National Television Awards - The 2012 shortlist

BACK: Dermot O'Leary will host again in January 2012

THE lengthy nominations list for the 2012 National Television Awards was released this morning.  Many TV favourites have been included on the list in one of the most glamorous ceremonies on the TV calendar.  New reality hits The Only Way is Essex and Made in Chelsea will make the ‘Reality’ award one to watch, as they have been nominated against the more familiar shows, The Apprentice and I’m A Celebrity.

     Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton will go head-to-head over the ‘Talkshow’ award, whilst Australian soaps Home and Away and Neighbours join the heavyweights from EastEnders and Coronation Street in the ‘Serial Drama’ category. 

     Fans can vote for their favourites at the official website; www.nationaltvawards.com.  The ceremony will once again be at London’s 02 Arena and hosted by X-Factor anchor, Dermot O’Leary.  The long list will be knockdown into a smaller shortlist in December, with the prestigious ceremony shown live on ITV1 in January 2012.

THE NOMINATIONS

TALENT SHOW

The X-Factor, Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent, Let’s Dance for Comic Relief, Dancing on Ice, Popstar to Operastar, Got to Dance, So You Think You Can Dance

COMEDY PANEL

Celebrity Juice, Pointless, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week, QI, Have I Got News For You, Odd One In, Would I Lie To You?

DRAMA

Downton Abbey, Doctor Who, Waterloo Road, Glee, Wild at Heart, Casualty, Lewis, Shameless, Holby City, Law & Order UK, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Midsummer Murders, Silent Witness, Monroe, New Tricks, Spooks, DCI Banks: Aftermath, Scott & Bailey, Inspector George Gently, Whitechapel, Doc Martin, Merlin, Waking the Dead, Luther, Hustle, Above Suspicion: Deadly Intent, Lark Rise to Candleford, Case Histories, Kidnap and Ransom, The Shadow Line, Silk, Vera, Torchwood: Miracle Day, Upstairs Downstairs, South Riding

TALK SHOW

Loose Women, The Jonathan Ross Show, The Graham Norton Show, Paul O’Grady Live, Alan Carr: Chatty Man, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, The Wright Stuff, The Rob Brydon Show, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, That Sunday Night Show

FACTUAL PROGRAMME

MasterChef, Top Gear, This Morning, The One Show, BBC Breakfast, Who Do You Think You Are?, Antiques Roadshow, Countryfile, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, Billy Connolly’s Route 66, Crimewatch, Daybreak, DIY SOS: The Big Build, Strangeways, The Biggest Loser, Watchdog, Britten’s Hidden Heritage, An Idiot Abroad, Ocean Giants, Lost Land of the Tiger, Inside the Human Body, Turn Back Time- The High Street, Wallace & Gromit’s World of Invention, Royal Navy Caribbean Patrol, Human Planet, Long Lost Family

SITUATION COMEDY

Benidorm, Trollied, Not Going Out, Come Fly With Me, My Family, Miranda, Outnumbered, Candy Cabs, Friday Night Dinner, Whites, Reggie Perrin, In With the Flynns, Mrs. Brown’s Boys

SERIAL DRAMA

Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Neighbours, Doctors, Home & Away, Hollyoaks

REALITY PROGRAMME

Come Dine With Me, The Only Way is Essex, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, The Apprentice, Made in Chelsea, 71 Degrees North, Coach Trip, Peter Andre: The Next Chapter, Don’t Tell The Bride

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME

The Cube, Harry Hill’s TV Burp, Ant & Dec’s Push The Button, Live at the Apollo, All-Star Family Fortunes, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Total Wipeout, The Million Pound Drop, Take Me Out, John Bishop’s Britain, Celebrity Mastermind, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Tonight’s The Night, Red or Black, Lee Mack’s All-Star Cast, University Challenge, The Magicians, Sing If You Can, New You’ve Been Framed, The National Lottery: In It To Win It, Dynamo: Magician Impossible    

ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTER

Ant & Dec, Davina McCall, Dermot O’Leary, Harry Hill, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross, Tess Daly, Vernon Kay, Paul O’Grady, Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, John Bishop, Keith Lemon, Cat Deeley, Myleene Klaas, Bradley Walsh, Paddy McGuiness, Sir Bruce Forsyth, Steve Jones, Lee Mack, Holly Willoughby, Chris Tarrant, Piers Morgan, John Barrowman, Phillip Schofield, Dale Winton, Alex Jones, Adrian Chiles, Rob Brydon, Lenny Henry, Richard Hammond      

NEWCOMER

Chris Fountain (Coronation Street), Jacqueline Jossa (EastEnders), Jimmy Akingbola (Holby City), William Beck (Casualty), Chelsea Halfpenny (Emmerdale), Danny Mac (Hollyoaks)

SERIAL DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Jessie Wallace (EastEnders), Danny Miller (Emmerdale), Alison King (Coronation Street), Simon Gregson (Coronation Street), Pauline Quirke (Emmerdale), Nina Wadia (EastEnders), Jane Danson (Coronation Street), Lucy Pargeter (Emmerdale), Steve McFadden (EastEnders), Jake Wood (EastEnders), Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale), Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street), Emmett J.Scanlan (Hollyoaks), Katherine Kelly (Coronation Street), Claire Cooper (Hollyoaks), Charley Webb (Emmerdale), Lindsey Coulson (EastEnders), Kieran Richardson (Hollyoaks), Andrew Lancel (Coronation Street), Jonny Clarke (Hollyoaks), Nitin Ganatra (EastEnders), Rachel Shenton (Hollyoaks), Steve Halliwell (Emmerdale), Stephanie Davis (Hollyoaks)

FEMALE DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Karen Gillian (Doctor Who), Amanda Redman (New Tricks), Laila Rouass (Holby City), Georgia Taylor (Casualty), Suranne Jones (Scott & Bailey), Freema Agyeman (Law & Order: UK), Dawn Steele (Wild at Heart), Sarah Parish (Monroe), Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), Maxine Peake (Silk), Sally Carman (Shameless), Eve Myles (Torchwood), Caroline Catz (Doc Martin), Kelly Adams (Hustle), Nicola Walker (Spooks), Emilia Fox (Silent Witness), Lesley Sharp (Scott & Bailey), Jaye Jacobs (Waterloo Road), Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey), Kelly Reilly (Above Suspicion), Brenda Blethyn (Vera), Tara Fitzgerald (Waking The Dead), Katie McGrath (Merlin), Julia Sawalha (Lark Rise to Candleford), Keeley Hawes (Upstairs Downstairs), Anna Maxwell Martin (South Riding)  

MALE DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks), Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Martin Clunes (Doc Martin), Bradley Walsh (Law & Order: UK), Laurence Fox (Lewis), James Nesbitt (Monroe), Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey), Idris Elba (Luther), Bradley James (Merlin), Martin Shaw (Inspector George Gently), Kevin Whately (Lewis), Alun Armstrong (New Tricks), John Barrowman (Torchwood), Guy Henry (Holby City), Phil Davis (Whitechapel), Colin Morgan (Merlin), Adrian Lester (Hustle), Peter Firth (Spooks), Dennis Waterman (New Tricks), Ben Turner (Casualty), Stephen Rea (The Shadow Line), Jason Isaacs (Case Histories), Alec Newman (Waterloo Road), David Morrissey (South Riding), James Bolam (New Tricks), Ciaran Hinds (Above Suspicion), Rupert Penry-Jones (Whitechapel), Trevor Eve (Kidnap and Ransom), David Threlfall (Shameless), Ed Stoppard (Upstairs, Downstairs), Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), Neil Dudgeon (Midsummer Murders)              

TV classics - Home and Away

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

SOME people may often forget that it was Channel Seven that launched the concept of soap in Australia.  The nostalgic Sons & Daughters started it all in 1982 and then it launched Neighbours three years later.  The latter wasn’t a success and defected to rivals Channel Ten the following year and became so successful that Seven decided to get its own back. Thus, Home and Away was born in 1988.

     Set in Summer Bay; a fictional seaside town on the coast of Melbourne, the concept behind the show was to aim it towards a family audience compared to Neighbours, which was targeted more at just the youth.  Early episodes largely focused on the Fletcher family, Tom (Roger Oakley), Pippa (Debra Lawrance) and their adoptive daughter Sally (Kate Ritchie) along with the Stewart couple of Alf (Ray Meagher) and Alisa (Judy Nunn).

START: A young Dannii Minogue made her breakthrough in Home & Away

     This initial plan didn’t really work and soon enough, the show extended towards other residents, along with the local businesses.  Several people got their big break through the show, including Dannii Minogue and the late Heath Ledger.  During the nineties, popular new characters came in, including Shannon Reed (Isla Fisher), Angel Parrish (Melissa George), Shane Parrish (Dieter Brummer), Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons) and Fisher (Norman Coburn).

     Home and Away made its arrival onto British television in 1990 with ITV broadcasting the soap after the BBC turned down the rights to concentrate on funding for Neighbours.  Together with popular quiz show Blockbusters, with the ITN News sandwiched in-between, ITV had finally created a combination to take on the BBC on weekday teatimes.

     Going into the new millennium and Home and Away started a severe decline Down Under.  Constantly being thrashed in the ratings by Neighbours, it was criticised for trying to copy Ramsay Street’s way of storylines and then taking it over the top.  Meanwhile, it was rocked even further in January 2000 with the news that ITV wouldn’t be renewing its contract in order to fund for more original daytime programmes, namely a revival of the classic soap Crossroads.  Channel 5 duly picked up the rights, beating off stiff competition from Channel 4 and Sky.  However, due to legal documentation which I won’t go into, it would not return to UK screens until July 2001.  In the ten years that it has aired, Channel 5 has done a remarkable job to now only lie a few weeks behind Australian transmission.

     Over in Australia, Seven ordered a facelift of the show in 2004, but denied it was a “last chance” revamp.  Some of the sets were given neat makeovers, a whole host of new faces came in and the show switched into a new picture format, giving it a film-like effect that was being demonstrated in British soaps Hollyoaks and Doctors.  Bevan Lee, who was serving as series producer at the time of the revamp, left but decided to stay on until the end of the 2004 season to allow a strong transition into new producer Dan Bennett.  Bennett built on the wide praise from the 2004 relaunch, by continuing to dramatically extend the cast and commission storylines and plots that Home and Away had never touched before.  By now, the soap was being targeted to youngsters, with the arrival of popular teen characters such as Ric Dalby (Mark Furze), Cassie Turner (Sharni Vinson), Lucas Holden (Rhys Wakefield) and Matilda Hunter (Indiana Evans).

     One element that makes Home and Away standout from any other soap is disasters.  During the two and a bit decades it has been on the air, there has been an earthquake, a landslide, a hurricane, a cyclone, several fires, a helicopter disaster which left many characters stranded in a remote forest for over a month and countless car crashes.  It’s no wonder why Inside Soap magazine has labelled Summer Bay as soap’s most dangerous town!

     The murder of corrupt mayor Josh West (Daniel Collopy) in 2006 signalled change of direction in Home and Away.  Despite still being broadcast in a 7pm slot on Seven, and 6pm on Channel 5, more darker and grittier storylines were rolled out which included a continuing storyline the previous year of Eve Jacobson (Emily Perry).  Eve was a possessed stalker who coming back from the dead to enact revenge in blowing up the reception building at the wedding between Jack Holden (Paul O’Brien) and Martha Mackenzie (Jodi Gordon), leaving everyone’s lives at risk.  The end of the 2006 saw gangster Johnny Cooper (Callan Mulvey) begin to terrorise the town in a two-year period, during which Sally Fletcher was hospitalised twice for being stabbed.

     Despite these shock twists, it made compelling viewing and by now Home and Away was miles ahead of Neighbours in Australia and was often picking up awards for it.  The show’s 20th anniversary in 2008 promised a nostalgic element to the show throughout the year.  It also though saw the departure of many popular characters, especially the farewell of Sally, who left to travel the world.  Although new faces came in, many would argue that they would have a lot of work to do to better the class that began in 1988 and came in through the 2000s revival of what seemed to be a dying format.

STRONG: Home and Away still has a good following of fans

     Recently, the show has returned to its roots and although still features the odd dramatic element now and again; it has now taken a lighter and pleasurable approach.  Its reception in both Australia and the UK remains good and I predict that Home and Away should still be on everyone’s screens for many years to come.

Dancing on Ice 2011 - Second qualifying heat

BY JASON WRIGHT (Entertainment Expert)

Last week, the first six celebrities booked their places in this year’s competition and this week it was the turn of the other eight celebrities to show what they could do to get into the proper stages of Dancing on Ice.

Here is a summary of the eight stars who took part on Sunday.

Craig McLachlan & Maria Filippov

Skated to: Sympathy for the Devil

UNSUCCESSFUL: Craig continued Australia's losing trend

With successful stints in Neighbours and Home and Away in the 1980’s, Craig came to Britain hoping to prove that Aussies can win a sport!  His routine was great to watch, though it was lacking the rather required pace for the accompanying music. 

Selected comment: “The costume covered a multitude of sins for me tonight mate.  From the waist down you move quite gingerly and it looks like you are wearing a soiled nappy!” (Jason Gardiner)

Scores: Jason 3, Robin 3, Emma 3                                              TOTAL: 9/30 (8th)

Jennifer Metcalfe & Sylvain Longchambon

Two years ago, Hollyoaks stunner Jennifer narrowly missed out on the final line-up.  Now she was finally living her dream.  Already reportedly intimate with her pro partner Sylvain, it was anticipated this would be partnership in the making.  Despite a huge mistake when she mistimed her roll-up move, it was a good start.

Selected comment: “You must have danced before because the way that you carry yourself is stunning.  I've fallen out of a lift before and it is so scary and I admire you so much for keeping your head up and carrying on with the routine.” (Emma Bunton)

Scores: Jason 4, Robin 4, Emma 4                                              TOTAL: 12/30 (3rd)

Comedy Dave & Frankie Poultney

Skated to: The Safety Dance

Branded the joker of the pack must be difficult but also appealing as the public will vote more often.  Regardless, Dave’s first performance was actually quite solid and not as disgraceful as first feared.  There is no doubt he may get plenty of support no matter whether he will become good or bad on the ice.

Selected comment: “You equipped yourself very well. It was genius of Christopher Dean to use all your bad assets and make them work for you.  I have to say, week one, a three jump and an assisted jump on your own, well done.” (Robin Cousins)

Scores: Jason 3, Robin 4, Emma 4                                              TOTAL: 11/30 (Joint 4th)

Elen Rivas & Lukasz Rozycki

Skated to: Your Love Is King

UNIMPRESSIVE: And Elen paid the price, with an early exit

Known as a model but better as the ex of Frank Lampard, Elen had a lot to prove to everyone that she was lot nicer than first thought.  Not so however, her VT showed her demanding better choreography to put into her routine and she got what she asked for, only to mess it up by just…well…not skating at all perfectly. .

Selected comment: “Where was the passion tonight?  There were fighting words, but they just didn't translate onto the ice.  Very constricted in the upper body and a very disassociated performance from your choreography.” (Jason Gardiner)

Scores: Jason 3, Robin 4, Emma 4                                              TOTAL: 11/30 (Joint 4th)

Dominic Cork & Alexandra Schumann

Skated to: Are You Ready For Love

Dominic earns the reputation of being the first cricketer to take part on this show and is no doubt hoping to emulate the successes of Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakash on Strictly Come Dancing.  However, it seems like victory is not up his street and this routine showed it.  However, if he doesn’t make constant mistakes and makes the odd improvement, he will go a good distance.

Selected comment: “You are the tallest skater we have here and the tendency would be to stoop over your partner, but you didn't, you made her come to you.” (Robin Cousins)

Scores: Jason 3, Robin 5, Emma 3                                              TOTAL: 11/30 (Joint 4th)

Chloe Madeley & Michael Zenezini

Skated to: Mama Do

The daughter of famous TV presenting duo Richard & Judy, Chloe is another star who has been linked to participating in the past but has only now got her chance.  Amidst fears she would flop, she didn’t.  In fact, she was the surprise of the night and if she keeps this up, she will be a surprise package in this show.

Selected comment: “I know that there is so much to think about, but technically you have got it now.  Just try and relax and enjoy the character a bit more.  I want to see the cheeky playful Chloe that we know and love.” (Emma Bunton)

Scores: Jason 4, Robin 6, Emma 6                                              TOTAL: 16/30 (2nd)

Sam Attwater & Brianne Delcourt

Skated to: Club Can’t Handle Me

FANTASTIC: Sam underlined his bookies favourite potential

Sam is a little-known EastEnders actor that has surely turned into a skating superstar.  Well, that is certainly the impression from this first performance.  So much energy, pace and moves were put into it and he has certainly left a mark on this competition.  Unless there is any serious reply from anyone else within these next couple of weeks, it’s Sam’s competition to lose.

Selected comment: “Fantastic skating, fantastic instant chemistry and some of the strongest skating we've seen in week one.  You were really being pushed.” (Robin Cousins)

Scores: Jason 6, Robin 7, Emma 8                                              TOTAL: 21/30 (1st)

Denise Welch & Matt Evers

Skated to: Pack Up

PROMISING: But Jason Gardiner really took a dislike to Denise

Those who are associated to Loose Women will indeed be backing Denise throughout.  In honest truth, her first performance was not brilliant but not bad either.  I think it’s fair to say that no matter how she copes, she will get the votes to go through.

Selected comment: “Surprisingly there were real moments of promise, combined with Matt skating with his mum!  I want you to lose the skating with mum quality that we saw.” (Jason Gardiner)

Scores: Jason 3, Robin 4, Emma 3                                              TOTAL: 10/30 (7th)

The Result

There were just six places left to fill in the Dancing on Ice 2011 line-up and again, the public alone was responsible in making the decision.  Comedy Dave, Dominic, Chloe, Sam and Denise snatched the first five on offer tonight whilst Jennifer secured the final slot in the skate-off against Craig and Elen.

This will no doubt give Jennifer a serious reality check, just like Laura last week.  However, I always have to be honest at this point and so I must admit, I actually thought she would be knocked out and that Craig would go though, because even if his skating wasn’t up to standard, I honestly thought his personality would shine though and win the public over.  Nevertheless, it’s still a good case that the strongest skater won through again.

So we now have our competition line-up and next week it all kicks off for real.  The judges will finally be able to have their say as their scores will go towards the overall result and will now have complete power again in the skate-off, which reverts back to a head-to-head battle.

Chloe Madeley, Comedy Dave, Denise Welch, Dominic Cork, Jeff Brazier, Jennifer Metcalfe, Johnson Beharry, Kerry Katona, Laura Hamilton, Sam Attwater, Steven Arnold and Vanilla Ice. One of them will win Dancing on Ice 2011, but who will prevail out on top.  It begins next Sunday at 6:10pm on ITV1 (HD).  As always, a report will be issued next week.

25 Years of Neighbours - When Neighbours Become Good Friends!

TOMORROW in the UK, the legendary Australian soap Neighbours reaches its 6,000 episode.  To mark the occasion, the bosses at Ramsay Street have come up with a ‘Who Dunnit?’ storyline, which will see the evil Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) be pushed off the balcony at the Lassiters complex.  It also marks the 25^th year of a show, which has been on Channel Five since February 2008, and has given us some iconic and inspirational moments.  The residents of Erinsborough have had it all happen to them down the years, and here are fifteen of my memories from the Ramsay Street years.

Scott and Charlene’s Wedding                                                  1987

The real heyday for Neighbours was in its early days, the 1980’s.  Just two years into its birth came the wedding of the decade, even more popular to some than Charles and Diana.  Nearly 20million UK viewers tuned into the BBC to watch the wedding of Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell.    Every member of the cast featured in this romantic and groundbreaking episode, which of course set the stone for the legendary careers of Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue.  If this doesn’t bring a tear to your eyes, nothing will.

Susan and Karl get married in London                                    2007

If there is one Neighbours couple that have been through the mill, it must be Karl and Susan Kennedy.  In March 2007, they went to London, where Karl proposed to Susan on the London Eye, which she delightfully accepted.  In a week which starred cameo roles from Emma Bunton, Neil Morrissey and Michael Parkinson, Karl and Susan got married on the River Thames, the third time that they had got married.  However, the wedding was overshadowed by the reappearance of Karl’s former flame and Susan’s bitter enemy, Isabelle Hoyland.  Izzy went into labour during the wedding, with the baby delivered by the faithful Doctor Kennedy.  Susan would find out that Karl was the father of Izzy’s baby, as the pair had a one-night stand whilst Karl was on prescription drugs to help him sleep.  Now that was a dramatic wedding if there ever was one!

Jim Robinson Suffers A Heart Attack                                       1993

Alan Dale has gone onto great success in hit US shows such as Ugly Betty, The O.C and 24, yet has a habit of having characters that end up dying from a heart attack.  His most dramatic death though came in April 1993, when his character in Neighbours, Jim Robinson was written out of the show in smashing fashion.  Dale had disagreed with the producers of the show over his salary, and consequently, his contract wasn’t renewed.  In the show, Jim began a relationship with Fiona Hartman, who was after one thing, his wealth.  Cue several confrontations between the Robinsons and Hartman’s and the stress became too much for Jim, who collapsed in the kitchen floor, flying over a fruit bowl and succumbing to a heart attack.  Rather than help the other half, the deceitful Fiona transferred Jim’s money over to her account and allowed Rosemary Daniels to discover the body instead!  Pure gratitude!

The Waterhole Explosion                                                            1993

Now when you can smell gas, then you have a problem, and the last thing you want to do is ‘Don’t know, best leave it to the experts!’  Famous words from Brad Willis, who got entangled up in a massive explosion that gutted The Waterhole pub, as it was known then.  Brad and his wife, Beth ends up in the cellar when they suspect a leak, but decide to leave the issue to people who know their stuff.  The Waterhole, owned by Annalise Hartman explodes seconds later in spectacular fashion, throwing the owner to the ground.  Coffee shop assistant Stephen Gottieb was tragically paralysed in the explosion, whilst Beth and Brad luckily escaped with minor injuries.  Annalise was dismissed from her position, as she had known about the gas leakage, yet failed to report the incident and The Waterhole was no more.  Lou Carpenter would take over the damaged site, for a new watering hole that went the same way a decade later.

Madge Dies                                                                                        2001

One of the most heart-wrenching moments in the show’s history was the sad final scenes of Madge Bishop in the summer of 2001.  When Helen Daniels passed away in 1997, Madge took over as the matriarch of Ramsay Street.  Together with husband Harold (Ian Smith), they became one of the most famous couples in soap history.  Sadly in 2001, Madge contracted terminal cancer.  She spent her last days in her bed at No.24, with many of her close friends, Susan, Karl and Lou saying their emotional goodbyes.  With Paul and Tad, the two children that they had fostered and a emotional Harold, Madge quietly passed away in Harold’s arms, in an episode that was so emotional.   

Drew’s Death                                                                                    2002

Libby Kennedy and Drew Kirk were the golden couple of Neighbours at the start of the millennium.  They had to overcome several obstacles to tie the knot, and their wedding was just as tear-jerking as Scott and Charlene.  In 2002, the couple were considering a move to Oakey and are down in the vicinity, when Drew falls off a horse.  It looked like an innocuous incident, but sadly, the injuries are too great and Drew succumbs to liver damage and a brain haemorrhage.  The funeral was just as sad and Libby was never the same person again, until her departure two years later.  She returned in 2008, and is as strong as ever.  A failed marriage to Daniel Fitzgerald has followed, but Libby’s true love was always Drew.

Lassiters Goes Up In Flames                                                       2004

The 2004 season finale saw the planned wedding of Isabelle Hoyland and Karl Kennedy end up being cancelled at the last moment, as Izzy gets cold feet.  Despite not getting hitched, Karl gives Izzy a second chance, but the main incident of the night is yet to happen.  A mysterious figure in black sets fire to the storeroom in Lou’s pub.  The fire spreads very quickly, engulfing Harold’s Coffee Shop in the process.  The pub collapses, with Stu Parker and Cindi still trapped inside, although both will be found alive and well.  An explosion at the Coffee Shop knocks Max Hoyland out unconscious, to Izzy’s grave distress.  Right at the end of the episode, Paul Robinson returns to Ramsay Street, almost totally unnoticed. 

The Plane Crash                                                                               2005

To celebrate Lassiter’s anniversary, Paul takes a plane into the sky for a joy flight.  Several regulars including Isabelle Hoyland, Elle Robinson, Connor Harvey, Dylan Timmins and Sky Mangel are all aboard the flight.  One of Paul’s enemies, later to be discovered as his twisted son, Robert Robinson plants a bomb on the plane, which explodes in mid-air.  The wreckage ends up in the sea.  A dramatic rescue follows afterwards, with the residents who didn’t travel on the flight such as Max, Karl, Janelle and Harold awaiting news of their loved ones.  Sadly for Harold, his family of David, Lilijana and Serena Bishop all perished in the disaster.  Harold vowed revenge and it would be on an unsuspected Paul. 

Harold Strangles Paul                                                                    2005

Harold Bishop is struggling to cope with the loss of his family in the plane crash, and when Connor Harvey turns his back on him to reunite with his close friends, Stu Parker and Toadfish Rebecchi, Harold is left with nothing.  With Lou away and Sky not being much support either, Harold finds a letter than David had written, damming in his hatred for Paul Robinson (Paul had an affair with David’s wife Lilijana earlier that year.)  Harold heads over to No.22 and sneaks in, while Paul is on the phone to his son, Cameron.  As Paul hangs up, Harold grabs him around the neck and strangles his grip on Paul, until he collapses unconscious onto the floor.  One of the most surprising attacks in Neighbours history!

Stingray’s Death                                                                               2007

Sky Mangel’s baby, Kerry badly needs a transplant to beat leukaemia.  Kerry’s father, Dylan Timmins is unable to proceed with the transfusion, due to a sample that doesn’t match.  Dylan’s brother and Sky’s boyfriend Scott ‘Stingray’ Timmins steps forward, and after a few moments on the operation table when it looked like he might not make it, the transfusion is a success and Stingray makes a swift recover.  Sadly, fate takes a decisive blow and at a birthday party for his mum, Janelle, Stingray sits down and despite the best efforts of the Timmins family, they look on devastated as they realise that Stingray has passed away for the surgery complications. 

Bridget Passes Away                                                                      2009

Another traumatic death in Erinsborough occurred last year, when the very popular Bridget Parker passed away in hospital.  Bridget was involved in a car crash with her family, when father Steve attempts to swerve away from a loose horse.  Although she made out of the crash unscathed, Bridget collapses with baby India in her arms, and when found by Steve, is rushed to hospital for urgent surgery.  It looks like she has survived the worst, but a dream that she has seems to confirm terminal injuries.  Bridget goes into cardiac arrest and soon afterwards, Karl and Dr. Newton have to reveal the heartbreaking news.  Bridget’s husband Declan Napier, Steve and Miranda Parker struggle to cope with this horrific news.  This storyline spelt the exit for the Parkers, who left shortly afterwards.

Susan Finds Out About Karl & Sarah                                        1998

When the Kennedy family moved into Ramsay Street in 1994, we all knew the fireworks that were going to happen over the next sixteen years.  The first test of Susan and Karl’s happiness came in the season finale of 1997, when Karl had a secret moment with his secretary, Sarah Beaumont.  Temptation got the better of Karl for six months, and when Susan found out, via neighbourhood gossip at the wedding of Ruth and Philip Martin, Susan gave her guilty husband one huge slap!  After time apart, they did reunite, but the previous trust in their marriage had been well and truly shattered.

Harold Disappears                                                                           1991

In September 1991, Harold Bishop disappeared and vanished off the screens of Neighbours for five years.  Harold and Made had gone out to sea, and Harold was having a caricature of him drawn.  The last we see of him, is smiling and waving to a besotted Madge.  Then, he get washed out to sea and when his famous glasses are discovered, it is believed that he drowned, though a body was never recovered.  Harold reappeared in 1996, spotted by Helen Daniels whilst working for the Salvation Army.

Toadie and Dee’s Wedding/Dee’s Death                              2003

Toadfish Rebecchi has been one of Neighbours most well-loved characters, but he has never really been in luck when it comes to romance.  It looked like he had found his true happiness, when he met Dee Bliss.  Despite a couple of hitches in the lead-up to their wedding, including Toadie being tied up naked to a lamp-post on his stag night, the wedding day went through without any problems.  That was until they drove off for the honeymoon.  On the way to the airport to grab a flight to the Maldives, Toadie lost control of the car when he leaned over to kiss his new bride.  The car skidded and went straight over the edge of a cliff.  Toadie managed to scramble out, but Dee was never found, and although a body was never recovered, was presumed dead.  What a tragic end to an almost perfect day.

Karl and Izzy’s Break-Up                                                               2005

Karl Kennedy was an absolute fool for giving Izzy so many chances, as she was able to walk all over him.  Her lies came back to bite her for good in 2005,  when she claims that Karl was the father of her baby which she lost, when it actually wasn’t.  When her brother Max confronts her in the office of Scarlett Bar, Karl, having just bought holiday tickets for the happy couple overhears every word.  Despite a vain attempt to sort things out, Karl leaves a devastated Izzy on the ground outside the bar, humiliating her infront of Max, Steph, Paul and Susan.  This storyline marked the start of Neighbours 20^th anniversary week.

So, there you have it, 15 of the best memories from the first 6000 episodes.  Here’s to the next 6000, because this is the show when ‘Everybody needs good neighbours, because with a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend!’

Neighbours - 25 Years of Opening Titles

ICONIC Australian soap Neighbours is approaching its 25th anniversary and the opening titles have changed so many times, you'd begin to lose count.  On the eve of the 6000th episode, to be shown on Channel Five tomorrow, here is a lookback at previous titles


There will be a blog later on some of my favourite moments from 25 years of pure drama on Ramsay Street.

Previous Explosive Soap Fires

As we prepare to say goodbye to the Queen Vic as we know it, it is time to look back at some of soap's biggest and fiery pub fires.  Tomorrow night, EastEnders will provide the latest drama in this long tale, but it won't be the first, nor the last.


EastEnders - The Queen Vic - 1992
Phil Mitchell sets fire to the Queen Vic tomorrow night, but he is sixteen years too late.  His brother Grant did it back in 1992, desperate to claim on the insurance.  However, his estranged wife Sharon was in the building at the time of the blaze.  Grant eventually went to jail for a while and Sharon ended up having an affair with Phil.  Now, that's brotherly love for you.....

Hollyoaks - The Dog in the Pond Explosion - 2006

Sam Owen had escaped from prison and wanted revenge on Sophie Burton for setting him up and putting him in jail.  When he kidnapped his sister Nicole and found out that his brother Russ was sleeping with Sophie, it got Sam even more angry.  So, he took a lighter and a can of petrol to The Dog in the Pond, when Russ was meant to be meeting Sophie.  After a tense struggle between Sam and Sophie, and a vain attempt from Calvin Valentine, the pub exploded in a bull of flame.  Sam, Sophie, Mel Burton and students Olivia Johnson and Joe Spencer lost their lives.  This explosion storyline was under the guidance of Bryan Kirkwood, now the producer of EastEnders.

NOTE: The music used is from the BBC America edition, 'Club Foot' by Kasabian was used on the Channel 4 edition.

Coronation Street - The Rovers Return - 1986

Coronation Street's famous bar, The Rovers Return is not totally extinct to fire.  In 1986, the pub went up in flames, after Jack Duckworth fitted a damaged fuse which only had the potential to cause a deadly explosion.  The quick reactions of Sally and Kevin Webster saved the life of landlady Bet Gilroy, who was sleeping upstairs at the time of the blaze.

Neighbours - Lou's Place - 2004

The 2004 season finale of Australian soap opera Neighbours proved to be one of the most dramatic in the show's established history.  A mysterious individual set fire to the storeroom at Lou's Place, which led to the whole Lassister's complex being set alight.  Max Hoyland was knocked unconscious, whilst Stu Parker and his girlfriend Cindi were trapped in the rubble of the collapsed pub.  Harold Bishop's coffee shop also went up in flames and the end marked the return of Erinsborough's golden bad boy, Paul Robinson.