The first 10 years was the best era of Neighbours. Great characters like Jim and Helen, Mrs Mangel, Madge and Harold etc. I remember it went downhill around 1995. It’s picked up again over the years but it has never matched that golden 80s/early 90s period.
1995-1996 was indeed a terrible era for the show, with Cheryl Starke and the Kennedy clan as its saving graces. However, what made me switch off after over 15 years of hardly ever missing an episode, was the miserable exit the show gave to Madge Bishop in 2001. It was a time when the show had completely lost touch with its own history, and Madge was shown to waste away from cancer, die and get buried, without as much as a phone call, let alone a visit, from any of her relatives - despite her parents, her brothers, her nieces and nephews and her children and grandchildren all still being out there somewhere at the time. The fact Madge was laying on her deathbed surrounded by recent cast additions, yet failed to even ask about or mention Dan, Edna, Max, Tom, Henry, Charlene, Shane, Danny or Gemma, to name but a few, was just insulting to the character and the viewers.
I would say 1992 where everythin when downhill, a sudden change in opening credits with a new upbeat version, along with the arrival of the Martins, then shortly after most of the remaining originals left the series.
I was a Neighbours fan from the age of 9 in 1987 to when I was around 17 in 1995. I grew up with Charlene, Scott, Henry, Madge, Harold, Lou, Toadfish, and Beth. It was a wonderful time.
In 1995 Anne Haddy said the 1st epsiode was 10 years ago. Now it is almost 35 years ago, and still going strong. Scott and Charlene - that is my era of Neighbours as a kid. Des Clarke as well.
@Video Hidden Treasures 1985-1989 was the best era for the show. I feel it lost something after Scott, Charlene, Mrs Mangel, Daphne, Henry, Eileen, and Mike all left quite close together in 1988-1989.
Oh my goodness! What a great video! I love it! It's amazing to see the former Neighbours cast and how young they were at the time. It's interesting to hear all their predictions for Neighbours in the future and here we are almost 20 years later about to celebrate the 30th anniversary!
I’d completely forgotten Pet Shop Boys had a cameo in this. Always found it wild how Chris delivered the line not Neil considering he was always the quiet one behind the keys.
It is amazing to see Anne Haddy in this talking so lovingly about the show! I remember her once saying in an interview that she left the first time because she had to sit down and try and teach some of these actors and actresses how to act!!
Channel 4 did a show in the early 2000s called Top 10:1990 which focussed on the pop hits from that year. Number 1 was the cast of Neighbours (Kylie, Jason, Craig McLachlan etc.) but they did the same trick there- cutting together Todd's funeral speech with footage of bouncer to make it look like Jim was grieving for the dog!
Great clips been watching neighbours since the start loved Helen, the glue of Ramsey street. Nice to see clips of Natalie Imbruglia always thought she was so pretty those eyes. Cant be a show anywhere that's had so many pop stars come from it, don't think its as good as years ago. But like all soaps the story's have got so far fetched but that's life.
I loved Mrs Mangel (later Worthington), who was played by the lovely, and now sadly late, Vivean Gray. Wasn't Nellie gorgeous! That beautiful black curly hair, those big brown eyes, that lovely smile and those cute dimples, one in each cheek. She was so cute! RIP Vivean Gray - loved you so much xxxx
Stefan Dennis really thought he was something with that leather jacket biker look! Great memories here. Neighbours was something of a 'must see' back when I was a kid and even if it was rubbish, the acting was bad or the incidental music was over the top, it still had this charm about it which, if you were having a bad day (home from school ill etc)... everything was made that bit brighter because Neighbours was on. It was always something to talk about even in the playground when I was just 6 years old!! I guess that's the simple way each episode was played out - the storylines were often centred around the characters as opposed to a situation (as in British soaps) so you didn't have to understand what was going on just watch what was happening. Probably sounds daft but I stopped watching soon after it moved to Channel 5 as it just wasn't the same.
At least Channel 5 treat it better than the BBC ever did. There's like 8 chances a day to watch eps plus on Demand and Online. BBC gave up promoting around 2003 where high-profile stuff actually happened.
Hulk2k6 True, the BBC didn't want it but 'on demand' was still in its infancy when it left the BBC in 2007. Not to mention, C5 paid a huge fee to buy the rights. It was a big deal and still made headline news on the One O'Clock News that day.
In the original cut of this special, Sue Turnbulll, then a Media Studies lecturer at La Trobe University, appeared. She was seen at the end saying Happy Birthday Neighbours. I do recall her giving a lecture about drama serials.
When I was younger, I thought that Anne Haddy sounded very English, but hearing her speak now I CAN pick out an Australian accent. Strange how your perception changes with time.
Jennifer G Anne Haddy did work in England for a while so maybe she picked up an accent? Like I worked in New Zealand for a while and my pommy accent was diluted somewhat
I always thought that her upper middle class Australian accent sounded very similar to the English equivalent. The accent does stem from England so it's unsurprising.
Anne was Rosie in ‘Sons & Daughters’, before taking on the role in ‘Neighbours’. In that she was sour faced a house keeper from the countryside and spoke with a broader Aussie accent. Quite the contrast to the sophisticated, business woman and artist, Helen Daniels.
I love these tributes to neighbours but I do feel dissponed that not alot is mentioned about fransis Bell who played max Ramsey who was fantastic, I hear he left because of a fall out with Channel 10 but was so and tragic he died like he did, would love to know how he was to work with, I missed him when he left but loved he's brother tom😊
That was because she played Mrs Mangel so perfectly and to me much loved at the same time because of her what we would class as over reactions. I would so love to see some of the out takes though they I feel would be such a laugh.
I remember the exact moment Neighbours went downhill - and it was a dramatic and very sudden decline. Right after Cody Willis was shot and about the time Debbie replaced her in the opening titles.
Intresting that it was shown in so many countries and then relied heavy on the C5 partnership in the UK, what happened to all the other partnerships and were they even looking for new partners around the world during these times.
Yeah the first decade was where the show shined. The plots were ridiculously unrealistic but this was the attraction as it was an escapism and the soap didn't take itself too seriously. It was something new back then and in contrast to the dreary depressing soaps like EastEnders. The peak was ofc, the Jason and Kylie era although it remained strong up until the mid 90's. To be fair, I don't think it was their fault that the soap declined. I think allot of he decline had to do with a rapidly changing society in the 90's where we 'grew up and got real'. Neighbours suddenly seemed dated and silly almost overnight. They tried adjustments like casting super hot women and making the soap more serious but it just couldn't stop the decline.
I watched my first episode yesterday. Honestly I had never heard of the show (live in the US). I watched the episode where Helen gets kidnapped by the imposter priest. Where can I buy the early episodes?
you can see the guy that played des I forget his real life name, he did not look very comfortable in that part when they are walking out of the place after the photo shoot. didn't he have to leave neighbours because of a drug problem?
VERY odd that Elaine Smith makes out she was there for the filming of Daphne's death scenes. Hadn't she left the show a few months earlier? Then Daphne was returning to Erinsborough after being away and was in a car crash? So the heavily bandaged Daphne in the hospital bed was played by another, uncredited, actress. Am sure that's the case!
Someone else did play her for a bit, that's probably why you remember that? She came back to film the death scene as she didn't like watching someone else play her character.
The first 10 years was the best era of Neighbours. Great characters like Jim and Helen, Mrs Mangel, Madge and Harold etc. I remember it went downhill around 1995. It’s picked up again over the years but it has never matched that golden 80s/early 90s period.
1995-1996 was indeed a terrible era for the show, with Cheryl Starke and the Kennedy clan as its saving graces. However, what made me switch off after over 15 years of hardly ever missing an episode, was the miserable exit the show gave to Madge Bishop in 2001. It was a time when the show had completely lost touch with its own history, and Madge was shown to waste away from cancer, die and get buried, without as much as a phone call, let alone a visit, from any of her relatives - despite her parents, her brothers, her nieces and nephews and her children and grandchildren all still being out there somewhere at the time. The fact Madge was laying on her deathbed surrounded by recent cast additions, yet failed to even ask about or mention Dan, Edna, Max, Tom, Henry, Charlene, Shane, Danny or Gemma, to name but a few, was just insulting to the character and the viewers.
I would say 1992 where everythin when downhill, a sudden change in opening credits with a new upbeat version, along with the arrival of the Martins, then shortly after most of the remaining originals left the series.
I agree with you both, 100%. Everything you have said is spot on and I think exactly as you do.
@@Wim2600 I liked up until about early 1996. After cody and cheryl died is when the show died for me.
@@Wim2600 but it was the same for Helen...only Rosemary showed up for that.
I was a Neighbours fan from the age of 9 in 1987 to when I was around 17 in 1995. I grew up with Charlene, Scott, Henry, Madge, Harold, Lou, Toadfish, and Beth. It was a wonderful time.
Me too !
@@MsBananasmel Same here...I was 9....
Growing up in the UK in the late 80s / early 90s Neighbours was huge. After school 5:30 BBC1 Monday to Friday. Good Times 👍
Agreed.
I rented this on VHS cassette from my local library about 20 years ago. Never thought I would see it again!
I remember waking into the big Boots in town to buy my copy!
After not having watched an episode for 30 years this really brought back memories.i still remember most of there names as well
Rip to the wonderful Anne Haddy - fondly remembered.
So wonderful X 😊👍❤️
☀️ Ｓｕｎｎｙ Ｄａｙｓ ☀️ absolutely!
Happy 30th Neighbours!
In 1995 Anne Haddy said the 1st epsiode was 10 years ago. Now it is almost 35 years ago, and still going strong. Scott and Charlene - that is my era of Neighbours as a kid. Des Clarke as well.
@Video Hidden Treasures 1985-1989 was the best era for the show. I feel it lost something after Scott, Charlene, Mrs Mangel, Daphne, Henry, Eileen, and Mike all left quite close together in 1988-1989.
Oh my goodness! What a great video! I love it! It's amazing to see the former Neighbours cast and how young they were at the time. It's interesting to hear all their predictions for Neighbours in the future and here we are almost 20 years later about to celebrate the 30th anniversary!
Wow never seen this. Anne Haddy such a nice person died far too young at only 68...now I must watch the rest !
she looks about 75 here
I agree I always thought she looked older than her age
I love neighbours still watch it tiday
Thanks for uploading.
I’d completely forgotten Pet Shop Boys had a cameo in this. Always found it wild how Chris delivered the line not Neil considering he was always the quiet one behind the keys.
This is awesome!
I remember watching this on BBC1 when it was the 10th anniversary !
James Murphy It was never shown on TV
+Rick Hardman
I disagree, I am positive it was shown in an afternoon BBC1 slot circa. November 1996. As my copy was on a recorded VHS.
+Rick Hardman I disagree, I am positive it was shown in an afternoon BBC1 slot circa. November 1996. As my copy was on a recorded VHS.
+James Murphy I disagree, I am positive it was shown in an afternoon BBC1 slot circa. November 1996. As my copy was on a recorded VHS.
It was shown on BBC1 as part of the 10year anniversary. I have it recorded on VHS from BBC!!
Thanks for uploading this !
This is a fantastic must watch doc especially now
It is amazing to see Anne Haddy in this talking so lovingly about the show! I remember her once saying in an interview that she left the first time because she had to sit down and try and teach some of these actors and actresses how to act!!
what do you mean about "she left"?
Yes. Proper diction and pronunciation.
That sounds more like something Anne Charleston would say. Anne Haddy didn't leave and return.
No I didn't know that. But I miss the show so much. Thankyou Belinda.
Did you get my reply Belinda.
Cheers for this! Hard to track down old episodes of this apart from Births/Deaths/Marriages ffs!
Yep, I'd love to binge watch old neighbours episodes.
You can get neighbours from the beginning on dvd from amazon
I love how the cut at 43:25 makes it seem as though Jim is giving a eulogy for dear Bouncer.
Channel 4 did a show in the early 2000s called Top 10:1990 which focussed on the pop hits from that year. Number 1 was the cast of Neighbours (Kylie, Jason, Craig McLachlan etc.) but they did the same trick there- cutting together Todd's funeral speech with footage of bouncer to make it look like Jim was grieving for the dog!
It was actually Todd. Not Bouncer.
@@NickSamon I know, hence "makes it seem as though"
@@supbilly07 Didn't read the comment properly. Lol.
Love these old clips love the budgie smugglers lol
Great Interviews
Thanks a lot for uploading! Used to have this on VHS back in the day :)
I still have it.
So glad Neighbours was saved.Helen ,
Charlene,The Robinsons,and Des and Daphne were my favourites.
Wow this is amazing!!! Aw Rick Alessi... a young Joey Tribianni.
happy 31st Anniversary Neighbours
thank you so much for this
Happy 35th birthday.
So sad Neighbours has been axed, so many great memories it has carried
Great clips been watching neighbours since the start loved Helen, the glue of Ramsey street. Nice to see clips of Natalie Imbruglia always thought she was so pretty those eyes. Cant be a show anywhere that's had so many pop stars come from it, don't think its as good as years ago. But like all soaps the story's have got so far fetched but that's life.
35 years later still going
Then in 2022 it's finished.
We had the glory days of Neighbours in Canada!
I loved Mrs Mangel (later Worthington), who was played by the lovely, and now sadly late, Vivean Gray. Wasn't Nellie gorgeous! That beautiful black curly hair, those big brown eyes, that lovely smile
and those cute dimples, one in each cheek. She was so cute! RIP Vivean Gray - loved you so much xxxx
Please please could we have classic episodes in england like coronation street and eastenders. 🤞🤞
Awww baaaawwwwncaaaar (bouncer).
I’m so gonna get a golden Labrador and call it Bouncer ❤️❤️
Stefan Dennis really thought he was something with that leather jacket biker look!
Great memories here. Neighbours was something of a 'must see' back when I was a kid and even if it was rubbish, the acting was bad or the incidental music was over the top, it still had this charm about it which, if you were having a bad day (home from school ill etc)... everything was made that bit brighter because Neighbours was on. It was always something to talk about even in the playground when I was just 6 years old!! I guess that's the simple way each episode was played out - the storylines were often centred around the characters as opposed to a situation (as in British soaps) so you didn't have to understand what was going on just watch what was happening.
Probably sounds daft but I stopped watching soon after it moved to Channel 5 as it just wasn't the same.
At least Channel 5 treat it better than the BBC ever did. There's like 8 chances a day to watch eps plus on Demand and Online. BBC gave up promoting around 2003 where high-profile stuff actually happened.
Hulk2k6 True, the BBC didn't want it but 'on demand' was still in its infancy when it left the BBC in 2007. Not to mention, C5 paid a huge fee to buy the rights. It was a big deal and still made headline news on the One O'Clock News that day.
@@Hulk2k6 And yet, Channel 5 have just plunged the knife into the back of this show, bringing it to an unexpected and rather upsetting end.
@@wishkid79 C5 can go to hell. I retract any defence of the channel I had before.
@@Hulk2k6 Had to like your original comment 7 years earlier to this one 5 months ago.
In the original cut of this special, Sue Turnbulll, then a Media Studies lecturer at La Trobe University, appeared. She was seen at the end saying Happy Birthday Neighbours. I do recall her giving a lecture about drama serials.
When it used to be good.. Anne Haddy was the best
Sadly the show may be bowing out in 2022 after 37 years.
Was a big fan in 86 -92 and had a big crush on Jason donovan at the time
When I was younger, I thought that Anne Haddy sounded very English, but hearing her speak now I CAN pick out an Australian accent. Strange how your perception changes with time.
Jennifer G Anne Haddy did work in England for a while so maybe she picked up an accent? Like I worked in New Zealand for a while and my pommy accent was diluted somewhat
I always thought that her upper middle class Australian accent sounded very similar to the English equivalent. The accent does stem from England so it's unsurprising.
Anne was Rosie in ‘Sons & Daughters’, before taking on the role in ‘Neighbours’. In that she was sour faced a house keeper from the countryside and spoke with a broader Aussie accent. Quite the contrast to the sophisticated, business woman and artist, Helen Daniels.
She doesn't sound English (I'm english) but not like the rest of the cast either. I cant make it out even now.
Ì don't want neighbours to go for good it is the best aussie soap
35 odd years later and it coming to then end :(
Loved watching Neighbours in the UK.Watched it from the start until April 2021 when i stopped watching because i thought it had got stupid.
TWINS come across as lovely people very nice!!!
Although I still watch Neighbours I found the death of Todd Landers really sad. Nice touch when he appeared to Phoebe in the mirror after his death.
It been 36 years in Neighbour's
love this. And Warwick Davis there with his wife. In panto
This vid is soo 90s:))
Elaine Smith was the first celebrity i met. I think Daphne had died by that point. I had my photo taken with her. Pretty sure it was either 1989-1990
I love these tributes to neighbours but I do feel dissponed that not alot is mentioned about fransis Bell who played max Ramsey who was fantastic, I hear he left because of a fall out with Channel 10 but was so and tragic he died like he did, would love to know how he was to work with, I missed him when he left but loved he's brother tom😊
poor Vivean Gray was so typecast as Mrs Mangel she left the show😂 great actress!!😂
That was because she played Mrs Mangel so perfectly and to me much loved at the same time because of her what we would class as over reactions. I would so love to see some of the out takes though they I feel would be such a laugh.
neighbours at its very best
Scott and Charlene wedding was most watched soap weddings in history also like mike, Jane, Des Harold, Madge I know Russell Crowe was on one episode
Warwick Davis said Jim Dale.. My grandma used to always make that mistake!!
35 years now... Crazy
Loved Neighbours until the Martins left. Had good patches since then but it's never been quite the same since they left
ugh, hated Debbie and Hannah. They were so cringe.
Thanks for uploading. You deserve a knighthood for your services to TH-cam xx
😂🤣
Will miss you 😔
I remember the exact moment Neighbours went downhill - and it was a dramatic and very sudden decline. Right after Cody Willis was shot and about the time Debbie replaced her in the opening titles.
Paul Robbo what a legend
Steffi D is the Daddy of Neighbours with his sharp
Yuppie suit's back in yesteryear🎉
Good bye neighbours I will miss U ❤️
Intresting that it was shown in so many countries and then relied heavy on the C5 partnership in the UK, what happened to all the other partnerships and were they even looking for new partners around the world during these times.
Most notable character I recognise is Charlene (Kylie Minogue).
Neighbours was saved, and is now just over a year from its 40th birthday in March 2025. Neighbours has always been better than H&A and E Street.
Grew up on watching this, been years now since i saw it, since bbc dropped it,
NEIGHBOURS FIRST AIRED IN NEW ZEALAND -JULY-1988 I ACTUALLY SEEN ALAN DALE IN PERSON IN LATE 1988 AS RIVERSLEA SHOPPING MALL EDGECUMBE WAS OPENED.
Yeah the first decade was where the show shined. The plots were ridiculously unrealistic but this was the attraction as it was an escapism and the soap didn't take itself too seriously. It was something new back then and in contrast to the dreary depressing soaps like EastEnders. The peak was ofc, the Jason and Kylie era although it remained strong up until the mid 90's. To be fair, I don't think it was their fault that the soap declined. I think allot of he decline had to do with a rapidly changing society in the 90's where we 'grew up and got real'. Neighbours suddenly seemed dated and silly almost overnight. They tried adjustments like casting super hot women and making the soap more serious but it just couldn't stop the decline.
Stefan Dennis "I'll do 6 months" 🤔
was really disapointed when they killed daphne off, she was one of my faves
Amd mine too.Des and Daphne were so likeable.
What has happened to Lou?Is he still alive in 2024?
I watched my first episode yesterday. Honestly I had never heard of the show (live in the US). I watched the episode where Helen gets kidnapped by the imposter priest. Where can I buy the early episodes?
Amazon
I do wish people wouldn't have got so stubborn and attached to specific characters and given it chance, past this.
I wonder what the American soaps were the BBC considered
Does anyone know the month this was made?
November apparently
Madge looks fit
Hi Susan and Karl
Wasn't Helen Daniels stunning. I never realised when I was younger.
✌💖💖💖
51:43 Under this guy the show went a bit rubbish.
A young Warwick Davis near the end pre harry Potter cool
you can see the guy that played des I forget his real life name, he did not look very comfortable in that part when they are walking out of the place after the photo shoot. didn't he have to leave neighbours because of a drug problem?
Paul Hetherton Yes. Paul Keane (Des) had a drug problem but he seems put that behind him, he did make a guest appearence this year.
jim dale 😂😂
Never got why former neighbours stars wanted to come to dreary old England for!
There's more acting work here
Pantomime for the money 💰💰💰💰💰 in the 90s
Steffi D In Blackpool.
Adversely
Daphne wearing glasses then a second later not oops
Snub or couldn't afford Kylie ?
If it was now, Daphne would have hadknickers off on screen.
You wouldn't think Daphne was Scottish. Talk about disowning your country lol!
I can't believe Lou carpenter was from Portsmouth england
@@wesleycox3536Really.Lou comes from Portsmouth in England.?I had an aunt and uncle from there.
@@BrianKitching-wv5nh yer you can't.yell what so ever now
Warwick
Where’s toadie
He'd only just appeared in 1995
VERY odd that Elaine Smith makes out she was there for the filming of Daphne's death scenes. Hadn't she left the show a few months earlier?
Then Daphne was returning to Erinsborough after being away and was in a car crash? So the heavily bandaged Daphne in the hospital bed was played by another, uncredited, actress. Am sure that's the case!
it was her
@@spikeyroberto Really? I found the episode and nobody is credited as Daphne in the end credits.
@@adamberesford5502 you can even see quite obviously it is her. Credits can’t always be relied on.
Someone else did play her for a bit, that's probably why you remember that? She came back to film the death scene as she didn't like watching someone else play her character.
Yes I like bouncer☺
rip anne haddy aka Helen Daniels a soap legend☺
and Shane was in dr who
I loved Bouncer.
Bouncer 🐕
Some of the acting is just so awful