I love Neighbours, and so many of my student friends do too, but 1.40pm and 5.35pm are rubbish times of the day! A lot of people who would watch it probably miss it because they aren't home on time. My OH, for one, had to stop watching when he started work because he finishes at 5.30pm.

I used to watch both but much prefer Neighbours these days. People seem to come and go in H&A all the time and it often reminds me of a teenage Baywatch crossed with a disastor movie. Far too sensationalist these days for my tastes.

Anyone know the average ratings both get in the UK?

Great post and I agree with all you have said! I found your point about H&A steering off in the direction it has since it left ITV really interesting, and you are right.

Neighbours to me is the superior Aussie soap because of its roots and fascinating broadcasting history both here and in Australia! Long may it continue.

Neighbours gets, on average, about 5.5m with both showings together. A few weeks ago it's figures were less than a million behind EE, although this was after an Emmerdale/EE clash.

Home and away gets about 2.5m if the first look on five life is added. This is great for 6pm on five, about 1.9 million, with about half a million on five life!

Neighbours is the better show for me, I prefer character stuff, which is why Emmerdale is my fave british soap, and my fave overall soap.