jack Mckeown features writer

She was one of the great soap villains.

Meddling neighbour Mrs Mangel terrorised the residents of Ramsay Street for two years in the 1980s.

As a child growing up in that decade, Neighbours was essential teatime viewing and the latest plot twists and turns were feverishly discussed at school the following day.

From the romantic twists and turns of Scott and Charlene to the bumptious pomposity of Harold Bishop and the scheming machinations of ruthless businessman Paul Robinson, a generation of children and housewives was hooked.

Constantly at loggerheads with easy-going Madge Bishop, Mrs Mangel was a fine villain – not at all evil but interfering and holier than thou.

At heart, the rest of the Neighbours knew she was one of them and gave her a fine send off. Her final scene still chokes me up nearly 30 years later, especially when lovable labrador Bouncer gives her a goodbye wave.