…and there are weddings aplenty!
NEIGHBOURS CELEBRATES 35 YEARS ON OUR SCREENS, AS FAVOURITES PAST AND PRESENT EMBARK ON FIVE UNIQUE WEDDING CEREMONIES…
We’re used to soaps celebrating their big milestones with death and destruction – and there will certainly be plenty of that
as Neighbours turns 35 this week (see p16)! But along with all the drama, there are also plenty of joyful moments, as five weddings are set to take place over the course of this week’s special episodes.
The happy couples are tying the knot as part of the Lassiters wedding expo, which brings together favourites from different eras of the show who didn’t manage to make it down the aisle the first time around.
We grabbed five blushing brides to get the lowdown on their big days – starting with Olympia Valance, who plays Paige Smith…
It’s great to see you back, Olympia! What made you return to Neighbours for the 35th anniversary?
Neighbours is where everything began – it was my home for so long. It’s where I found my feet as an adult, it’s where I learnt how to read scripts and filming schedules, it’s where I made friends that I know will be with me for life. It played such an integral part in who I am, and the ability to transform that gratitude into a return during such an iconic milestone is very exciting.
Can you give us any hints about what’s in store for Paige this time around?
Well, Paige was on a roller coaster from the minute she stepped on to Ramsay Street, so I’d expect nothing less from the 35th storylines – go big or go home. In this case, I’m doing both!
And Paige and Mark will finally get to tie the knot this week…
I know, finally! I am so happy, and I think the fans will be, too. It feels as though it’s the happy ending we wanted for Paige and Mark all along. If two people can find their way back to each other after all these years, and after one of them arrested the other during their first wedding attempt, it feels that it was definitely meant to be!
What do you think it is that still makes
Neighbours so successful after 35 years?
Neighbours has always pushed the boundaries between utterly outrageous and immensely enjoyable, and it’s delicious television. It’s a lot of fun to be part of that, it makes me excited! Also, issues facing younger generations are changing a lot, and I think the show is doing a great job of showcasing this, particularly through spin-offs such as
Erinsborough High.
What do you miss most about working on
Neighbours regularly?
When you work in a job for a long time, the people you spend every day with become your family. I really missed the crew, the cast, and the routine and structure that the show gave me. There’s a reason that so many prior cast members are willing to return – it really is a very happy and supportive place to be.