Alan Fletcher
“I wouldn’t hang out with Karl much – he’s a bit of a dag!”
It’s 5.30 on a Monday morning, and Inside Soap is wide awake far earlier than usual – ready to call Australia for a morning chat with Neighbours stars Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne, aka Karl and Susan! It’s 2.30pm over in Melbourne, and when we’re patched through to the pair in the green room of the Neighbours set, they tell us they’re taking a quick breather from what sounds like a very hectic schedule…
“We have lots of massive storylines going on at once, so we’ve actually got three camera crews running around the building,” explains Alan. “Everywhere you walk, you’re in danger of being in someone else’s shot!
We did some filming for Christmas the other day, which was quite silly and fun – and of course, we’re leading up to Neighbours’ 35th anniversary next year, too.” While we’d love nothing more than to get all the goss on that big milestone, we’re here to celebrate an anniversary of a different kind today, as Alan and Jackie officially notch up 25 years on
Neighbours this week! And it’s clear that they’re just as excited to be in the show now as they were on day one…
Congratulations on your 25-year anniversary! How does it feel to have reached such a milestone?
Jackie Oh, we’re very lucky! It’s been an absolute joyride. We were just talking earlier and saying that neither of us can believe it. 25 years is a long time, but we can both clearly remember our first day on set…
What was that first day like?
Jackie We were talking about being on the cul-de-sac, and meeting the Kennedy kids for the first time.
The two of us were moving in, and carrying things from the car into the house. We were just so lucky to have a natural rapport all together, straight away, which is pretty rare. It set the mood for the kind of ongoing relationship we would have.
Is it true the two of you worked together before Neighbours?
Alan Oh yes, we played brother and sister on a show called Cop Shop back in 1982. I have a clip on my website of Jackie and I doing a scene where I’m chastising her for her relationship with another cop, who I think is an inappropriate match – and there are definite suggestions of Karl and Susan in that interaction!
How did you feel when you first found out you’d be working together again?
Jackie Well, I actually didn’t know that Fletch was playing my husband until he rang me up, pretending to be a journalist! I hadn’t spoken to him for a while, and he said, “Oh, this is Fred Bloggs from suchand-such TV magazine. I just wanted to have a little chat to you about your new role in Neighbours”. So of course, I was like, “It’s lovely to talk to you, Fred!” And he said, “It’s me, you idiot!”
How has your working relationship changed over the years?
Jackie Well, I still call him an idiot! Alan She’s called me far worse, I can tell you! We insult each other constantly, but in an affectionate way.
Would you be friends with Karl and Susan in real life?
Jackie Yes, I think so.
Alan I wouldn’t hang out with Karl much, he’s a bit of a dag! And he’s so tight with money, it annoys the living daylights out of me! I wouldn’t go for dinner with him…
Jackie He’d haggle over the bill every time. Alan I’d love Karl to be my doctor, though.
Jackie Yes, especially given that he can reach across so many specialties! Who wouldn’t want that?
Alan You’d never have to be referred to a specialist, Karl fixes everything! I mean, he has killed a couple of people along the way…
Jackie Yeah, details, details!
What do you think is the secret to Karl and Susan’s success?
Alan One thing fans always talk to me about is how much they believe in us. When we fight, they believe we’re fighting, when we’re being loving, they believe we’re in love. I think that’s the biggest compliment you can be handed as an actor.
Jackie I think we’ve been able to display that familiarity that couples have after decades together, that sense of giving each other a bit of cheek, of being flawed. Karl and Susan have good days and bad days, but underlying all that is the sense that these two people really love each other.
Does it help that No 28 is always full of young people for you to bounce off ?
Jackie Yes, we’ve had some stunning kids come through our house. For us that’s often the most enjoyable time, when we have a house full of kids and the energy’s buzzing. That’s when we come to work and have really great days.
Alan We have some beauties at the moment, and a new actor is about to join us in the house, who’s a real livewire…
What’s it like when you get someone new join the household? Are they intimidated to be working with you?
Jackie If they are, that’s resolved pretty quickly. We work hard to make them feel like colleagues. We’ll say, “Come on, give us some ideas, make some suggestions – let’s have fun!” We try to create an energetic set so everyone can give their best work.
Alan This type of TV is very daunting, as it moves so fast. So the best advice to give any young actor is to remind them that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, we all do, but we have plenty of time, and you learn from getting things wrong. You create a relaxed environment by reducing the stakes.
Jackie You can’t create anything with fear, so the most important thing is to make everybody feel safe, and take it from there.
It sounds as if there’s a lot coming up! Can you give us any hints about that?
Jackie We can’t really say too much. But suffice to say we’re pulling out all the stops for the 35th. We have some huge stories, and we’re attempting things that we’ve never done before. The big question is, who will be left standing at the end? You should be excited – it’s going to be huge!
“There’s an underlying sense that these two people really love each other” Jackie