Neighbours is taking its annual U.K Christmas break, but it's shorter than the last couple of years.

The last episode will be shown on Monday 23rd December 2002 and it will return on Thursday 2nd January 2003, making the UK 23 episodes behind Australia. (4 weeks and 3 days)

When is the break in Oz?

Friday 13th December and it returns on Monday 20th January 2003.

Oh yeah, UK Gold are only breaking Neighbours for Christmas Day.

This is the closest its ever been- tho I dont watch Neighbours anymore.
I used to love it, but over the past couple of years due to work and stuff I have only watched certain episodes.
The about 4 months ago I tuned into it, and at the beginning of the episode I saw two old farts rolling around on the floor (remember when Harold hurt his leg or he was blind ?- and Lou tried to help him but hurt is back) !
I thought, this is hidious ! -and I wont tune in now !

But Home and Away is excellent, if I am not in, I will video it and watch when I return home !
But its one year behind :'( I remember when ITV had it just 4 episodes behind !
The episode shown in Australia on a MOnday was our Friday's episode ! COOL !

But now channel 5 are doign with H&A what used to be donw by ITV int he early years (And the BBC with neighbours) and that is to show it without a break so it can catch up. I think later this month (or is it early next month) Channel 5 will start the 2002 season, they started the 2001 season on new years eve.

I believe they start the 2002 season on Monday !
This week is the final week of 2001 !

Don't blame Channel 5! When ITV lost the rights to show "Home and Away", they cut the number of episodes they were showing and then dropped it altogether for a while so that by the time C5 picked it up it was way behind and - they hoped - would have lost most of its viewers.

the best thing home and away could do is drop colleen from the show shes terrible

ITV's presentation of Home and Away was appauling ! -and I am glad it switched channels !
But I only wish that Five had shown it for like, one hour per day (mon-fri), or 7 episodes a week (30 minutes, 7 days a week) so that we could catch up !
However much you try, you cant help but to find out what is going to happen, who is leaving etc etc !