Australia
/ Channel 7-Channel 10-Grundy / x30m-e / 1985-continuing (First Episode:
18 March 1985)
Creator/Producer: Reg
Watson / Theme Music: Tony Hatch, Jackie Trent / Sung by Barry Crocker
(the actor who starred in the cult film The Adventures of Barry
McKenzie).
Soap
drama series. Neighbours concerns itself with the residents of Ramsay
Street in a suburban area of Melbourne. The show had a pretty troubled
start beginning life on the seven network the show was cancelled after
171 episodes before being picked up by rival station Channel Ten. The
show only really took off after being broadcast in the UK, shown at
lunchtimes and teatimes the show became a big hit its two new younger
stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan moved to the UK and became major
stars. The two main families for years were the Robinsons (headed by
father Jim) and the Ramsays who lived next door to each other.
Other major characters included the extremely finicky Harold Bishop
and his wife Madge. Jim's son Paul transformed himself into a JR style
businessman running Lassiters (a hotel/bar which plays a major part in
the show). Another major character was the extremely nosey gossip Mrs
Mangel (her layabout son Joe later moved into Ramsey Street). Over the
years many new families have come and gone but the basic premise has
remained unchanged. Barry Crocker who sang the theme tune was a former
actor starring in the cult film The Adventures of Barry McKenzie.
Neighbours has been seen in over fifty countries around the world.
Cast
ANNE HADDY as Helen Daniels / ALAN DALE as Jim Robinson / KYLIE
MINOGUE as Charlene Robinson / JASON DONOVAN as Scott Robinson / CRAIG
MacLACHLAN as Henry Ramsay / STEFAN DENNIS as Paul Robinson / VIVIEN
GRAY as Mrs Mangel / MARK LITTLE as Joe Mangel / PETER O'BRIEN as
Shane Ramsay / PAUL KEANE as Des Clarke / FIONA CORKE as Gail Robinson
/ GUY PEARCE as Mike Young / LYNDA HARTLEY as Kerry Bishop / BEN
GEURENS as Toby Mangel / GILLIAN BLAKENEY as Caroline Alessi /
GAYLE BLAKENEY as Christina Alessi / MAGGIE DENCE as Dorothy Burke /
KRISTIAN SCHMID as Todd Landers / LUCINDA COWDEN as Melanie Pearson /
TERENCE DONOVAN as Doug Willis / SUE JONES as Pam Willis / NICOLA
CHARLES as Sarah Beaumont / IAN SMITH as Harold Bishop / ANNE
CHARLESTON as Madge Bishop / TOM OLIVER as Lou Carpenter /
JACINTA STAPLETON as Amy Greenwood / JESSE SPENCER as Bill Kennedy /
ALAN FLETCHER as Karl Kennedy / KYM VALENTINE as Libby Kennedy /
JACKIE WOODBURNE as Susan Kennedy / DAN PARIS as Drew Kirk / REBECCA
RITTERS as Hannah Martin / IAN RAWLINGS as Philip Martin / AILSA PIPER
as Ruth Martin / RYAN MOLONEY as Toadfish / DANIEL MacPHERSON / BROOKE
SATCHWELL as Anne Wilkson / ANDREW BIBBY as Lance Wilkinson / JONATHAN
DUTTON as Tad / PHOEBE BRIGHT as Simone / HOLLY VALLANCE as Felicity /
SHANE CONNER as Joe
