Digital Spy: Neighbours Weekend: Biggest FanAfter more than 4,750 episodes and 20 years on our screens, it’s not surprising that Neighbours has achieved such a cult status around the world.
Like any top soap, the Aussie series has developed a massive fan base in a multitude of countries, many of those fans believing that they are the Number One - simply unable to live without Ramsay Street..
As part of our in-house celebration of Neighbours at 20, we here at Digital Spy asked you to tell us if you considered YOU qualified for that honour.
While we haven’t the space to include all the responses, here we present a rundown of some of the best.
To start the ball rolling, we hear from Bec who says:
"Hi Digital Spy - I am sure I am Neighbours’ biggest fan!!
I always used to watch Neighbours when I was younger and loved it!! My dad even has a home video of me singing the theme tune. However, when I went to work up London I never got to catch it and was devastated. Life simply was not the same. There was a big void in my life!
Back in 2003 my dreams came true and I began to work locally again and could once again get my 'fix' of Neighbours. I now am back watching it religiously. I hate to ever miss an episode and love being off work so I can watch it twice! Luckily for me there are also a few other devout Neighbours’ followers where I work and every week I go on various websites, especially Digital Spy, and send round an email of what is up and coming on our favourite programme! I always make sure I paste in some pics to entertain everyone.
I do believe I could talk all day and all night about Neighbours and never get bored. I even have the Neighbours Defining Moments DVD. What a great watch. My favourite bits are reliving Scott and Charlene's wedding and Madge and Harold's. You even get to see a very young David Bishop looking very much like Harold which is hilarious!
My next step is to obviously save the money to travel to Oz and visit the set. That seriously would be a dream come true and intend to follow it through! I would probably be so star struck to see all my favourite characters!
Thank you for always keeping me up to date with all the Neighbours news, and a special thank you for the anniversary shots; how amazing were they. Joe Mangle - what a legend! I could go on and on!
Have a spiggin' excellent day!"
Thanks for that, Bec – and nice to know our efforts on your behalf are appreciated.
Next up, we have Chris Harrison, who tells us he’s a MASSIVE fan and has been for 20 years.
He goes on to say: "I've been reduced to tears as a 10-year old when Charlene finally married Scott, and shouted at my TV when Mark jilted the most desirable woman ever to hit the show, Annalise, at the altar.
I've bought the Neighbours’ annuals, Neighbours’ books, Neighbours’ sticker albums, Neighbours’ board game – hey, I even bought the Alessi Twins UK flop single!!!
I'm 27 years old now, and still record the show while at work on a daily basis. I can't wait for Lucy to come back, and to see all those video messages to celebrate the show hitting 20 years.
I pretty much know all the actors’ names who've brought so many believable and exciting characters and storylines to life over the past few years. The show always mixes comedy with drama, and it's never afraid to hit hard if required. Who can forget an emotional Des at Daphne's deathbed? The agony for Toadie as Dee was no more? The huge humour of Mrs Mangel's crush on Harold or the explosive drama of Karl's affair with Sarah?
Basically, although I'm a big soap fan, it was Neighbours that kicked things off. I'm as obsessed with their show as Susan and Libby were with their fictional Soap Opera..."
Nothing sad about that, Chris – just a d**ned good read!
came at us with: "OMG I totally love Neighbours!!
There is absolutely no one and no thing that will stop me watching it, I haven't missed an episode in the past year-and-a-half and have been watching it literally all my life - 17 years.
I even asked the nurses at the hospital for a TV to watch it on the day my younger sister was born! If I was to miss a day off school, I would always watch it twice, just so I could say the lines before the characters said them, amazing my family, obviously!
I always know what is going to be happening in the show, all thanks to the internet, and people at school are constantly asking me: "What's going to happen on Neighbours?" And I love telling them. I have the DVD, CD, video, board game, T-shirt, and a Sky Mangel pen! I know all the characters’ real names (OMG that IS sad!) and I always tape the important episodes, although recently I have been recording them all! So I highly doubt you will find a bigger fan of Neighbours than me!"
Yes, you’re certainly well up there with the best, Natalie.
We had a brief encounter with Kevin Bales, who told us: “I had a disturbing dream about a Neighbours’ storyline involving Susan and Billy Kennedy and his secret twin sister!!! Yes this is how much (and how geekily) Neighbours has infiltrated my life!!!
Keep dreaming, Kevin – you never know what it might lead to!
Now, Lisa – better known to many as Lisa23 – wrote to say: "Not sure if I am the biggest fan; there are lots of us fans in the Neighbours’ thread.
Maybe you should award the whole thread
. Have been watching Neighbours since virtually day one. Am a huge fan of Karl and Susan, and I am counting down the days till they reunite!!!! It is happening!!!
I watch UK ones, UK Gold ones, and the Oz ones. Am a huge spoiler freak, so usually know the storylines in advance.
Claire is a huge fan too (LiverpoolFCGirl) hope she posts to you, too, plus she has far more posts in the Neighbours thread. Anyway great news you are doing something Neighbours related for the anniversary eps (think most of us in the Neighbours thread have seen them already!) Often, Neighbours gets neglected for the more bigger UK soaps...Cheers."
Well, we certainly try not to neglect you big Neighbourites, so stick with us!
Another of our friends who believes he deserves the title of biggest fan is Matthew Gibson.
He says: "I have watched the show for as long as I can remember and have loved every single minute of it. I adore all the characters past and present from Mrs Mangel to Toadfish Rebbecchi.
I have experienced a broad range of emotions as I have witnessed all the highs, lows, dramas, triumphs and tragedies over the last 20 years (I swear I came close to a nervous breakdown after Drew fell off that horse to a devastatingly premature death)!
Of all the many spectacular sights the world has to offer, there is only one that I'd do anything to see. No, not the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids, the Empire State Building, Grand Canyon, Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Eiffel Tower. My burning ambition is to walk the streets of Erinsborough on a guided tour of Lassiters and Ramsay Street.
I will forever be indebted to the show for launching the pop career of the greatest musical artist of all time, the wonderful Ms Kylie Minogue. Not to mention the glittering careers of Holly Valance, Delta Goodrem, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia and Craig McLachlan!
And, after carefully watching films such as Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind and LA Confidential, I still firmly believe that Russell Crowe's greatest ever role came in 1989 when he took on the challenging part of small- time crook Kenny Larkin in the soap.
I am an enormous fan of the soap's music and went to great lengths to acquire a copy of "Neighbours: The Music" CD, which is unavailable to purchase in the UK. Moreover, I queued for hours to see the legendary Alan Fletcher, aka Doctor Karl Kennedy, perform with his band Waiting Room at the University of Central Lancashire.
Also, if I ever do find that special someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with, it is my one wish that Angry Anderson's "Suddenly" be played at my wedding.
Well, after that, Matthew, I think we have to agree with you – you ARE the biggest Neighbours’ fan! Congratulations and thanks for letting us in on your feelings.
Our thanks to everyone else who contributed; your input is greatly appreciated.
I think this all goes to prove just what effect a soap opera can have on the Average Joe of the world.
But that’s what life is all about, isn’t it? – enjoying yourself without harming others and drifting into a world of make-believe that is so close to real life.
Carry on viewing, all you stalwart fans. Without you, there would be no Neighbours!
See you on Ramsay Street!