Neighbours Article thread (Spoilers contained)

[kazzamazza]

He is 21 I tell you!!!
But oh yes indeedy! ;D

[UKNeighboursfan]

Theage.com.au

Code aims to give young actors a fair break
By Daniella Miletic
October 28, 2004

Neighbours actor and actors' union state president Alan Fletcher talks to young colleagues Rhiannon Fish, Marisa Siketa and Sally Kingford.
Photo: Rebecca Hallas

Child actors' long working hours, disrupted schooling and a lack of time with parents and family are to be reviewed by the entertainment industry.

Under a code of practice to be developed over the next six months, employers and television studios may face penalties for unsuitable conditions for children.

State Industrial Relations Minister Rob Hulls said the code, which will be enforced by the entertainment industry, would cover issues such as access to parents and family while filming away from home.

Exposure to adult themes while working, and tutoring and schooling while on location would also be examined, Mr Hulls said while announcing the review that will lead to the code.

There are no laws for workers aged under 13.

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has more than 8000 registered child actors in Australia, including 2500 in Victoria. The alliance's Victorian president, Alan Fletcher, said the code would be vital.

"The entire entertainment industry is a pressure industry where money and time clash all the time to get the product made," Mr Fletcher said.

"The pressure... is to get that shot done, get the day completed. Without codes the temptation for people to work too long or inappropriately is always there."

Marisa Siketa, a 13-year-old-actor who plays Summer Hoyland in Neighbours, yesterday said her working week consisted of three to five days' work with shifts of between two and eight hours. The year 8 student started working in the industry four years ago.

"I don't really get that much time to play sport but I like to watch TV. It's mostly on weekends that I have time to myself."

She says of homework: "I manage to fit it in."

Marisa's chaperone tutor, Rosemary Cullinan, said she believed that children on the sets of some television shows were not given the conditions that they should be. She said that the onus of workplace care was on parents, but often parents would not complain.

"I think that sometimes parents don't want to speak up, and that is where someone who isn't a parent needs to step in," she said.

"(The responsibility) does need to be taken away from the parents, who perhaps have financial issues that they are thinking about as well."

Ms Cullinan will take part in today's child employment consultation forum, which will begin discussions on the code. The forum will involve actors, producers, actors' agents, parents, advertisers, casting agents and employers.

[UKNeighboursfan]

LOVE THY NEIGHBOURS AUSTRALIA’S LONGEST RUNNING SOAP CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

March 18th 2005 sees the cult Aussie soap ‘Neighbours’ celebrate its 20th anniversary, when it broadcasts episode number 4635 Down Under.

Filmed in a leafy suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, ‘Erinsborough’ has become something of a must for British visitors to the city. The Official Neighbours tour takes in the legendary Ramsay Street, real name Pin Oak Court in Vermont South, where you can get a snap outside Lou Carpenter’s house.

From April 2005, the tour is expanding to take visitors to the famous Global Studios where the outdoor scenes, including the Coffee Shop, are filmed. For AU$30 (around £12), the three hour tour also drives past ‘Erinsborough High’ and the studio complexes with each guest receiving a Neighbours souvenir gift. The real treat for any fan, however, is the chance to see the show being filmed and perhaps get a photograph with their favourite characters.

You can also see an authentic Neighbours set at The Melbourne Museum. Look closely and you will see that cast members of the soap have signed the back of the set.

Check out the Neighbours Trivia Night, held every Monday evening at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow pub in trendy St Kilda, where you can mingle with the stars and get your photos with the likes of Dr. Karl Kennedy and Toadie. Take advantage of Melbourne’s offering of stylish bars, restaurants and clubs, where you’ll often find some of the cast.

Melbourne city centre offers a great diversity of venues for eating and drinking from funky basement bars to sophisticated restaurants overlooking the Yarra River. Adding to the city’s appeal are a range of new projects including NewQuay, Melbourne’s first harbourside eating, drinking and shopping precinct; Docklands waterfront precinct which will ultimately house entertainment, waterfront restaurants and shops, residential accommodation and businesses; and QV, a new inner city laneway precinct featuring a dynamic mix of high end fashion and lifestyle retailers.

Neighbours facts:
• Each day over 120 million viewers worldwide eagerly follow the lives of residents of Ramsay Street.
• The first ever episode was broadcast in Australia when it featured characters such as Des and Daphne, Julie Robinson and Lorraine. The debut instalment was concerned with Paul getting drunk on Des’ stag night. Fans today still can watch characters commute between the pub, coffee shop and the backyard swimming pool.
• In its history, it has been a very lucrative production line for the pop industry, with the likes of Jason Donavan, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, and more recently Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem all cutting their show business teeth in Ramsay Street.
• Now broadcasting in 57 countries world wide, the show looks set to start its third decade with as strong a fan-base as ever. Who could have predicted such international success from a small cul-de-sac in the suburbs of Melbourne?

Flights to Melbourne cost from £729 with Emirates from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham or Glasgow. Book and depart by 30th May 2005.
Austravel 0870 166 2070 www.austravel.com

For information on the tour, please see www.neighbourstour.com, and for more information on Melbourne, please see www.visitmelbourne.com/uk

After all, everybody needs good neighbours…

[inisheer]

I've just been told that Karl commits suicide because Susan and Alex get married. Is this true? Neighbours without Karl Kennedy....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[kazzamazza]

Thanks for the article as per. ;D


Inisheer - Totally wrong section..should really be in Karl kennedy Spoilers. ;D (Have sent you a message, check your inbox)
Don't know who told you that, but after being up to date with the Aussy episodes daily, I can tell you that is not true.

[Liz]

That spoiler is completely untrue.

[kazzamazza]

**UK Spoilers contained**
Article from Inside Soap 21st - 27th January 2006.
Page 35.

There is also a pic of Karl(Fletch) and a small pic inset of Alex and Susan as the plane is going down.
Pic will be posted soon!

Aftershocks
Susan's safely home - bringing heartache for ex - hubby Karl.....

In the wake of the plane crash tragedy this week, Karl Kennedy realises that he's still in love with his ex - wife, Susan Smith - Just as shes decides to marry her terminally- ill beau, Alex Kinski.
"From the moment Karl hears about the plane crash, his only thoughts are for Susan, and how much he still loves her," explains Alan Fletcher, who plays the doctor.
"He doesn't care that Izzy is on the plane as well. In fact, when Izzy's amongst the first to be brought to safety, Karl openly expresses his frustration that her life has been spared and not Susan's."
Needless to say, Karl is relieved when Susan is rescued and airlifted back to Ramsay street. But he's not the only one in the race to be by her bedside.
" Karl and Alex are united in their concern for Susan, but when she returns, Alex is the one she wants to see," reveals Alan. "Karl is gutted. He's come to realise that he's still in love with Susan, yet she wants to be with Alex - and to marry him. Karl feels like he's missed the chance."
While Karl licks his wounds, Izzy spots the oppurtunity to catch him on the rebound.
"When the plane was going down, Izzy rang Karl and left a message on his mobile saying she'll always love him," reveals Alan.
"When they meet up back in Erinsborough, Karl realises that Izzy honestly thinks there's still a chance for them to be together. He considers the idea to be so absurd that he plays a mean trick on her. He pretends that the message really moved him, and leads her into a kiss - before pulling away and making it very clear that he wants nothing to do with her ever again!"
Added to his love woes is Karl's on-going conflict with Paul Robinson, meaning the GP has a grim week ahead....
"It's safe to say that Karl's at one of the lowest points in his life," admits Alan.
"Nothing is going well for him - nothing!"

[angelsolace]

Awww bless him!!
Stupid man though, its all its own fault!!

[kazzamazza]

It is his own fault - the muppet!!! ;D
He is just coming out of that stage though.
So hopefully it will soon be happy times for the good doc!

[Liz]

M.U.P.P.E.T finds out what Susan means to him *tune to RESPECT*

[cazkennedy]

I just can't wait for the day that Karl and Susan get back together. It's just so wrong they are apart

[UKNeighboursfan]

Digital Spy: Neighbours Weekend: Biggest Fan

After 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!

[UKNeighboursfan]

Perfect blend of sun and soap opera
TheGuardian UK

Perfect blend of sun and soap opera

Such is the wide appeal of Neighbours that its theme tune has been embraced as a rallying cry for improving race relations. "With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend", Muslim students sang to Australian PM Johan Howard during a school visit last month, amid a row over the bannings of hijabs. It is now 20 years since those lyrics were first heard.

Neighbours is broadcast in more than 50 countries, but it's impact has been greater in the UK, where it is the only regular import on BBC1. The Grundy produced show became an unexpected hit when it first transmitted here in 1986 and commands around 5 million viewers in it's lunch time and teatimes slots. Viewers are lured by it's window on antipodean society according to producer 'Peter Dodds' "We've been able to offer the UK a slice of life where the sky is always blue and the houses have swimming pools!".

The shows primary fanbase is assumed to be students, but Neighbours stalwart Alan Fletcher, who plays Dr. Karl Kennedy, says that is unique in Britain. "In Australia people of the same age group tend not to be intersted; it is more a younger and older demographic who watch it" he says. But he recognises that the Ramsay Street beauty parade is a lucrative launchpad to international stardom. Ratings peaked here in 1987 with the wedding of the characters played by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan - both launched pop careers afterwards. They started a trend: Holly Valance had a number one with Kiss Kiss in 2002, and Mark Little (pictured returning to Ramsay Street for the Neighbours reunion show - hugging Sky) presented The Big Breakfast.

Next month, BBC1 viewers will be able to watch the anniversary show, which unites past stars. After that, Dodds promises a "big emotional shakeup" that will change the show forever.

Written by Rob Harris

[UKNeighboursfan]

Doctor in the house, The Independent Voice

It’s not often that a celebrity agrees to an interview just two weeks after suffering a major heart attack, yet just a fortnight after almost meeting his maker on the side of the road, Alan Fletcher (aka Neighbours’ Dr Karl Kennedy) is chatting away to me.

OK, a slight confusion of fiction and reality there, but the problem is that after a couple of weeks on the road touring Britain with his band Waiting Room, Fletcher does in fact seem like he is recovering from a major health scare due to sheer exhaustion. He is jaded, his voice is weak, and he is no doubt ruing the fact that he has agreed to talk to me - yet another interview as he makes his way around the country. Despite his somewhat spaced out state of mind, Fletcher speaks enthusiastically about the tour and says that Britain was the obvious place to come.

“It’s going really well, Plymouth last night was ballistic. It’s totally exceeding expectations. We’re off to Reading tonight, and are going to finish off performing in front of 30,000 people, which is crazy and very encouraging. Neighbours is very popular here, so my character has a high profile, and we play primarily to UK fans in Australia as well. Our music is orientated towards the English market, that sort of music interests us most, and that’s where the market is, so everything points to us working here.”

Fletcher’s foray into the music world bears a worrying similarity to the dozens of other Neighbours stars, past and present who tried to launch a second career, more often than not ending in disaster, but Fletch (as he calls himself) is not looking at this as the start of a new career.

“I love doing Neighbours. Neighbours is my primary focus, and I’m contracted to them for quite some time. It’s a job I love doing and I’ve no desire to move away from Neighbours. The music and Neighbours will run side by side for me. Anyway, we’re very much a band. It’s not just Alan Fletcher, it’s myself and Tom Rando and Chris Hawker basically creating our music. We obviously play a lot of covers because we’re playing mostly pubs and we’re in entertainment, and we want to get people up dancing and singing and having a great time. We also play some of our own numbers and the goal is to slowly introduce some of our own music into our gigs as the music becomes more widely known and accepted.”

Acting and music are not the only strings to Fletcher’s bow either. Until recently, the Perth-born actor also had a successful photography business, something which is currently on the back burner due to a lack of time.

After going to acting school, Fletcher was determined to make it as an actor, and never doubted that he would reach the top.

“My career has been successful almost right from the start. I’ve done a lot of theatre, radio, television and film and there was never a point in my career when I thought ‘Oh, you know, it’s not gonna happen for me.’ I’ve always been very satisfied with what’s happened in my career and this latest adventure is just an extension of that, and I’m very pleased with how that’s going as well.

“I don’t harbour any ambitions to be some sort of megastar or anything like that, I’m just happy to be a working actor, to be a working musician, making my music and hopefully people will enjoy it and buy it.”

Fletcher has no doubt reached a high level nowadays, having played the popular Dr Karl Kennedy since 1994, but has playing the same role for 11 years not become a tad monotonous?

“No, God, I get really interesting storylines, I work with terrific actors, every day on set is a laugh, and we have the best time, you know. It’s a great job. No monotony at all.”

Part of the reason that Neighbours hasn’t turned stale for Fletcher is the exciting storylines that Fletch’s character has been given in the last couple of years. As most Neighbours addicts (99 per cent of Edinburgh students) will be aware, Karl left his wife Susan (Jackie Woodburne) for resident Ramsay Street ***** Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte). After fights, tears, misunderstandings, affairs and near-death experiences that have exercised the tear ducts of many Neighbours fans, surely Izzy’s comeuppance and Karl and Susan’s reconciliation cannot be far off?

“Yeah it is probably something that they’re drifting towards, but Karl has caused Susan a lot of hurt and damage, and for her to just take him back now would be just extraordinary, so they’ve very delicately crafted the storylines that will bring Karl and Susan back into interaction with each other gradually more and more, but the reconciliation will be something that we move towards I think in a slow way. It’s got to be believable.”

As believable as Susan slipping on some spilt milk and thinking she was a sixteen year old girl? That storyline preceded the Kennedys’ divorce, meaning that Fletcher hasn’t worked with pal Jackie Woodburne regularly for quite a while.

“Yeah, it’s funny, we actually do quite a bit of work together. We do a lot more work together now; with the stuff that we’re shooting, stuff which hasn’t yet hit your screens and we’re doing quite a lot of stuff together at the moment, so people who like watching Karl and Susan on their screens certainly will be getting a lot of that.”

Apart from Fletcher’s own gripping storylines, there are other reasons to be pleased to be working in Melbourne’s most famous cul de sac at the moment. This year is Neighbours’ twentieth anniversary, and the producers have some real treats up their sleeves.

Up to 25 ex cast members are set to make cameo appearances for the anniversary episodes, which will also coincide with devastating revelations for Dr Karl. Fletcher speaks excitedly about the anniversary episodes, and doesn’t worry that bringing back so many old faces is just going to be messy:

“It’s a real celebration. The storyline is actually a very clever device whereby the old faces that we will be seeing will be seen in such a way that it won’t be intrusive to the show. It sort of marries in very well with the existing storylines, so its quite a good device and I know that people are gonna actually love it. We’re gonna see a lot of people, but they won’t all necessarily be in the street.”

Exciting times ahead for Neighbours fans it seems, a significant percentage of which are made up of students. Is that just a case of having too much time on their hands, or does Neighbours have some special student-enticing formula?

“The Neighbours support over here is fantastic. There’s a bigger audience due to a bigger population, but I think the reason that Neighbours is so popular here is because Neighbours maintains a lightness and a sense of humour about itself, which you often don’t see in other shows, and as a result it appeals very strongly to university aged people. That market really doesn’t exist in Australia, so a lot of the really strong vibes of Neighbours in this country come out of the student population which is probably where half of my popularity lies as well, and that’s where I try and orientate myself.”

Fletcher’s tour has been an undoubted success, and one which sees him return to Melbourne happy that when Dr Karl is dead and buried, he needn’t worry too much about finding work afterwards.

“I’ll always be working on the stage, I’ll always be working in all sorts of mediums and who knows what the future holds, but it’s not something I worry myself about, because if people don’t want to know me after Neighbours, because I’m Dr Karl, then that’s the way it will be and I’ll find other ways of expressing myself artistically.”

So with his stethoscope round his neck and his ticker in good condition, Australia’s most popular doctor says farewell, and pops up the M1 to Reading for yet another sold out gig. The future is bright for Fletcher, Karl and the Kennedys, and lads, it seems that Izzy might be single again soon, so stay tuned.

Written by Alex Kay

[kazzamazza]

so people who like watching Karl and Susan on their screens certainly will be getting a lot of that.”

Yay!!!! ;D
Thanks for that!