Love thy Neighbours
Posted by Claudia Pattison
After 21 years on the BBC, Neighbours is set to switch channels next spring. Given that the sets are wooden as the acting and the plotlines frequently far-fetched, some may be wondering why on earth Five forked out a whopping £300m for the Aussie soap. But Neighbours has a unique quality – it touches a nerve with its audience. And that’s worth its weight in gold.
The trials and tribulations of Ramsay Street have been as much a staple of Britons’ TV diets as Coronation Street or EastEnders, while characters like Scott ‘n’ Charlene and Mrs Mangel have become legends in their own teatime.
The influence of the show has been massive – even affecting the way we talk, with words like “barbies”, “this avo” and “tinnies” all becoming common parlance. What’s more, the soap has been responsible for launching several Hollywood careers, including those of Alan Dale (aka Jim Robinson), pictured here, and Guy Pearce (Mike Young).
And yet, inexplicably, Neighbours is widely regarded as a poor quality soap. Frequently ignored at soap awards ceremonies, it often fails to make an appearance in magazine soap round-ups. What’s more, the BBC thinks nothing of cancelling the show in favour of frankly less interesting televisual events like Wimbledon, without a thought for its loyal fans. Fair dinkum, cobbers, surely the time has come to give Neighbours the recognition it deserves!
I love Neighbours and have watched it since it first started even my 9 mth old daughter sometimes does!
Channel 5 having it will be like Coronation Street not being on twice on a Monday. My sister live in Australia and I love watching the show more than ever as I kinda feel closer to them..
I heard Home and Away will be shown in the same hour as Neighbours when its on Channel 5!
Posted by: Vanessa Wilson | 10 September 2007 at 20:49
I am only 18 and I watch neighbours every day. I think its far better than corrie and eastenders. I have not missed it at all in 3 yrs. I have it on series link on sky plus so i never miss it! Neighbours is watched across generations, as both my Grandma's love it, many of my aunts love it and many of my mates watch it. BBC are missing out with it moving to channel 5, but I'll watch it on there anyway. I love neighbours and think the story lines are getting getting better and better, even though i don't think there has been a bad show! Neighbours deserves more credit as I think and many of my mates think that neighbours has the best actors and storylines. I love all the new and old cast members. I always feel terrible when someone dies e.g. stingray! I am a true fan, Neighbours is by far my favourite tv programme!
Posted by: Toni | 05 September 2007 at 20:02
I am only 17 and I watch neighbours every day. I have not missed it at all in four years and before that I watched it occasionally from the age of 10. Neighbours is watched across generations, as my Grandma loves it too. It is a shame that it is going over to channel 5, but I'll watch it on there anyway. It's the BBC's loss. I love neighbours and think it is getting better and better, even though it has always been great. Neighbours deserves more credit as I think it is the soap with the best actors and storylines. I love the excitement in the storylines, I always tape it when I'm away because each episode tells so much of a story. I love all the new and old cast members, that's what makes it special. I am a true fan, Neighbours is by far my favourite tv programme, I just wish I was around when it started, so I could have watched it all. Long live Neighbours!
Posted by: Anna Pearce | 05 September 2007 at 18:54
I am a big neighbours fan and never miss it if at all possible I am very upset however about it going over to channel five. I live in Otley near Leeds and cannot receive channel five so I will have to say goodbye to my beloved soap
Posted by: irene woolley | 21 August 2007 at 15:23
NEIGHBOURS DOES DESERVE ALOT OF CREDIT AS IT HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A LONG TIME- I USE TO WATCH IT EVERYTIME BUT NOW I DONT GET THE CHANCE I HEARD THAT NEIGHBOURS MIGHT SHOW AT A LATER TIME ON BBC2 WILL THAT EVER HAPPEN? IF ANYTHING THEY DESERVE AN AWARD!
Posted by: jo | 15 August 2007 at 14:33
I have watched Neighbours for 20 years - it is part of my daily routine. I watch the dinner time episode as I have my lunch break from work then and have time to come home and watch Neighbours as I have my lunch. Just lately my husband has got addicted to Neighbours and I now have to record it for him so that he can watch it on his return from work. I can't help feeling that sometimes the BBC miss parts out of the episodes and I think this is a big mistake on their part as is losing it to another Channel which I shall now watch and ignore the BBC. Neighbours has some wonderful story lines and my husband is just getting used to the unusual twists and turns that happen and then he looks at me and says what happened there and I just say "well its neighbours expect the unexpected". Long may Neighbours carry on, be it on whatever channel. It sets me up for the afternoon spell at work.
Posted by: Rosemary Cooke | 15 August 2007 at 08:33
Neighbours definitely deserves much more recognition. To say that it has worse acting than Coronation Street or Eastenders is crazy; they're all just as bad as each other! Except, personally, Neighbours is far more enjoyable to watch.
Posted by: James Thomas | 14 August 2007 at 14:48