I remember UK Gold repeated them back in the early 90's and showed them at 7.30 and 12.30, I think. They cut and ripped it to shreds, though and managed to make a pig's ear of it. Absolutely all over the shop

Have you considered contacting Sony TV, http://www.sonytv.com/shows/holby-city ? They might be worth an email or a campaign as they're currently showing old episodes of Holby City from years back.

Good luck with your campaign as it would be great to see some of the great original cast again, the likes of Max, Shane, Maria and Danny Ramsay, Charles Durham and the original Lucy and Scott Robinson. Daphne's grandfather, Harry, was a guaranteed laugh each scene he appeared

Yep, you've just reminded me, I have already contacted them. No reply as yet though!

Why don't you write an email to Sony TV? Every little helps, we need as many people involved in this campaign as possible if it's going to work!

Do you even know what kind of channel BBC 4 is?

The BBC are LESS likely than anyone else to screen it because they would have to justify to the licence fee payer why they are choosing to screen repeats of a show that they a) no longer broadcast, and b) has a fairly niche viewership.

Personally Edward, I wish you luck with your quest but I just don't see it happening. When there is a decreasing market for new episodes of Neighbours in the UK (compared to 5 years ago) the appeal of repeats will be even smaller. Emmerdale, Eastenders and Coronation Street would all have bigger repeat markets and you don't see their respective channels jumping at the chance either...

The only current channel I can see ever showing classic episodes is Channel 5.

But with Home and Away and Neighbours currently on, I don't see it happening.

I think the only reason the BBC wouldn't repeat the eps is because of the circumstances surrounding losing Neighbours to Five. They're probably bitter about it and would rather forget about it. Screening repeats in essence is promoting the show.

Other than that there's every reason to repeat it. If they still hold the rights to the show and have the tapes then it wouldn't cost them anything so in fact it would be showing that they're being more worth their money for screening a show that people want to see, rather than the thousandth repeat of Murder She Wrote.

I might write to Five but if what Hollywood says is right, then Five might not be able to get the rights to the early years until 2018, at which time the show might not be popular enough for them to see it as worth repeating. I'll keep trying

Easy...it was only a suggestion. I am aware of the demographic and purpose of BBC4.

...but if the BBC are looking to regain the rights in 2016...

I can only hope but I think it's unlikely

Never say never. BBC1's afternoon schedule has been a mess for the last four years hasn't it. Given half a chance, the BBC would snap Neighbours right back up...especially if they had an input into production etc. Wouldn't Freemantle Media want Neighbours back on the UK's premier channel?

I think they're in a position where they'll have no choice but to take whoever hands them the most money - and the BBC aren't necessarily going to be in a place where they are that company. Fremantle have already shown that they'd rather go for profit than status and now they've backed themselves into a corner where they're using pretty much all of that money to keep the show filming (there isn't much more they could possibly cut).

The BBC are potentially in a stronger position now because back when the rights came up, people (including myself) were saying "what are they going to replace Neighbours with" - and credit where it's due, they've successfully plugged the gap twice now.

I don't know if I'd consider 'The Weakest Link' as filling the gap. 'Pointless' seems aptly titled and as if it's some kind of in-joke on the part of the producers.

As far as a repeat run is concerned, although I'm losing hope, the release of 1985 on DVD (well 60 eps at least) gives me hope that a few years worth of seasons will be released, especially if you look at Prisoner. Having said that, it would still be much better to see a channel reapeat the eps.

...well only with game shows. Hardly anything to crow about really is it...plus Childrens has been affected to!

It could be in both the BBC's and Fremantle's interest to go back to the Beeb...especially if the Beeb becomes part of production...which it so nearly did back in the day.

Neighbours current contract in the UK has four years left to run...so I am sure all parties are thinking about the future.

Indeed...for me, the '85-'92 seasons are the most important...when Neighbours was consistently tops!

I was really interested to hear about the situation with Neighbours episodes, and the BBC rights over here in the UK. What a delight it would be, if the Beeb were to offer late night viewing on the repated episodes from 1985 onward (just as Channel 5 did with Prisoner in the late 90's). It would certainly attract viewers to BBC4.

I would love to back anyone who is thinking of writing a letter to the Beeb to request any re-shows of the popular 80's soap - would love to again see Henry, Charlene, Jane and Scott scouring Ramsay Street, trying to sell those worthless bottles of "Liquid Beauty" which took the laquer off just about everything it was applied to!!

I would be delighted to hear back from anyone who shares an interest in the Australian soap.

Ive no interest in seeing them. I spent alot of time and money obtaining the early episodes from a guy in australia. So its a nono for me. Id rather see something new broadcasted.

I would love to see Neighbours repeated from the beginning somewhere. Surely a slot even in the middle of the night when no-ones watching anyway is all it needs & anyone who wants to see it can sky+ (if low ratings is the problem) !

Looks like DVDs are the way forward with your campaign. Instead of getting TV stations to broadcast early episodes, it would be a better idea to contact Fremantle about releasing all the episodes on DVD. They have already started with the From the Beginning boxset containing episodes 1 to 57 and a Volume 2 is on the way which I'm sure lots of fans will be pleased about. There's also a Charlene Years boxset starting from Charlene's first episode containing 63 episodes. Seems strange they would release two boxsets with episodes so far apart. IMO, these boxsets are only worth purchasing if they intend to release all the episodes up to at least episode 1000. I would hate to start getting into it again and then be told no further boxsets are to be released, so everyone interested should contact Fremantle or Shock Entertainment and try and get all the episodes released in this way.