Neighbours

Back in 1985 the Ex and I were seduced into watching the latest “big thing” to hit British television – the Aussie soap. Neighbours was heavily trailed by the BBC for weeks beforehand and, though “serial drama” was not our thing, we decided to give it a go. Well, there were only four channels to choose from back in those days.

Like many of our friends, colleagues and indeed neighbours at the time and since, we were hooked. For a while at least. The glory days of Scott and Charlene, Mrs Mangel and, of course, Bouncer the dog kept us amused for some years and there was always something to discuss at the water cooler at work next day, even if it was only to wonder why all the interiors were so dimly lit, or why schoolgirls’ skirts were so short.

Eventually, of course, we moved on to other things having realised that, as with all such productions, the faces may come and go, the hairstyles may change, but the story lines stay exactly the same year in year out.

This was best illustrated one day in the mid-nineties when I returned home from work to find the Ex busy, the Boys (2) having their tea and Neighbours bubbling away on telly with no-one paying much attention. I stopped to take in the scene of some chap lying in a hospital bed hooked up to an unlikely amount of electronic equipment, with various beeps and buzzers going off.

The following conversation then took place:

Me: Hello

Ex: Hello

Me (pointing at telly): Who’s that ?

Ex: Oh, that’s ______________ (something Australian)

Me: What’s wrong with him?

Ex: He’s in a coma, apparently.

Me: Why?

Ex: It’s his turn.

Oh, how we laughed!

On the other hand, it is the familiarity of it all which is central to the success of such programmes. While the Mater was never one for Coronation Street or EastEnders, she became a big fan of the comings and goings on Ramsay Street in her later years, with Neighbours being central to what she called “My lunchtime programmes.” She would be saddened by the fact that tonight sees the final episode being broadcast on UK TV after thirty-seven years.

It’s like losing good friends.

PS – This is not the first time I have mentioned Neighbours here. There was the time the programme was very nearly the cause of a fight at the office. But that is a different story …