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Neighbours: The begining
Ben_Fisher1
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I was watching some videos of the early episodes from the late 80s, and was astonished at just how cheesy and downright dull it was. I watched it all the time as a kid like so many others 25/26 years ago, and we loved it at the time. It got me thinking as to what it was at that time, that beguiled British audiences so much, and made it such a huge hit.
I know that it was a different time then, but it even made Coronation St look like a documentary. I'm not really bashing it as I liked it, and I know that things date, but what do others think the appeal was, and what storylines do you remember from the early years?
I know that it was a different time then, but it even made Coronation St look like a documentary. I'm not really bashing it as I liked it, and I know that things date, but what do others think the appeal was, and what storylines do you remember from the early years?
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Yes i found NeighBORES to be as dull as ditchwater.
Always found Home & Away much more interesting.
I remember a storyline where the first Lucy Robinson went missing, and they ended up finding her stuck in a drain:p
And another where Helen Daniels was kidnapped and put in a car garage or something !
I still have the original BBC episode of Neighbours which ends with Lucy falling into that drain. She was trying to reach for a kitten and falls in
It was cheesy but it was fun cheesy and you liked the characters back then. Jim, Helen, Paul, Scott, Daphne, Des, Mike, Plain Jane, Charlene, Madge etc...
Yes I agree ! how about the storyline where Madge has a massive go at Mrs Mangle and she starts crying, runs indoors and has a heart attack behind the sofa:D not funny but the way it was done had me laughing even at the time.
I think the reason it was popular was because it was escapism. Australia looked so lovely - always sunny and lovely houses. I think it made emigration popular again. I remember, at the time when it first became popular, watching Jason Donovan on Wogan, and the gasps of amazement from the audience when he said that Ramsey Street was just like any ordinary street in Australia and the houses were bog standard living accommodation. From years of watching Corrie and Eastenders, it looked like paradise to most Brits!
My favorite character was Helen, I suspect many people loved her because she represented the warm grandmother figure. It's sad that the actress Anne Haddy died of heart problems. Apparently she suffered with chronic health for years before dying in 1999, and was in and out of hospital all the time.
A few months ago I watched a video of the first four episodes and thought it was MUCH better than todays Neighbours.
I know times change and some people think that anything more than 5 minutes old is...well...old but I still love those early episodes. I don't think of them as slow or dull. I just look at them and think they were the days. Great characters. When one scene changed to another you'd sometimes hear background music and I remember thinking 'Oh my god, I remember that music'.
I've also heard this story about school kids bunking off to watch it, and that being the reason they decided to show it twice a day. I thought the story was a myth, but maybe not. There's also a tale about the then head of BBC Michael Grade's daughter begging him to put it on later for kids
Remember how Jason Donovan was preceded in the role he took over, by an actor who looked very different?
Early characters I remember include Daphne, and Max Ramsay who was quite rough-and-ready but had a heart of gold. And who was that short pretty one with blond curly hair and a round face (I'm thinking 1986/87, and I don't mean Kylie Minogue!).
I remember after one scene in one episode ended, there was a shot that was a little bit out of focus, and looked like two regular female characters were face-to-face and snogging. Then, as the shot came into focus, we saw that one was sitting some way further back from the camera to the one in the foreground, who, from the way they were leaning forward, were partly obscuring the face of the other!
Did she, what happened to her?
Is the actress who played Mrs Mangel still alive? i should think not, since she must have been 60 plus 25 years ago, but maybe.
Was that Terri? She lived with the Ramsays, I think, and she was a plumber, she married Paul Robinson but for some reason shot him and then went to prison.
I loved Neightbours in the old days, and it was definitely much funnier. I watched it from the beginning and remember rooting for Des and Daphne to get together. One of the saddest soap moments for me was when Daphne died.
Yes Vivean Gray who played Mrs. Mangel is still alive, which surprised me, she will be 90 in July this year.
wow really? good for her. She's English too apparently, and had a small role as a teacher in 'Picnic at hanging Rock' in 1975.
Mrs Mangel's feud with Madge used to amuse me no end as a kid.
Anyone remember Dr Clive? the one with ginger hair.
The last episode I ever watched was the one when Phil and Hannah left as the new family (Holly Valance) moved in. I knew from then it wasn't for me anymore as the heart of the street (imo) had left.
Wow! I feel stupid. I actually laughed when I read Ben_Fisher's question
I know what you mean, i was surprised she did look old for her age back then, she was 'Only' 62 when she started in Neighbours back in 1986, thought she was about 10 years older.
Jim, Helen, Julie, Paul, Bouncer, Des, Daphne, Madge, Charlene, Scott and Harold
Add the sunshine, the simplicity of neighbours in a street, the catchy 80s theme tune and the exoticism (that it's from all the way in Australia) and you've got winner.
The first 300 episodes are available on DVD.