Welcome Back Plain Jane… And Other Neighbours Characters I Wish Would Make A comeback

 

I was super excited when I heard that Annie Jones would be returning to Neighbours to reprise her role as ‘Plain Jane, Superbrain,’ Jane Harris. Jane was one of my favourite characters in the Aussie soap and a reminder of when Neighbours was in it’s heyday, on BBC1 and on twice a day. I thought Jane and Mike Young were very sweet together, couldn’t understand why she’d agreed to marry Des Clark, and hoped that she’d return to Erinsborough when she left Ramsay Street to go to England to take care of her grandmother, Mrs. Mangel. And Jane did indeed return – twenty nine years later! Gone were the glamorous looks and sense of style that made her the Lassiter’s Girl, and instead we found an eccentric, younger version of Nell Mangel.

I’m very glad that Jane is slowly reverting back to her stylish ways but sorry that Annie Jones’ trip back to Erinsborough will be a very brief one. Hopefully she’ll be back. But in the meanwhile it got me thinking about former Neighbours’ characters who I would love to see back in the Street again.

1. SCOTT AND CHARLENE

I think it goes without saying that we would all absolutely without a shadow of a doubt want the eternal king and queen of Ramsay Street to return, as the most famous cul-de-sac in the world has never been the same since Scott and Charlene left for a new life in Brisbane. Even though it was great meeting their kids, Daniel and Maddie, we would still love for Mr. and Mrs. Robinson to at the very least make a flying visit. It occurred to me the other day that there’s a whole new younger generation of Neighbours fans who’ll never know just how iconic Scott and Charlene were, so perhaps it’s time the characters came back but seeing as these are two roles that can NEVER be recast, I think it’s fair to say that we’ll never see Scott and Charlene back on the Street as I can’t see Ms. Minogue or Mr. Donovan in any hurry to return to Erinsborough.

2.THE ALESSI TWINS

If my memory serves me right, I think there have been four sets of twins who have appeared in the soap including the current set of twins, the Tanarkas. But I think Caroline and Christina Alessi were probably the only twins on Ramsay Street to have been played by real-life twins Gayle and Gillian Blakeney. The Blakeneys bring back memories of Neighbours and life in general in the early 90’s. Twin -mania really took off as Gayle and Gillian seemed to be on every TV show and every magazine cover at the time – they even had a pop career! The twins had some very memorable storylines on the show including Christina’s kidnapping and Caroline’s dalliance with her brother-in-law, Paul. In fact as Paul is still in the show, I’m sure writers could find a way to reunite Christina with her ex-husband. But the question is would Gayle and Gillian who have spent more than two decades living in California want to return to Ramsay Street to reprise their famous roles?

3. GAIL ROBINSON

Well if we bring back the third Mrs. Robinson, how about we also bring back the second one, Gail? Out of all of Paul’s wives, Gail, played by Fiona Corke was most definitely my favourite and in my opinion the only one of Paul’s wives who could handle him – but in the end she got tired of Paul’s workaholic ways and left him while heavily pregnant with their triplets. Since then, Gail has made a couple of brief returns to Ramsay Street and we’ve even met the triplets, but I would so love Gail to make a more long-term return to Ramsay Street. Someone needs to sort that Paul out!

4. SHANE RAMSAY

It may be called Ramsay Street but… There are no more Ramsays left! So what better than to bring back one of the members of the original Ramsay family as well as one of the show’s earliest characters, Shane Ramsay? It’s unlikely that Peter O’Brien who played Shane would ever return to the soap, which is a Shane, I mean shame, because Shane did have some very good storylines including Des-Daphne-Shane love triangle. Even though Des Clarke won her heart in the end, it was clear that Shane would always love Daphne and viewers couldn’t help but feel a little broken hearted for him.

5. HENRY RAMSAY

I don’t know who couldn’t love Henry Ramsay. Before he appeared on screen, viewers were led to believe that Madge’s son was a bit of a bad apple but once he arrived, it was obvious that Henry had a heart of gold. He loved his family and friends and would do anything for anyone. A practical joker whose hair-brain schemes often went wrong, Henry provided much of the show’s lighthearted moments. Unfortunately his love life was a bit of a disaster zone – but that was until he captured the heart of his beloved Bronnie. Ramsay Street was a much quieter place when Henry left to start a new life in New Zealand. When Brad Willis first appeared on the Street in the 90’s, my sister and I labelled him the new Henry – but the truth is there’s only ever been one Henry Ramsay. If only we could find a way to get Craig MacLachlan to play Henry again…

6. THE WILLIS FAMILY

When the Kennedys arrived in Ramsay Street, I didn’t think I would ever get used to them as I missed my favourite family the Willises too much. But more than twenty years later I can honestly say I love the Kennedys – who would have thought they’d still be here now – but I do still miss the Willises. Despite having their ups and downs, they tried not to take life seriously and were an incredibly loving family. Neighbours may have brought back the Willis family five years ago of which Therese and Piper still remain, but I love the nineties incarnation which consisted of Pam and Doug and their four kids, Adam, Gaby, Brad and Cody. Sadly Doug and Cody have been killed off but it would be awesome to see the remaining Willises make a comeback.

7. GLEN DONNELLY

I think that Paul Robinson was so traumatized by the knowledge that he had a half-sibling, that he’s done his best to permanently eradicate all thoughts of his dad’s illegitimate son from his mind. When was the last time anyone heard Paul mention his half-brother Glen? True, the two hated each other so much that it’s unlikely that they’re on each other’s Christmas card lists, but anyone who didn’t watch Neighbours in the early nineties would be forgiven for not knowing that Scott isn’t Paul’s only brother. Glen’s exit from the show was under very tragic circumstances as a fall from the Lassiter’s roof meant that he was never going to be able to walk again. His bid to file a lawsuit against Paul turned very bitter and led to Paul having a nervous breakdown. In the end Glen felt that his only option was to leave Erinsborough with the help of a friend, leaving his fiancée Gaby Willis devastated.As Paul is still in the show I think it would be brilliant if they brought Glen back to really shake things up for his dastardly half-brother.

8. DES CLARKE

Ramsay Street hasn’t been the same since ‘Clarkey’ left – the original occupant of what is now the Kennedy house. Des was in the show from the very first episode til the early nineties when he left with his young son Jamie to start a new life in Perth. Des managed to pack in a lot during his time on the show, including finding out he had a sister, being reunited with his long-lost father, and his very unlikely romance with Jane Harris. But the storyline we all remember Des for was the loss of his beloved wife Daphne after a fatal car accident. I still remember Des feeling crushed at Madge and Harold’s wedding as he struggled to come to terms with Daphne’s death. It was wonderful to see Paul Keane reprise his role as Des for the show’s thirtieth anniversary episodes but the only downside is that it just wasn’t long enough. Come back Clarkey!

9. SUSAN COLE

We have Paul, and we also have the lovely Clive Gibbons, two characters from the early days of Neighbours. Now wouldn’t it be great to throw Susan Cole into the mix? For those of you whose minds need refreshing, Susan was the former mistress of Madge Ramsay’s ex-husband Fred, and the mother of his child, Sam- remember the baby Charlene claimed was hers but was in fact her half brother? Yep, it does sound very Bold and the Beautiful, but it was definitely Neighbours! Susan began a relationship with Paul Robinson (as every woman naturally does!) while sharing a house with Clive, not realising that he was secretly in love with her. Clive did eventually get the girl but sadly for him the girl was still in love with Paul despite having agreed to marry Clive. Susan left Erinsborough having ended her engagement to a now heartbroken Clive. It would be great for her to reappear on the Street and stir things up for Paul and Clive… but where would that leave Sheila?

10. MATT ROBINSON

Reading this list of former Neighbours’ characters who I would love to see return, I’ve just realised how many of them are connected to Paul Robinson in some way. Not that that should be a surprise – after all he’s been in the show longer than anyone else despite a long absence from the show in the nineties. So we’ll throw in another Robinson – Matt Robinson, the son of Paul’s cousin Hilary. Matt, played by Ashley Paske, was the street’s resident heart-throb back then. Matt worked hard to forge a bond with his birth mother, Hilary, as well as to overcome his battle with dyslexia, but it was his breakup with Gemma Ramsay that led to him leaving Erinsborough for good. Hilary does make the odd appearance from time to time so it would be fantastic if we see Matt with her – even though viewers understand that mother and son have had a falling out.

 

 

 

A Tearful G’bye To Doug: A Look-Back At Ramsay Street’s Willis Family

 Hotel Death Trap week on Neighbours was truly gripping stuff! But it’s also been incredibly heartbreaking, and I think it’s safe to say that life on Ramsay Street will never be the same again. Viewers watched Josh Willis die after bravely sacrificing his life to save his nemesis, Daniel. Today his grandfather Doug collapsed and died shortly after reuniting son Brad with his own estranged son, Ned. What is it with those scriptwriters – they really had it in for the poor Willis family!!!

The scenes of Doug’s death, featuring three generations of Willis men, were extremely poignant. When you mention the Willis family, fans of Neighbours  today will think of Brad and Therese, their three children, Josh, Imogen, and Piper plus Brad’s daughter Paige. But when I think of the Willises, I go right back to the early nineties, when the Willis family consisted of Doug and his wife Pam, and their children Adam, Gaby, Cody and of course – Brad!

When Des Clarke sold his house to Doug Willis, I didn’t think that I’d take to the Willises the same way I did with the Clarkes – I was wrong. I  absolutely adored this family and still do. At this time there weren’t really many families as such living on Ramsay Street so this new family unit made a very welcome addition and their lighthearted attitude to life proved to be a breath of fresh air.

THE MARRIAGE

Neighbours Viewers already knew Cody Willis but they got to meet her parents Doug and Pam just before they took over Des Clarke’s  house and set up home in Ramsay Street. They may have been married for over twenty years but anyone could see that the spark was very much there between Doug and his wife. And they didn’t behave like a couple of old marrieds either. Who can forget when Pam tricked Doug into removing all his clothes before locking him out of the house and refusing to let him back in until he promised to take her out dancing?

It was probably because the Willis marriage was so strong that Doug’s habit of flirting with attractive women didn’t bother Pam at all. But there were times when it caused Pam to worry: when Doug’s ex-girlfriend, Alexandra showed up briefly in Erinsborough, and when Lou’s sister, Brenda, became infatuated with Doug.

Both times Pam’s fears proved unfounded. But neither she nor Doug could have predicted what was around the corner…

While nursing neighbour, Jim Robinson back to health, Pam realised she was attracted to him. Her behaviour caused Doug to become quite suspicious of her and Jim but Pam made the fatal error of confessing her feelings for Jim to her ‘good friend’ Jill Weir – not realising that Jill had set her sights on Doug.

Jill used this information to her advantage which resulted in her spending the night with Doug in his hotel room. When she found out, a furious Pam threw Doug out of the house and started divorce proceedings before embarking on a brief fling with Jim.

But it took Doug getting lost at sea to make the warring Willises realise they still loved each other and reunited, ending one of the lowest points in their marriage. And after four years in Ramsay Street, Doug and Pam upped sticks and moved to Darwin after Doug was offered a job there.

THE KIDS

Doug and Pam were the proud parents of four children: two boys, Adam and Brad, and two girls, Gaby and Cody. 

All the Willis kids were extremely close and looked out for each other. They were all fun-loving  but they were also as different as they were alike. Adam was studying to be a doctor who couldn’t decide between Caroline Alessi and Gemma Ramsay (although he eventually left the Street to start a new life with Gemma.) Gaby had been studying business in Hong Kong before coming to live with her family in Erinsborough. Brad was the typical, ultra laid- back surfer, and as a sign of what was to happen in years to come, was caught up in a love triangle between Beth and Lauren. Brad eventually chose Beth but Lauren would get her chance in years to come… Then there was baby of the family, Cody. Headstrong and independent, Cody was a rebel who was always determined to get her own way but nonetheless was doted on by both her parents. She was madly in love with Todd Landers but left to study in America.

All the Willis kids eventually left Ramsay Street to start new lives elsewhere. After a while the characters of Cody and Brad were brought back – although they were not played by the original actors – and Gaby made a cameo appearance in Annalise Hartman’s documentary. Only Adam seems to have been forgotten about but viewers can only assume that Dr. Adam Willis is still living happily in Newcastle with Gemma.

THE LAUGHTER

One thing that I loved about this family was that there was always a lot of love and laughter in the Willis household. Sure they had their problems like everyone else and they endured some pretty rough times, but on the whole, they were very fun loving and never took themselves too seriously. I loved the scene where Brad and Gaby were play fighting with Doug despairing if they’d ever grow up because it reminded me of my own family.

Adam once explained that practical joking was a family tradition, and the Willises did indeed like pranking each other. I remember after one prank got Doug arrested, he got his own back by getting Cody arrested by a police officer. The way it played out was so funny.

And then there’s was Adam’s disastrous first date with Caroline Alessi where his car broke down. It would have infuriated most people but not Adam. Ever the optimist, Adam got a take away pizza and then turned on the radio so that he and Caroline could dance while roadside assistance repaired the car. “Told you I’d take you out dancing after dinner,” Adam told Caroline, looking thoroughly pleased with himself, demonstrating the Willis ability to look on the bright side.

THE HARDSHIPS

Despite all the fun and laughter, the Willises also faced some pretty testing times when laughing was the last thing they wanted to do. There was the time Pam was arrested after being accused of helping one of her patients to die. It was a very worrying time for the family and Pam was determined not to go to prison for something she didn’t do. Thankfully charges against her were dropped.

But worse was to come when the Willises youngest son, Brad, was imprisoned on false drug smuggling charges in Asia- a crime which carried the death penalty. An extremely frantic Doug and Pam flew out, leaving the elder two kids, Adam and Gaby, to raise the funds they needed to get Brad out of jail. After a while Doug and Pam arrived in Erinsborough – with Brad in tow!

Despite Doug having his own business, the Willis family weren’t exactly rolling in it. Pam often took to driving her father’s cab when money was tight, and once many years ago, Pam was forced to pawn her engagement ring, and was extremely relieved to get it back. So financial worries were nothing new to the family.

But things went from bad to worse.

After a joint business venture with Paul Robinson went wrong, Doug found himself in debt. Forced to sell the business, Doug was then employed by the new owners but a difference of opinion led to Doug being sacked. He then spiralled into depression, leading to excessive drinking and a near- breakdown.

But being made of tougher stuff, the Willises got through it.

THE TRAGEDIES

Despite their happy demeanor, the Willises experienced more than their fair share of heartache. Doug and Pam lost one of their children – a baby boy called John – when he was around eighteen months old. Then tragedy struck again years later when their youngest child Cody was accidentally shot and killed during a shoot out on Ramsay Street, leaving the family distraught.

In more recent times, Doug’s health began to deteriorate rapidly as he’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Unable to cope with the demands of looking after her husband, Pam sent Doug to stay with Brad where the whole family rallied round and did their best to care for Doug but it was painfully clear to everyone that Doug was steadily getting worse.

And of course as viewers saw last week, fate decided that it wasn’t done with the Willis family as the explosion that rocked Lassiter’s, claimed the lives of Doug and his grandson, Josh, ensuring that the Willis family would never be the same again and that the union between Doug and his beloved Pam had finally come to an end. However will Pam cope?

THE NEXT GENERATION OF WILLISES

The fact that a new generation of Willises were brought back to Erinsborough almost twenty years since Pam and Doug had left for Darwin proves that the Willis family had indeed made an impact and were still fondly remembered. Brad, his second wife, Therese, twins Josh and Imogen, together with youngest daughter Piper, and Brad’s long- lost daughter Paige make up the new Willis family. There may not be as much larking about in the Willis household this time round but they’re definitely not short on drama!

I had always believed that it was the decision of the actors who played Pam and Doug – Sue Jones and Terrence Donovan – to leave Neighbours, marking the departure of the last two Willises left in Ramsay Street. But an interview with Terrance Donovan revealed that Pam and Doug were written out to make way for a family unit with teenage kids, thus keeping in line with the hotter, younger, sexier new image the show was trying to convey. Enter the Kennedys! To be honest its only in recent years that I’ve grown to love Karl and Susan which means I’ve finally forgiven them for ousting the Willises from their home! But I never really did take to the Kennedy kids the way I did with the Willis kids and I would have loved for them – the whole family – to have stayed.

I think another reason why I’m so fond if the Willis family is because the were around during Neighbours’ heyday – a time when we all rushed home from school to watch Neighbours so that we could discuss it at school; when Neighbours’ stars got all the magazine covers, and the show’s actors appeared on our TV screens more than our own homegrown talent. The Willis family are a reminder of those days and of everything that was going on in my own life at the time.

It’s sad that Terrence Donovan’s association with Neighbours which has spanned a period of more than twenty five years has come to an end. And as Terrence is the real-life father of Jason Donovan – who brought the role of Scott Robinson to life – it makes that association somehow stronger. And let’s not forget Terrence’s sensitive portrayal of a man battling Alzheimer’s which raised further awareness of the illness. Doug’s time on the Street has come to an end but we will always have very fond memories of Doug and remember him as a hardworking, down-to-earth family man who loved his wife and kids – not to mention having a laugh.

G’bye Doug – Ramsay Street just won’t be same…

 

 

EastEnders Congratulates Neighbours On Turning Thirty

It wasn’t so long ago that EastEnders reached the grand old age of thirty, and we all remember the festivities, celebrations and jubilations that went along with it – including a rather hilarious video made by the cast of Neighbours congratulating the top British soap opera on reaching their impressive milestone. And Neighbours has also recently hit thirty, so it was the turn of EastEnders to return the favour and congratulate their Aussie cousins. And they did just that in a comical sketch which featured Neighbours’ legend Jason Donovan who will forever live on in our hearts as Scott Robinson.

Amazing to think that two of my favourite soaps started out almost a month apart. Even more amazing that they’re both going strong thirty years later!

 

 

Mike Loves Plain Jane Superbrain… And Other Hot Neighbours Couples

 

Anyone who saw Hollywood actor-turned-musician Guy Pearce’s recent music video for his new single Fly All The Way, will have noticed that there was another familiar face that we haven’t seen in a very long time. The familiar face was non other than Guy’s former Neighbours co-star Annie Jones, who played Jane Harris, the love interest of Guy’s character Mike Young in the hit Aussie soap back in the eighties and nineties.

Fly All The Way is taken from Guy’s debut solo album, Broken Bones, and the video sees Guy playing a number of different characters. Both the track and the video are very reminiscent of Foo Fighters in their earlier years so it’s right up my street. But what I was really excited about was to see Guy team up with Annie Jones again as she played his wife in the video. It was a very quirky indicator of what Mike and Jane could have been if the powers who be at Neighbours hadn’t insisted on splitting them up.

 

I absolutely loved Mike and Jane as a couple, and the video got me back into reminiscing mode. I thought about all the other hot couples from the early days of Neighbours who were a hit with the fans. Of course today Neighbours is still going strong with a lot of awesome double acts: Toadie and Sonia; Karl and Susan Kennedy; Brad and Therese Willis… but for me, my most memorable couples – even if they have been forgotten by some – have come from the eighties and nineties, when Neighbours was probably the most watched soap in Britain. And as fab as some of today’s Neighbours couples are, I don’t think they have that same spark as the couples of back in the day.

So here’s a look at some of the Neighbours’s couples that I think are tops!

1. SCOTT ROBINSON AND CHARLENE MITCHELL

Even though this list is in no particular order, it would have to be Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) at the top spot, wouldn’t it! I don’t just think that Scott and Charlene are the hottest Neighbours twosome but they’re probably the most popular soap couple of all time; a screen romance that led to the actors who played them to become international stars. Their soap wedding, that was screened in the eighties, is still the most talked about TV wedding.

 

Scott and Charlene met as teenagers, when Charlene greeted him with a punch in the face after Scott mistook her for a burglar. Despite the unlikeliest of starts, they soon started going out and became seriously loved-up although their relationship suffered a lot of ups and downs – which didn’t end even after Charlene became Mrs. Robinson. Their families didn’t expect their union to last due to them having married so young, but Scott and Charlene proved them wrong. The day sadly came when the Robinsons packed up and left Erinsborough for a new life in Brisbane where they are still living in happily married bliss. But the legacy continues as their son Daniel is now a Ramsay Street regular thus ensuring the legend that is Scott and Charlene will never be forgotten.

2. MIKE YOUNG AND JANE HARRIS

I always thought that Mike (Guy Pearce) and Jane (Annie Jones) were equally as fantastic as the Robinsons but their pairing was always overshadowed by their best friends Scott and Charlene. But nonetheless, their antics kept me glued to the screen. And as with the actors who played Scott and Charlene, I had hoped that Guy Pearce and Annie Jones would also become a real-life couple. It never happened but it seems as though they’re good friends which is pretty awesome too!

Dubbed ‘Plain Jane Superbrain’ by her less than friendly classmates, Jane Harris was the butt of jokes when she moved to Ramsay Street to live with her grandmother, Mrs. Mangel. Shy and awkward, Jane was desperate to fit in but didn’t have any luck in making friends – until she was befriended by Scott, Charlene and Mike after an initial frosty start. Despite looking quite plain, Mike asked Jane to be his date to the school dance – and I still remember the episode where Mike’s jaw hit the floor after Jane had had her makeover and he saw just how stunning she really was.

They soon started going out, but like Scott and Charlene, Mike and Jane also had their share of problems, from Mrs. Mangel standing in the way of their relationship to Mike’s ex-girlfriend Nikki returning to Erinsborough. then Mike did the unthinkable and cheated on Jane while on a trip to Canberra and the two broke up although they later became friends.

 

After some time apart Mike soon saw sense and won Jane back who by now was the Lassiter’s Girl. This time round they seemed more rock solid than before. They still had storms to weather but they got through them and they were definitely one of my favourite couples. Then just when we thought that Mike and Jane had a real chance to be happy together, Jane fell for Mike’s closest friend and father figure, Des Clarke, which wrecked their relationship once and for all. Eventually Mike and Jane each left Ramsay Street to care for sick relatives without getting back together again.

I was so disappointed when they split. Even after Jane got with Des, I kept hoping that Mike and Jane would get back together again but sadly it never happened. Quite frankly, I don’t know what the scriptwriters were thinking because Des and Jane just weren’t suited – it was just infatuation on both parts. They didn’t have the same chemistry that Mike and Jane had. Whereas Scott and Charlene had their happily ever after, it would have been great if Mike and Jane had sailed off into the sunset together but it was not to be…

3. DES AND DAPHNE CLARKE

There aren’t many grooms who would fall for and eventually go on to marry the stripper at their bucks party but Des Clarke (Paul Keane) did just that! It was hardly love at first sight for either of them but they struck up a friendship, especially after Des was jilted by his bride-to-be Lorraine, and Daphne (Elaine Smith) eventually moved in with Des – as his new lodger!

Des and Daphne were destined to be together but in soap land, the path of true love never runs smoothly, and Des and Daphne had more than their fair share of obstacles to overcome: a kidnapping attempt; former flames; Daphne’s on-off relationship with Shane Ramsay; a supposed love child… but they successfully overcame these problems and Daphne went on to become Mrs. Clarke in what is considered to be Neighbours’ first big wedding.

 

They soon had a son, Jamie, and Daphne became the first character to make television history by giving birth while wearing dungarees! But together with Mike Young, who was in their care, Des, Daphne and baby Jamie settled into family life. Unfortunately, this was cut short when Daphne was tragically killed in a car crash, leaving Des and Mike heartbroken. Who could forget Madge and Harold’s wedding, where their joy contrasted sharply with Des’s pain, and actor Paul Keane who played Des, gave a very moving performance as the devastated widower.

I couldn’t decide who was better suited to Daphne: Des or Shane. They both really seemed to love her, and Daphne had real chemistry with both men. However, I think the scriptwriters got it right with Des and Daphne and they certainly seemed to have something special. Des found it very hard to move on after Daphne’s death, and although he eventually left Ramsay Street to remarry and start a new life, his new marriage didn’t last, which is hardly surprising as Daphne Lawrence was his true love and a very hard act to follow.

4. HAROLD AND MADGE BISHOP

Madge Ramsay (Anne Charleston) had dated Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) when they were both at high school but the romance had fizzled out and they both went on to marry other people. But Madge returned to Ramsay Street after her marriage ended where she was eventually reunited with Harold.

As usual, it wasn’t all plain sailing, and Harold had to work hard to get Madge to the alter, determined not to lose her a second time. He finally got to make an honest woman of Madge and despite the fact that they were as different as night and day – Harold could be a little too serious, self-righteous and a bit pompous, while Madge was very straight-talking, fiery and feisty -they were a twosome that worked well together.

Tragedy struck when Harold went missing on a trip and was presumed dead. A heartbroken Madge returned to Ramsay Street and later started a relationship with Lou Carpenter – another former boyfriend. However Madge soon realised what we all knew – that no one could ever measure up to her beloved Harold. So she ended her relationship with Lou and left Ramsay Street to live with Scott and Charlene in Brisbane.

 

During the years that Madge and Harold were away from Ramsay Street, I thought of a little scenario where Harold hadn’t drowned but was out there somewhere suffering from amnesia. It seemed that the show’s writers had the same idea too because years later Harold turned up in Ramsay Street as a Salvation Army officer and was spotted by Helen Daniels, who informed Madge that her husband was back in Erinsborough. Madge came to see for herself and wasted no time in helping Harold to remember his past and their life together. She succeeded and Neighbours’ fans cheered when Madge and Harold wed for a second time.

Sadly their second chance at happiness was short-lived as Madge passed away after losing her fight with cancer, leaving Harold beyond devastated. Harold left Ramsay Street after marrying lawyer Carolyn Johnstone years later, and the two set off to begin their life together.

But for the viewers, it will always be Madge and Harold.

5. HENRY RAMSAY AND BRONWYN DAVIES

Joker Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) fell in love with Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend) as soon as he laid eyes on her. But the pretty blonde couldn’t take Henry seriously, and started going out with Henry’s friend and neighbour Mike Young instead. However Bronwyn’s relationship with Mike didn’t last and she soon realised that Henry was the man for her – much to his delight. Henry had gone out with Melanie Pearson in the past, and had suffered the experience of unrequited love with Des Clarke’s sister Sally. But it looked as though he might have found the right woman in caring, strong willed, country girl Bronwyn.

But surprise, surprise – as with all Ramsay Street couples, Henry and Bronwyn encountered problems which saw them split on a couple of occasions, but the bond between them was too strong and they would always find their way back to each other. Their biggest test came just before their wedding, when Bronwyn’s father, not convinced that Henry was the right man for his daughter, persuaded Bronwyn to postpone the wedding. And she did just that – on the morning of the day that she was supposed to marry Henry alongside their friends Joe and Kerry in a double wedding ceremony. Both Henry and Bronwyn were heartbroken and even though this incident could have split them up again – it didn’t. And both of them were determined that next time, they’d make it to the alter without any hitches.

 

The next test came when Henry landed a radio job in New Zealand, and had to leave without Bronwyn who was unable to get a job transfer. Having to endure a long-distance relationship, Bronwyn felt lonely and miserable without Henry. But luckily for her, the opportunity to work at a veterinary surgery in New Zealand came up. So Bronnie bid farewell to everyone in Ramsay Street and was once again reunited with her beloved Henry. The two married off screen and are still believed to be happily married – with a family – in New Zealand.

The on-screen chemistry between Henry and Bronwyn spilled over into real-life as the actors who played them, Craig McLachlan and Rachel Friend, started dating and eventually married much to the delight of the show’s fans – although they sadly divorced a few years later.

6. JOE MANGEL AND KERRY BISHOP

Stereotypical Aussie bloke Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and free-spirited hippy Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley)seemed like a very unlikely pairing – and to be honest, I didn’t like Kerry’s character when she first graced our screens. But the two were drawn together by the fact that they both had children – and they soon found that opposites did in fact attract.

Over a period of time, Kerry’s hard-edged, stubborn streak subsided and viewers found her to be a very loving and caring woman who still had her own unique way of doing things. This softer side came about as the result of her relationship with Joe, proving that the two really were a good match.

 

But of course there were issues that had to be resolved especially as the two had very different ways of living and doing things but they managed to make compromises. The biggest hurdle they faced occurred when Kerry found herself attracted to Clive Gibbons, who had recently returned to Ramsay Street, just before her wedding to Joe. Thankfully Kerry soon saw sense and realised that Joe was the man for her. Joe and Kerry were planning to marry at around the same time as their friends Des and Jane, and Henry and Bronwyn – but Joe and Kerry were the only ones who made it to the alter that time.

Further problems arose after their marriage with Joe’s ex-wife getting custody of their son Toby, and the father of Kerry’s toddler daughter Skye returning: two things which threatened the tranquillity of their perfectly blended family. However, Joe and Kerry got through these episodes – including comforting a very traumatized Toby after his mum died – and were delighted to discover that Kerry was pregnant with their first child. The stage was set for a happy ending.

But in true soap style, tragedy was just around the corner, when a pregnant Kerry was shot and killed while out on a protest against duck hunters. Joe was distraught and didn’t know how he was going to go on without his beloved Kerry.

Joe left Ramsay Street about a year later, and before he did so, he married whacky Melanie Pearson. Melanie had always irritated me and I never warmed to her the way I did to Kerry, and I didn’t think that Joe and Melanie made such a great couple. And it was on Skye’s return to Erinsborough when she was a teenager that viewers learned that Joe and Melanie had split up just a few years into their marriage.

6. PAUL AND GAIL ROBINSON

Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) is undoubtedly the Ian Beale of Ramsay Street. How did such an unpleasant man end up with so many wives and girlfriends? And this is clearly a man who likes wedding cake because despite so many failed marriages, he still insists on proposing!

However, I think it’s his second wife Gail (Fiona Corke) who was Paul’s perfect woman – and quite possibly the only woman that Paul ever loved. It’s ironic that their marriage was only ever supposed to be a business arrangement but the truth was that they both loved each other but were too afraid to admit it. It took Gail leaving to live in New York for Paul to come clean about his feelings for her – and their passionate embrace was witnessed by a delighted Scott and Charlene.

It still wasn’t all plain sailing though. Gail desperately wanted to start a family but had problems conceiving. It was while she was undergoing fertility treatment that she and Paul learned that he had a child with an ex-partner; a revelation that devastated Gail. So fans were thrilled when Gail not only managed to get pregnant, but got pregnant with triplets. It seemed to be a new beginning for Paul and Gail.

 

And new beginning it was – just not in the way that fans had hoped. Fed up with Paul’s workaholic ways and feeling anger towards him for the accident that killed her father Rob, Gail had had enough of Paul’s lack of support and left him while she was heavily pregnant to start a new life in Tasmania. Paul was heartbroken and wanted to be there for Gail and the babies – but she was having none of it. When Paul realised that Gail wanted nothing more to do with him, he was forced to move on. And move on he did – to wife number three Christina, and after Paul and Gail, I really didn’t like this pairing; they lacked the fire that Paul and Gail had had.

It was incredibly disappointing when Paul and Gail split up especially after everything they’d been through. I really liked Gail and thought that she was a very strong, intelligent person who was one of the few people who could put Paul in his place and wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense from him. I also think that she brought out the best in him. Would Paul have turned into Mr. Nasty if he’d still been married to Gail? Hard to say but I’d like to think he wouldn’t have. The characters definitely had a special bond but so too did the actors who played them, with Stefan Dennis, quoted as saying that he’d love for Fiona Corke who played Gail to return. She appeared for two guest appearances but we’d love to see her return full time.

7. NICK PAIGE AND SHARON DAVIES

So this is a couple from the early days who I’m sure many of you will have forgotten, especially as they weren’t together for very long. But I thought Bronwyn’s little sister Sharon (Jessica Muschamp) and artist Nick Page (Mark Stevens) were an interesting couple. Both were very headstrong and rebellious. They didn’t like to follow rules but they were both often misunderstood by those around them.

 

They faced opposition from Sharon’s strict aunt Edie, and then there was Sharon’s dalliance with local bad boy Skinner, which caused her and Nick to briefly split. Despite getting back together again, Sharon and Nick eventually split up for good although they remained best friends. Nick then went on to start dating Lucy Robinson but they didn’t have the same passion between them that Sharon and Nick had shared.

The two soon left Erinsborough for pastures new: Nick went to art college in London, and Sharon went to live with Henry and Bronwyn in New Zealand. But it would be great if writers brought back and older, wiser and more experienced Sharon and Nick to Ramsay Street…

8. TODD LANDERS AND CODY WILLIS

Todd (Kristian Schmidt) went out with Melissa Jarrett. Her best friend Cody Willis (Amelia Frid) went out with Todd’s best friend Josh. But it was no secret that Cody had always had an eye for Todd. Melissa and Josh started spending time together just as Todd realised that Cody was the girl for him. It could all have gotten messy but the foursome came up with the ideal solution: they just swapped partners – and it all worked out well with the four still remaining best friends!

Despite being so young, Cody and Todd were very much in love and I loved watching them on screen – although admittedly, I’d cringe when I’d watch them make out in front of ‘the olds’ just to get their backs up! They went through a lot together and faced a lot of opposition from their families, mainly because they were so young and also because Cody’s mother Pam was so overprotective of her youngest daughter.

 

Just when it looked as though they were on their way to becoming the next Scott and Charlene, Cody was put forward for a two year scholarship to study in the United States. She and Todd came to the mutual decision that they had no choice but to break up, and promptly started seeing other people. But as Cody’s departure date drew close, they realised that they still loved each other and decided to give the whole long-distance thing a go. Unfortunately it didn’t work out as Cody soon fell for someone else in America and ditched Todd. A heartbroken Todd soon picked up the pieces and found love with Phoebe, who was expecting his child when Todd was tragically involved in a road accident and killed.

Cody returned from America and had a few serious relationships before she too met her maker. Too bad Cody and Todd couldn’t have had a happier ending.

9. JOSH ANDERSON AND MELISSA JARRETT

Melissa (Jade Amenta) seemed smitten with her boyfriend Todd, so it seemed unlikely that she’d end up falling for anyone else, and she was bound to take the news that Todd had fallen for her best friend Cody really badly, wasn’t she? Well you’d think so, but this is soap land where anything is possible. So while Todd and Cody were hooking up, Melissa was also falling in love… with Todd’s best friend Josh (Jeremy Angerson).

 

And it seemed that the swap was a great idea as Melissa and Josh made as good a couple as Todd and Cody. When Melissa developed an interest in animal rights, Josh was there to assist her in many of her escapades. Sadly, their relationship had barely gotten off the ground when Melissa’s father was being transferred to the States resulting in the whole family moving out there. So after a final farewell to Josh, Melissa left Ramsay Street for a new life in America.

10. ADAM WILLIS AND CAROLINE ALESSI

Med student Adam (Ian Williams) was besotted with Caroline (Gillian Blakeney) who was already in a relationship with older man Jim Robinson. Caroline seemed a little too straight-laced and serious for the whacky soon-to-be doc who was fond of practical jokes but when her relationship with Jim ended she agreed to go out with Adam. And somehow they worked! Who could forget their first date where Adam’s car broke down and they ended up ordering take away pizza and dancing in the street while the breakdown service worked on Adam’s car?

 

Unfortunately their romance suffered setbacks. Their differences in income and lifestyle proved to be too much for Adam and they split up. During this time, Adam started seeing Gemma Ramsay and they got quite serious – until he realised that he still had feelings for Caroline. So he gave his relationship with Caroline another go but it didn’t work as Adam finally decided that Gemma was the girl for him after all and ended it with Caroline for good although the two remained friends.

Even after Adam got with Gemma a second time, I was convinced that he’d end up back with Caroline, especially when Caroline stepped in to help the Willis family after Adam’s younger brother Brad found himself in trouble while travelling abroad. But it wasn’t to be and Adam soon left Erinsborough for Newcastle where he was reunited with Gemma and the two later got engaged.

Incidentally, I thought Gemma and her former boyfriend Matt were a great match. But hey, what do I know!

11. DOUG AND PAM WILLIS

This was a couple who seemed truly, madly, deeply in love. Pam (Sue Jones) and Doug (Terence Donovan) had been married for more than twenty years and had four children together. This was a couple who seemed to have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. Not only that but Pam seemed able to tolerate Doug’s non-stop flirting with other women, knowing that Doug didn’t mean anything by it and that he really loved her. And it was this strong bond that saw them through crises such as financial difficulties, their younger son being falsely imprisoned, and Cody being shot and killed.

 

However, everything went downhill when Doug wrongly suspected Pam of having an affair with their neighbour Jim Robinson. This in turn led Doug to have a fling with the unstable Jill Weir who had developed an obsession with Doug. When Pam found out she did indeed turn to Jim for comfort but it didn’t go further than a kiss. Pam started divorce proceedings but stopped them when Doug went missing at sea and realised that she still loved him, and the two of them managed to patch things up before eventually leaving for a new life in Darwin, although they both popped up in Ramsay Street from time to time.

I really thought that Pam and Doug were a great couple, and something of a rarity because they were still besotted with each even after being married for so long. I was very disappointed when Jill Weir finally sunk her claws into Doug – who ought to have known better – especially as I felt that despite his flirtatious nature, he’d never cheat on Pam. It’s great that the Willis’ still visit Ramsay Street because even though they had been on the street for a relatively short time, they made such a big impact that I don’t feel that Neighbours was ever the same after they left.

12. RINGO BROWN AND DONNA FREEDMAN

Ringo (Sam Clark and Donna (Margot Robbie) are the most recent of all the really cool Neighbours couples and they’re most definitely not a couple from twenty years ago! But of all the most recent couples, I thought Donna and Ringo were awesome. That’s quite ironic considering I thought Donna was the most irritating character since Melanie Pearson to set foot in Ramsay Street, and also since Donna was initially meant to be a short-term character although due to Donna’s popularity, she became a regular on the Street.

 

Donna and Ringo really were the cutest couple. They were madly in love and Donna’s kooky ways somehow complemented Ringo’s more sensible nature. In a nutshell, they reminded me of Hubby and me! I understand that killing Ringo off was great for ratings and for dramatic effect but seeing as Donna left a short time later, I think it would have been more fitting if they’d got their happy ending and sailed off into the sunset together – to America as they had planned to do.

So there you have it – my list of the greatest Neighbours couples of all time. All thanks to Guy Pearce and Annie Jones!

 

 

I’ll Be Loving You Forever: NKOTB Celebrate 30 Years With Vegas Bash

 

 

 

 

 

Back in 1994, I was listening to a radio interview on Capital Radio where presenter Clive Warren was speaking to Boston boy band New Kids On The Block as they made their comeback after an absence of three years. During this interview, Donnie Wahlberg revealed that the band had been together for ten years.

“Ten years!” exclaimed Warren, “that’s incredible!”

And indeed it was. Despite a few exceptions, pop acts aren’t expected to last longer than a couple of years so ten years seemed like a lifetime, and as I sat at home listening to the interview while having naughty thoughts about that Jordan, I shared Warren’s sense of amazement.

 

Fast forward to 2014 and guess what? New Kids On The Block – or NKOTB as they like to be called – have announced that they will be hosting a four day party and concert extravaganza in sin city itself, Las Vegas, to celebrate – wait for it – thirty years since the group was formed. That’s right – THIRTY YEARS!!!

It’s not a typo of any kind – the New Kids were formed by Maurice Starr in 1984 when they really were just, er, New Kids. Many Blockheads have taken to the forums to say that although they are delighted by news of the Las Vegas residency at the Axis at Planet Hollywood and the fact that the beloved boy band have been together for thirty years… the news also made them feel very old! Thankfully for me, I never did get past the age of fifteen, so I don’t feel old – but I am wondering where all those years went…

 

I still remember the very first time I saw the ’80s favourites. It was November 1989 and I was sat at home watching Top Of The Pops with my dad and sister. The New Kids were starting to make a name for themselves on this side of the Atlantic. I’d already heard (You Got It) The Right Stuff played on the radio a million times which was just as well because I never got bored of it, and all my classmates couldn’t stop going on about them (I went to an all-girls school!) I’d had phases of being into other pop acts: Wham! Duran Duran, Bros, Brother Beyond, Kylie and Jason… but seeing NKOTB for the first time doing the New Kids dance was something I will never forget. Was it possible to get five hotties in one band? Did Jordan Knight need a license to be that gorgeous? Where did they get those magic feet from? Damn, they could sing! I fell in love with Donnie, Danny, Joey, Jon and Jordan there and then and it has most definitely not been a phase because I’m still besotted with them after all these years.

 

The band went on to sell over eighty million records; become the kings of merchandising; have their own cartoon show; appear on just about every music program and talk show (as well as in our dreams!) and generally conquered the world with their combination of smooth vocals, choreography that kids were trying to recreate in school playgrounds and drop-dead-pass-out-and-die looks. They were also the boy band who gave us the erm, boy band! Love them or hate them for that, there is no denying that there have been a zillion boybands since them, all trying to emulate the success of the New Kids. Take That were formed as a British boy-band to rival the New Kids, and Boyzone’s Shane Lynch has revealed that he harboured ambitions to join a boy-band after seeing New Kids On The Block on the telly. To be honest, I really do wish that boy-bands had began and stopped with the New Kids because there hasn’t been a group who has been even half as good as the New Kids – not really a surprise as you can’t improve on perfection!

Sadly along with the highs, there have also been a lot of lows. An extremely loud cracking noise that could be heard all over the world in 1991 was identified as the sound of millions of young hearts breaking as New Kids On The Block announced their split amid rumours of escalating tensions and rivalries among the band. Even before that there were scandals as Donnie Wahlberg was accused of starting a fire at a hotel and was rumoured to be living with a much older woman (remember this was in the days when teen heart-throbs couldn’t admit to having a girlfriend!) The comeback in 1994 proved to be short-lived: NKOTB went their separate ways for good (so it seemed) once die-hard fans ripped up their posters and moved on to the latest pop group du jour. Jordan Knight later admitted in interviews that launching a solo career was hard as he was regarded as a has-been at the tender age of twenty six and couldn’t escape the band’s perceived cheesy image.

During the years that followed, the New Kids virtually faded into obscurity and never again graced magazine covers or were top billing at any show.  There were a few precious glimpses of our favourite Bostonians over the years: Donnie and Joe were both forging ahead with acting careers; Jordan embarked on a solo career, and Danny got a place in short-lived boy-band Upper Street. Jon was the only one who withdrew completely from the crazy world of showbiz and settled for a more quieter life, although he did make the odd television appearance.

But then everything changed in 2008 when a miracle happened and the five bad brothers from the Beantown decided to make one final attempt at pop domination. And thank goodness for that because they’ve achieved what they set out to do plus healed the hearts of the fans who never went away. The rest is history and the band are still going strong.

The last thirty years have been one hell of a ride! Speaking to People magazine, Jordan Knight revealed that passing years have done little to curb their enthusiasm:

” It is cool because it is still the same because no matter how old you get, there is still a kid inside of you.”

Knight also went on to say that it was the success of their annual cruises that gave them the Vegas idea and inspired them to host the residency and have a “cruise on land” in order to do something special to mark this momentous occasion – and the boys are really looking forward to performing at night and hosting pool parties during the day : 

“At the end of the four days, I’m sure we will be almost dead. But it is fun and kind of intoxicating just hanging out with all the fans.”

Donnie Wahlberg added in a statement:

“The band has been focusing on all sorts of solo projects and now prepping for our European tour, but we knew we wanted to do something special Stateside for 2014. We knew we had a limited time block where we could do something fun and we knew we had to make it memorable! What better place than Vegas?”

 

And what better people to party with than the New Kids On The Block? The short festival will be called After Dark and kicks off on July 10. Tickets go on sale on 4th April. Will I be going? Well, I’m trying to twist Hubby’s arm and convincing him we need a Las Vegas holiday around that time but he’s having none of it. I am working on it though. After all i’s not every day your fave pop band celebrates their thirtieth anniversary.

 

Damn! Now I do feel old!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Anniversary Scott And Charlene: 25 Years Since THAT Wedding…

 

My goodness; how time flies…

Neighbours’ Scott and Charlene Robinson celebrate their silver wedding anniversary? No way! Well apparently they just have. November 8th marked 25 years since that wedding episode was aired on UK screens in what was the show’s 523rd episode, watched by 20 million avid Neighbours’ fans. If that doesn’t make you feel old, I don’t know what will! TV weddings have come and gone but Scott and Charlene’s screen nuptials is without a doubt the most iconic and the most enduring in soap history.

 

I remember it as though it were yesterday…

The slightly nervous but dashing groom; handsome groomsmen, Paul and Mike; mother-of-the-bride, Madge got her hat out; Nell Mangle making eyes at Harold Bishop; pretty-in-pink bridesmaids Jane Harris and Lucy Robinson… and lets not forget Charlene in that dress! In a gown that rival’s Lady Di’s in terms of memorability, Charlene’s wedding dress didn’t disappoint. It was very full on 80s: a huge skirt, sheer gigot sleeves with Chantilly lace, high Edwardian-style neckline, the organza, the tulle, the rose detail not to mention the dress taking on a slight peachy-pink hue. This dress was busier than the bride’s mother with so much going on. And that’s before we get to the 1980s gypsophilia in her hair.  All that was missing was the 100 metre train! It may seem a little dated now but at the time, I bet many real-life brides-to-be took inspiration from Charlene’s gown and there’s no denying that outdated or not, it’s still beautiful.

 

 

As UK viewers were 18 months behind episodes in Australia, fans already knew that Scott and Charlene had got hitched; saw the dress, and we knew who was in the wedding party due to British newspapers and magazines delighting in revealing every detail about the wedding which was hugely anticipated by the media to become the wedding of the year. The were wrong – it went on to become the wedding of a lifetime.  But the coming together of this storyline was devised for less than romantic reasons: apparently viewers back in the 80s weren’t cool about seeing an unmarried couple living together (oh how times have changed!) But had it not been for these complaints, we wouldn’t have witnessed the greatest TV wedding of all time.

Scott and Charlene: two of the hottest characters in Neighbours

 

To say that Neighbours was huge back in the 1980s is a bit like saying that Australia is a bit on the warm side! Neighbours-mania had struck England harder than any meteorite could and two of the show’s biggest stars were… the bride and groom themselves, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. In fact it’s arguably due to Kylie’s pop career that the success of the show skyrocketed. Was there a girl anywhere who didn’t want to copy Kylie’s perm (the ‘Rachel’ cut of the eighties) and marry Jason Donovan? Was there a boy who didn’t want to have Donovan’s surf hunk looks in the hope of catching a Kylie lookalike for himself? I didn’t think so!

As the fans remember Kylie and Jason: performing Especially For You

 

It was also well-documented that Kylie and Jason were a real-life couple would have delighted fans and left them heartbroken in equal measure (I was definitely in the heartbroken camp and couldn’t understand why Jason wouldn’t wait for me to grow up!) But whereas Scott and Charlene are still happily married and living in ‘Brizzy’ with two kids, Kylie and Jason didn’t last the course, although they are still friends and delighted fans with a one-off musical performance last year.

 

 

When I watched it as a kid, I was just in awe of seeing ‘Kylie and Jason’ getting married and admiring the all-important dress but it’s only when I watched it again when I was much older that I realised just how moving it was: a young couple overcoming the disapproval of their families who feared they were too young to commit; their closest friends and family gathered to witness the impending nuptials; Charlene’s walk down the aisle with her brother, Henry; the way the couple gazed at each other as they said their vows; tears from the mother of the bride, Madge Ramsay… and who could forget Angry Anderson’s Suddenly that played as Scott and Charlene said their vows? That song has become a classic and will forever be synonymous with the wedding episode.

 

Aussie rocker, Angry Anderson

 

 

You have to watch it just to understand how brilliantly awesome it was in a classic 80s kind of way. There’ll never be another soap wedding like it.

 

 

Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Robinson!

http://youtu.be/iduvLzKvwko