Who’s ready for a final roam down Ramsay Street?
After nearly four decades on our screens, Neighbours has pulled out all the stops to end with a celebration of past and present, GEMMA DUNN discovers
EVERYBODY loves good Neighbours – and you’d be hard pushed to beat the bunch found on Ramsay Street.
Whether the Eighties, Nineties, Noughties or Teens was your era, viewers have stuck by Erinsborough’s residents through the highs and lows, willing them on through the generations.
It’s little surprise, then, that the sudden announcement of Neighbours’ demise, earlier this year, devastated fans. So much so, they launched a petition to save their beloved Aussie soap.
But did it work? Sadly not. On Friday the soap will bow out for good, and it is certainly going out with a bang.
Although not literally, promises executive producer Jason Herbison, rather: “The ending will be a celebration of the past and the present, with the door very much left open for a future. Ramsay Street is eternal, and I like to think it will live on in the hearts and minds of the viewers, long after the final scene.”
So what can we expect? A double episode, prime-time, historymaking finale, coupled with a mix of stars, old and new, that’s what.
The soap – which made names out of the likes of Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia and Margot Robbie is welcoming back a whole host of familiar faces.
One of the biggest stars to return is Guy Pearce. Now 54, he began his career in the Australian soap playing Mike Young, best friend of Scott Robinson, played by Jason Donovan, and Charlene Mitchell played by the one and only Kylie Minogue.
Ditching Ramsay Street for Hollywood he went on to star in films such as LA Confidential, The Time Machine and Christopher Nolan’s Memento.
Says Guy: “There are certain moments in your life that are real markers. Being cast in Neighbours, the confidence it gave me and what I learnt being on the show were immeasurable qualities and benefits.
“Of course, there have been other moments when I’ve auditioned for roles and got them, but I can’t ever forget this.
“I always feel super lucky to have got on the show when I did and as we know, it just took off and became huge.”
We also know that lovebirds Scott and Charlene will be rocking up in Ramsay Street. Fans went wild last week when the first images of the pair on the set were released and showed Kylie back in her character’s famous overalls.
The pop legend shared the images on her Instagram with the message: “Now we’re back together.”
Jason, meanwhile, posted: “So good to be back with this absolute legend kylie minogue.”
Other returnees include 80s veterans Ian Smith as Harold Bishop and Peter O’Brien as Shane Ramsay; 90s stars Daniel MacPherson as Joel Samuels and Lesley Baker as Angie Rebecchi; Natalie Bassingthwaighte as Izzy Hoyland; Chris Milligan as Kyle Canning; Olympia Valance as Paige Smith and Ben Hall as Ned Willis.
“I haven’t been on the Neighbours set for 20-something years, so even just the drive out here, my mind was blowing,” says Daniel, now 42. “To come and see all the faces again, all my friends, to get back on the sets, it was one of the most enjoyable times of my life.
“I was 18 when I started here, left when I was 21, so to come back again... my head is spinning.
“As for Joel in his 40s?” he adds, “I can tell you what you won’t get – no nipple piercing, no Speedos, no blonde frizzy mullet hair, no full-monty, thank goodness. But some friendships rekindled, which is terrific and a lot of fun.”
Natalie, meanwhile, says of Izzy’s comeback: “I love this character so much. She is complex and loves to make trouble, and this time is no exception.” Izzy famously had an affair – and subsequent baby – with Neighbours veteran Dr Karl Kennedy, played by Alan Fletcher. How does she think fans will react to her return? “Oh gosh, I think they’ll secretly love it, bring it on. They are so loyal to Karl and Susan, I’m sure there will be a bit of ground swell of not messing with the Kennedys,” says Natalie, 46. “Hopefully, they’re going to go with it.”
Elsewhere, past and present collide as friends and family gather for Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and Melanie’s (Lucinda Cowden) wedding, while Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou) and Paul (Stefan Dennis) confront their unresolved feelings.
As for one-time girlfriend and boyfriend Jane (Annie Jones) and
Mike, the pair of them embark on a sentimental journey through time, as Jane gives him a tour of all the Ramsay Street houses before they go under the hammer. However Clive’s (Geoff Paine) jealousy leads to a shocking confrontation.
The Kennedys will of course feature highly too, with Susan in particular grappling with the departure of all of her neighbours.
The plot isn’t far from the truth, shares 66-year-old actress Jackie Woodburne, who has played the family matriarch since 1994.
“I was so shocked, very sad, disappointed,” she recalls, upon hearing the soap was being axed. “I think it took quite a long time for everybody to get their head
around the fact of it.
“It was always something that could happen one day. Maybe it will be this year, maybe it will be next year...
“But for it to actually happen, I don’t know that you can ever kind of be completely prepared for that.
“For me personally, obviously, it’s been the biggest chunk of my professional life,” she offers, quoting the love triangle between Susan, Karl and Izzy as one of her favourite storylines.
“I’ve made relationships with people that are so specific. The relationship that I have with Fletch (Alan Fletcher,) is completely unique, and unlike any other in my life. But no less precious because it’s a working relationship.”
“Well, you know what, my character’s past will come back to haunt him again,” teases Alan, who also joined in 1994 as Susan’s husband. “I think for all of us it was just important that we go out with a bang and give the show the ending it deserves.”
As for his favourite storyline: “For me, the big moment was Libby’s wedding to Drew. It was a very, very happy day. I had to give a speech as the father of the bride in the studio scene. And I really did feel like I was giving away my own daughter. It was very moving; it was a beautiful scene.”
Also in the finale, Harold – played by the brilliant Ian Smith – asks Karl and Susan to be the custodians of his curated history book.
Ian, 84, was only too happy to be asked back for the final act – if a bit worried.
“I hope they’re not thinking that I’m the much younger person that was in the show the last time I was there, because the old memory is fading a bit,” he quips.
“You can only do your best, can’t you? A lot of people have been using the word iconic about me being back on the show. In fact, I may be getting too big a head to be talking to you!”
As for ending it on a high, says Ian: “You can be awfully sentimental, like some of those black and white movies used to do with World War II bombers flying out in the sky,” he reasons.
“I suppose there are so many ways that they can end the show, and we will either agree or disagree.
“There’ll always be disagreement, of course, but I just hope they’re kind and give the old show what it deserves.”
Neighbours airs Monday to Friday at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5
Neighbours: The Finale will air at 9pm on Friday on Channel 5