Time to call it a g’day in Ramsay St
For many children of the 80s, catching up on the Erinsborough action after school was a must. As the iconic Aussie soap ends this Friday, here’s a look back – especially for you
NEIGHBOURS: THE FINALE Friday, Channel 5, 9pm
Strewth! The Ramsay Street residents’ front doors will close for the last time this week after 37 years of domestic drama in Neighbours. Over the decades, hundreds of characters have called that famous cul-de-sac home and the show has even launched the careers of global superstars.
Beginning life on Australia’s Seven Network in 1985, the soap aired on British TV a year later and became essential viewing. But with Channel 5 choosing to stop screening it, the show’s producers have decided all good things must come to an end.
However, Neighbours is going out in style. Many old favourites have returned – including Hollywood star Guy Pearce as biker Mike Young. Producers have even fulfilled every 80s fan’s biggest dream, wooing Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue back to where it all began as Ramsay Street’s golden couple Scott and Charlene Robinson.
“It’s a thank you to the loyal fans who still remember those first few years of the show,” said Kylie on her return.
“I’ve worked with super-cool megastars and eventually they’ll let it slip that they used to watch Neighbours back in the day
I’ve worked with megastars who let slip they watched back in the day.. and would skive off school to catch the lunchtime episode Kylie Minogue
TOGETHER AGAIN... Jason and Kylie return. Toadie and Dee wed, right and would skive off school to catch the lunchtime episode.” Rather than its usual teatime slot, the final double episode will air on Friday at 9pm. The action will focus on the wedding of residents Toadie and Melanie and contains several surprises. So before we wave goodbye to Erinsborough, we round up some of the show’s greatest moments.
WONDERFUL WEDDINGS
■ Charlene wed Scott in front of 20million UK viewers.
■ Dee and Toadie had a dream wedding – until their car drove off a cliff into the sea.
■ Karl and Susan Kennedy renewed vows as Susan regained her memory after months of amnesia.
■ Paul Robinson and sixth wife Terese Willis were married on a beach by an Elvis impersonator.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES
■ Young mum Kerry Bishop was shot dead by duck hunters while protesting against the sport.
■ Todd Landers was hit by a car as he was trying to stop his girlfriend Phoebe heading to the clinic for a termination.
■ A nation wept as Madge Bishop passed away with her loving husband Harold by her side.
■ Newlywed Hendrix Greyson died after his body rejected his lung transplant.
DESIRE AND DISASTER
■ All hell broke loose after Karl Kennedy kissed his secretary Sarah Beaumont and wife Susan found out.
■ Scheming Paul Robinson burnt down Lassiters for his own gain.
■ Half of Ramsay Street’s residents plunge into the sea in a plane crash that kills some.
■ Cheryl Stark had an affair while being held hostage.
MOMENTS OF MADNESS
■ Bouncer the dog dreamt he was marrying the collie next door, Rosie.
■ Toadie’s dead wife Dee returned from her watery grave, except it turned out to be her evil twin, Andrea – although the real Dee later popped up too.
■ Harold also returned from the waves but had amnesia and thought he was a Salvation Army officer called Ted.
■ Paul Robinson’s dead dad Jim came back to him as a vision in a Christmas bauble.
MAKING YOU FEEL GOOD
Channel 5 is showing two specials the same evening as the final double episode.
Neighbours: What Happened Next? (10pm) looks at the careers of its biggest stars, while Neighbours: The Stars’ Greatest Hits (11.30pm) celebrates those who became pop singers.