We were captivated by the marriages, funerals, and cliffhangers.
For more than three decades, we’ve been following the lives of the people who live on Ramsay Street.
No other neighbourhood could have survived so many startling twists and turns, from characters returning from the dead to horrible calamities.
However, Neighbours is coming to an end after nearly 37 years on the air.
In March 2022, the show’s Twitter account said, “We are so sad to tell that after over 37 years and approximately 9000 episodes broadcast, we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June.”
“We simply have no choice but to put the show on hold following the loss of our important broadcast partner in the UK, despite a thorough hunt for alternative funding.”
“We understand that this is a great disappointment for our amazing, devoted fans, as it is for all of us on the team. We appreciate all of your messages and support, and we pledge to end the programme on a positive note. We’ll be commemorating Neighbours from now on.”
The long-running soap was first rumoured to be ending when Channel Five in the United Kingdom, the show’s largest financial backer in recent years, indicated that it would not renew it beyond this summer in the United Kingdom.
“We understand that this decision will cause sadness, but our present focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has a great appeal for our viewers,” the network stated in a statement.
Take a look back at the most shocking scenes from the soap that we have watched and liked for decades.
Toadie and Dee are finally married: Toadie (Ryan Moloney) has walked down the aisle many times throughout the years, but none more so than his wedding to Dee in 2003. (Madeleine West). The couple’s joy was short-lived, as their car crashed off the road shortly after the wedding, leaving Dee stranded at sea.
Drew and Libby tie the knot: Drew and Libby were the archetypal girl-next-door. When Libby (Kym Valentine) married the incredibly likeable Drew, she finally met her prince (Dan Paris). Drew wore a kilt during his 2001 wedding to honour his Scottish background, while Libby was escorted down the aisle by her proud father Karl (Alan Fletcher).
Scott and Charlene are having the wedding of the century on television: The memorable wedding of Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) took place in 1987. After a rough relationship caused by their families’ squabbling, the two made it to the altar. Their lovely church ceremony went down in history as one of the most viewed television moments of the decade.
Ringo and Donna tie the knot: Donna (Margot Robbie) arrived in style in the back of a police cruiser for her 2010 wedding! After being pulled over for speeding to her wedding in the back of a pickup, she grabbed a ride with the cops. “Very fairytale,” Margot said of Donna’s pink Cinderella gown for her wedding to Ringo (Sam Clark).
Madge Bishop passes away: Madge (Anne Charleston), a long-time Ramsay Street resident, died in 2001 after a fight with pancreatic cancer. The Bishop family matriarch died at home in the arms of her beloved husband Harold (Ian Smith). In 2014, Madge reappeared for a brief appearance in one of Harold’s dreams.
Helen Daniels has died: Helen (Anne Haddy), a beloved Neighbours character, died in 1997 after a long illness. Anne had been playing the character for almost ten years at the time. Helen was watching a DVD of Charlene’s (Kylie Minogue) and Scott’s (Jason Donovan) wedding on the couch, surrounded by friends, when she passed away during the emotional portions.
Drew Kirk’s accident: Drew Kirk (Dan Paris), a young husband and father, died in 2002 after suffering injuries after falling from a horse. When his wife Libby (Kym Valentine) sang “Wild Mountain Thyme” at his burial, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Drew had sung the same song to her at their previous wedding celebration.
When Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) returned to Erinsborough after a five-year hiatus, it was one of the most memorable character returns in Australian television history. Harold vanished in 1991, and his body was thought lost at sea. He did, however, return in 1996. He had amnesia and had been working with the Salvation Army as he established a new life, it was learned.
That terrifying plane accident: In 2005, Neighbours planned an explosive storyline involving a jet crash over Bass Strait to commemorate the show’s 20th anniversary. The plane was destroyed when a bomb burst in the air, and key character regulars David (Kevin Harrington), Liljana (Marcella Russo), and Serena Bishop were killed in the ensuing crash into the sea (Lara Sacher).
Karl Kennedy’s affair: One of Neighbours’ most notable stories was the scandalous affair that devastated the Kennedy marriage, which was heavily covered in TV WEEK. Karl (Alan Fletcher) confessed to his wife Susan (Jackie Woodburne) in 1998 that he’d had an affair with a colleague named Sarah (Nicola Charles). Susan’s retaliation, in which she smacked Karl, became one of the drama’s most memorable episodes.
