a seventeen-year-old Kylie Minogue, best known from the children’s drama The Henderson Kids, joined Neighbours as tomboy-ish Charlene Mitchell. The romantic pairing of Minogue’s character with Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) turned out to be the biggest drawcard for the series, creating major hysteria whenever they appeared in public.

The wedding of Scott and Charlene in July 1987 became the highest ever rating episode of the series and one of the highest rating soap opera episodes ever in Australia. Also in mid-1987, Minogue recorded a cover version of the 1960s hit Locomotion which was an immediate success and set the precedent for soapie stars to become pop stars — though Minogue remains Neighbours‘ most successful discovery. She left Neighbours in 1988, having won five TV Week Logies, including the Gold Logie, and set out on her new career as an international recording star. Neighbours also proved to be a springboard to international fame for others including Alan Dale, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, Peter O’Brien, Daniel MacPherson, Holly Valance, Jesse Spencer and Delta Goodrem. In the early months on Ten, Neighbours still struggled to catch on in Sydney while becoming increasingly popular elsewhere. An ongoing campaign to send cast members to Sydney for promotional appearances eventually paid dividends for Ten.

The Seven Network could only look on as Neighbours became a huge national success for Ten, until they decided in 1987 to learn from their mistake and have another attempt at an early evening soap — Home And Away. The next step for Grundys was to take Neighbours overseas. By October 1986, Neighbours had secured a low-profile daytime timeslot on the BBC. The perennial sunshine, cheerful characters and leafy streets of suburban Ramsay Street provided a stark contrast to the somewhat gloomier (though still popular) British soaps such as EastEnders and Coronation Street, and viewers became hooked. The increasing problem was that the BBC screened Neighbours in the early afternoons, causing havoc with school attendances as teenagers flocked to TV sets to keep up with the series. Alison Grade, daughter of BBC executive Michael Grade, was an avid Neighbours fan and suggested to her father that Neighbours be moved to an evening timeslot to make it more accessible. In January 1988, Alison got her wish and Neighbours was shifted to 5.30pm weeknights.

Within weeks, Neighbours had risen to the top of the British ratings, knocking Coronation Street and EastEnders from the top spot. At its peak in popularity in the United Kingdom, Neighbours was watched by over 20 million viewers, seemingly including members of the British royal family as Neighbours cast members were later invited to appear at a Royal Variety Performance. Almost twenty years after Neighbours‘ BBC debut, British fans continue to make the journey to Melbourne to visit the real-life ‘Ramsay Street’, and the Global Television Studios where the program is produced. The success of Neighbours in the United Kingdom led to the series being sold to as many as 57 countries — including many countries across Europe, Asia and even Africa. The series has been sold to Canada and has also appeared in the United States. Despite the growing popularity of Neighbours overseas, by the early 1990s the series’ popularity was fading in Australia as popular cast members inevitably move on to other ventures. Network Ten was also experiencing its own downfall as ratings overall began to plunge, as did its finances and the network eventually going into receivership.

Neighbours was one of the few programs to survive the downfall of Ten, undoubtedly due to the immense overseas support the program had. After a disastrous year in 1990, Ten began to fight back in 1991 with a new programming strategy and a complete image overhaul, targetting the younger 16-39 demographic. Neighbours, and Ten’s other evening soap E Street, became a key component in the revival of the network. In January 1992, Seven decided to move its evening soap Home And Away into the all-important 7pm timeslot up against Neighbours. The result was less than spectacular for both parties as the audience ended up being split between both soaps. By March, Ten moved Neighbours into the 6.30pm timeslot to avoid direct competition from Home And Away and to provide an alternative to current affairs programs on Seven and Nine. Neighbours continued through the 1990s with varying degrees of popularity as a new generation of characters were introduced though veteran performers such as Anne Haddy, Anne Charleston, Ian Smith and Tom Oliver would provide some link to the shows earlier era.

By 1993, Haddy had become the only original cast member to still be in the series and continued until ill health forced her to retire in 1997. (Anne Haddy later passed away in 1999) Anne Charleston, Kym Valentine, Dan Paris and Melissa Bell celebrating Neighbours’ 15th anniversary (Picture: TV Week, 2000) The series enjoyed a renewed popularity by the late 1990s sparked by the extra-marital affair of character Dr Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) with his secretary Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles). Ratings improved again when Dr Karl’s infidelities surfaced again with a more recent affair with Isabel ‘Izzy’ Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte). In celebrating Neighbours‘ 20th anniversary, a number of former cast members returned for guest appearances — the most prominent being original cast member Stefan Dennis, who played Paul Robinson from 1985 to 1993, returning for an ongoing period. The series has also been acknowledged on its milestone by being entered into the TV Week Logie Awards‘ Hall Of Fame.

Although Neighbours was a long-running fixture for the BBC in the United Kingdom, the series changed networks in 2008 when the rights were picked up by commercial broadcaster Channel 5. In 2011 Network Ten made a controversial decision to shift Neighbours from its primary channel to its secondary digital-only channel, Eleven. The move saw Neighbours lose a chunk of its fanbase in Australia, although the series regularly tops the ratings of the digital multi-channels. Now as it approaches its 30th year, Neighbours continues to screen around the world. Fan websites, including detailed episode guides and character profiles, have sprung up online and enjoy a growing popularity (links to some of these sites appear below). The series has won many awards over the years including Logies for Most Popular Drama Series and Gold Logies to cast members Kylie Minogue (1988) and Craig McLachlan (1990). Related Links:

Question: What were the first names of the characters played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue in the Australian series ‘Neighbours’?
Answer: Scott and Charlene