Neighbours

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History
Making its debut on the Seven Network in March 1985 Neighbours follows the daily lives of several families who live in Ramsay Street in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough.

When Seven cancelled the series at the end of 1985 because of low ratings, Network Ten took the then-unprecedented step of picking up the show and began airing it in 1996. The daily half-hour drama got off to a slow start, but, with the addition of new, younger characters and a big publicity push, the ratings started to climb.

Jason Donovan replaced Darius Perkins in the role of Scott Robinson and the romance between Scott and Kylie Minogue’s character Charlene Mitchell was hugely popular with viewers. The episode featuring Scott and Charlene’s wedding achieved the highest ever ratings for the show and is still one of the highest rating soapie episodes ever in Australia.

In October 1986, Neighbours was picked up by the BBC, which initially gave the show a low-profile daytime slot. But viewers, attracted to the sunshine, cheerful characters and leafiness of Ramsay Street, which offered a stark contrast to darker British soaps like Coronation Street and EastEnders, started tuning in despite the dodgy timeslot. Teens even started leaving school early to get home in time to catch the show. One young fan, Alison Grade, just happened to be the daughter of BBC executive Michael Grade. She suggested to her dad that the show be moved to a later time and, in January 1988, the BBC did just that. Within weeks of starting in the 5.30pm timeslot (it was also shown at 1.30pm), the little Aussie soapie that could had risen to the top of the ratings. At its peak in the UK, over 20 million people – more than the population of Australia at that time – watched the show, including members of the Royal family. The cast even appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in 1988!

In the beginning, the main families were the Ramsays (after whom the street was named), the Robinsons and the Clarkes, but over the years other families, including the Alessi, Bishop, Kennedy, Hoyland, Gottlieb, Hancock, Rebecchi, Scully, Stark, Timmins and Willis clans, have moved in and out of the cul-de-sac.

Over the years, the show has seen its fair share of births, deaths and marriages along with murders, affairs, mysterious disappearances and sudden reappearances, plane crashes, people being trapped in burning buildings (which apparently never have working fire exits) and that old soapie staple, amnesia. In 2005, Neighbours celebrated its 20th anniversary with an episode featuring many former cast members, and the show was also inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame. It is now the longest-running Australian drama ever.

Discussion Board
What do you think about Neighbours and its characters? Share your thoughts and opinions about the drama on its discussion board

Meet the characters

Harold Bishop played by Ian Smith
A strict church-going vegetarian teetotaller when he was first introduced, Harold has been through a lot. Both his wives died. His daughter was shot by duck hunters. His son was blown up on a plane. He fell off a cliff, suffered amnesia and disappeared for five years before finally returning to Erinsborough, where he didn’t remember anyone and had to try to re-learn his whole life story. He's been caught in fires, had car accidents, a heart attack and a stroke (which affected his personality and made him turn his back on vegetarianism, teetotalism and the Salvation Army). He even attempted murder at one stage. Though he's no oil painting, numerous Ramsay St women have thrown themselves at him over the years, but his most disturbing relationship was a brief flirtation with a woman who looked exactly like his dead daughter!

Ringo Brown played by Sam Clark
Keeping his true identity a secret became much harder for Frazer Yeats when his younger brother suddenly arrived on the scene! Ringo first appeared spying on his older brother but when caught sneaking around outside No 30, Ringo confesses that he wants to move out of home and in with Frazer. Originally posing as Rick Yeats to keep his brother's true identity of George Brown from Rosie, Ringo finally reveals his real name and begins an on-again, off-again romance with Rachel Kinski.

Carmella Cammeniti played by Natalie Blair
The spoilt daughter of local mafia figure Rocco Cammeniti, Carmella has had an eventful time at Ramsay St. She's been a barmaid, magazine editor, women's wrestling publicist and even a nun! A master manipulator, most of her plots have revolved around her love life, whether it was hiding it from her father, seeking revenge on old lovers or trying to win them back. Her life as a nun was short-lived and Carmella's now out of her habit. But is she back to her old tricks?
Natalie answers your reader questions

Lou Carpenter played by Tom Oliver
Lou and Harold were at high school together and both vied for the attentions of Madge Ramsay (Anne Charleston), who ended up marrying someone else and moving away. Years later, Harold and Madge were reunited, but Lou, a bit of a ladies man, also turned up in Erinsborough and continued to try to romance Madge over the years. While Harold was missing, presumed dead, Madge and Lou became engaged, but ended up calling it off. Lou is the local entrepreneur, owning and/or running several Erinsborough businesses and Ramsay St houses.

Daniel Fitzgerald played by Brett Tucker
A decade ago, Daniel was involved in a love triangle with Tess and Steph. He left Ramsay Street for many years, but he's now returned as the PE teacher and school counsellor. Will nice guy Dan find a nice girl this time around?

Donna Freedman played by Margot Robbie
Donna sure attracts a lot of attention — but not just because she's beautiful and a free spirit. She's also a little loud and obnoxious. But don't let the impression of confidence fool you — all Donna really wants is approval.

Mickey Gannon played by Fletcher O'Leary
Mickey's mother, Kirsten, appeared in Erinsborough one day and announced to Ned Parker that he was Mickey's father. Explaining that she needed time alone, Kirsten left Mickey in Ned's care indefinitely.

Ty Harper played by Dean Geyer
Ty is Taylah Jordan's (Danielle Horvat) cousin. He's a law school drop-out who dreams of making it big with his band. Unfortunately, his family didn't support his decision and kicked him out of the house, but Ty didn't let that stop him and continues to pursue a musical career.

Steph Hoyland played by Carla Bonner
Tomboy Steph has always been more into Grand Prix racing than girly stuff, but that hasn't stopped her from having her fair share of weddings and more than her fair share of romantic dramas. These included falling in love with her best friend's fiancé and having her first wedding ruined when the groom admitted he'd been having an affair with her sister. Despite her problems, she's proved to be a loyal friend and a great mum to baby Charlie (Aaron Aulsebrook-Walker) and step-mum.

Callum Jones played by Morgan Baker
Young Callum causes a lot of chaos to get attention, but he hasn't had it easy. His mother was an addict, he never met his father and his grand-parents find him hard to deal with. Thankfully, he has a friend in Toadie.

Dr Karl Kennedy played by Alan Fletcher
Sometimes the bad guy, sometimes the good guy, Dr Karl has had a turbulent time in Ramsay St. He's saved people's lives but broken doctor-patient confidentiality. He's clashed with his fellow neighbours and had problems with drinking and womanising, but his long-suffering wife Susan (Jackie Woodburne) forgave him over and over again, until finally he admitted he didn't love her any more and they divorced. Bad girl Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) got her claws into him for a while, even having him believe he was the father of the baby she miscarried and the two almost got married, but the truth about her eventually came out. Given the number of times he and Susan have gotten back together, it was only a matter of time before they reconciled again.

Libby Kennedy played by Kym Valentine
The only daughter of Susan and Karl Kennedy, Libby arrived in Erinsborough in 1994 with her parents and brothers Malcolm (Benjamin McNair) and Billy (Jesse Spencer) when she was 15. Libby went through her share of tragedies before leaving Ramsay Street in 2004 to live in the country with her boyfriend, Darren (Todd MacDonald). In 2007, she returned to Erinsborough to be by her mother's side during her trial for the hit-and-run accident involving Bridget (Eloise Mignon). But it turns out that Libby has her own secret dramas to deal with...

Susan Kinski played by Jackie Woodburne
She was Susan Kennedy, mum of three and happily married to Dr Karl when she first moved to Ramsay St, but she's had a rough ride ever since. Her marriage became rocky, thanks to Karl's lies, drinking and infidelity, and the couple eventually divorced, though they maintain a connection. She had an affair with a priest and then her second husband died of lymphoma within hours of their wedding. She's suffered from amnesia, admitted that she killed her sick mother and been betrayed by Darcy her dastardly nephew. But, through it all, Susan has often provided a home for people in trouble, including a number of the Timmins kids and the kids of her dead husband.
Jackie answers your reader questions

Rachel Kinski played by Caitlin Stasey
Rachel had a rocky start to life. Her mum died. Her dad Alex (Andrew Clarke) kicked out her older sister Katya (Dichen Lachman) and home schooled Rachel and her brother Zeke (Matthew Werkmeister. Rachel and Zeke were happy when their dad started dating Susan (Jackie Woodburne), but were devastated when they discovered he was dying and were then involved in the custody battle between Susan and Katya. Despite her youth, Rachel's been involved in a few Ramsay St romances, but it's her fiery friendship with Bree Timmins (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) that has proved to be her most enduring relationship.

Zeke Kinski played by Matthew Werkmeister
Zeke's been through all the same traumas as sister Rachel (Caitlin Stasey), but has dealt with them differently. When his dad died, he refused to speak to anyone. Eventually he spoke to his sister Katya (Dichen Lachman), but no one else, however, when Rachel had an accident at home, he had no choice but to call for an ambulance. When the custody battle over him and Rachel began, Zeke chose Katya over Susan (Jackie Woodburne) as his guardian and got his wish when Susan gave in to Katya. Zeke has also had a rocky relationship with Bree (Sianoa Smit-McPhee), but has leapt to her defence when the chips were down.

Rebecca Napier played by Jane Hall
When Rebecca was revealed to be Oliver Barnes' biological mother, the pair tried to meet. Unfortunately, Rebecca couldn't take the situation and left, making it clear that she didn't want Oliver in her life. Will she change her mind?

Declan Napier played by James Sorensen
Declan arrived on Ramsay Street with his mother, Rebecca, as they were running away from their past. Declan is a troublemaker who doesn't think ahead — he just acts. Could his mother's history of recklessness have something to do with his behaviour?

Bridget Parker played by Eloise Mignon
Steve and Miranda Parker's daughter Eloise is a tomboy. Unlike most self-conscious teenage girls, she's open-minded and isn't afraid of what people think of her. She probably has her parents' support and caring to thank for that.

Miranda Parker played by Nikki Coghill
Miranda works as an event manager, but her priority is her family. She is very close to her husband, Steve, and her teenage children, Bridget and Riley. She is a caring and protective wife and mother.

Steve Parker played by Steve Bastoni
Steve "Stevo" Parker is a veterinarian by profession, but he also plays in an up-and-coming band called Stevie and the Wonderfuls. He has two younger brothers, Stuart and Ned. Steve has a very close relationship to his wife, Miranda, with whom he has two children, Bridget and Riley.

Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi played by Ryan Moloney
Toadie's another troubled-teen-turned-good. In his early days, he stole, played truant, "borrowed" other people's cars and was generally a bad influence on the other neighbourhood kids. He was also fond of a practical joke, but was kind-hearted enough to feel bad when they occasionally backfired, as did most of his "get rich quick" schemes. He was stunned to discover he had an above-average IQ and ended up becoming a lawyer and settling down a bit. His lowest point came when, driving away from his wedding to Dee Bliss (Madeleine West), he lost control of the car and went over a cliff. Dee's body was washed away and never found. But Toadie managed to pick up the pieces and continues to help many of his wayward family members through tough times in their lives.

Paul Robinson played by Stefan Dennis
Paul started as a nice young man who looked set to join his father's engineering firm. But, after dropping out of uni to become a flight attendant, Paul started to go off the rails. He's come and gone from Ramsay St over the years, been married three times, had five kids, done time in jail, had affairs, had numerous attempts made on his life (including several by his son Robert) and even lost a leg. He's now the owner of Lassiter's, a pretty ruthless businessman and still in and out of trouble with the ladies.

Elle Robinson played by Pippa Black
Paul's second wife Gail (Fiona Corke) moved to Tasmania while pregnant with triplets. As a result, Paul rarely saw them. But, at 19, Lucinda (Elle for short) turned up in Erinsborough. It quickly became clear that Elle was her father's daughter and she's turned out to be just as good at scheming and manipulating as he is.
Pippa answers your reader questions

Famous Faces
Over the years, Neighbours has helped launch the careers of many actors who've gone on to fame and fortune in Australia and overseas. Famous Faces

The Neigbourhood
Find out all about Erinsborough and where the locals hang out...The Neighbourhood

Trivia
Trivia and inside info on the actors and characters of Neighbours... Trivia

Quiz
Are you a Ramsay Street know-it-all? Take our Neighbours quiz here.

Big Moments
Over the years Ramsey Street has been the scene of terrible tragedy, amazing triumphs, numerous disappearances and fires and some very weird coincidences... Big Moments