18 March 2025
Bang a Gong is adding its voice to the many messages and tributes being expressed about Neighbours this week as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. Whether you watch it or not, there is no denying that Neighbours has been a major part of Australia’s television history.
Producing a daily TV soap is an expensive undertaking and requires a large team, so achieving 40 years is rather extraordinary. It has been one of the most significant programs in Australian television history.
“Neighbours earned an iconic place in the Australian culture over its four decades and is a credit to its skilled writers, actors, and crew,” said BaG’s music curator and 3MP radio announcer Greg Allen.
Greg became more than a viewer of Neighbours when a friend had a full-time acting role on the soap between 1995 and 2001. At the same time, Greg was studying television production and was producing a show for subscription television.
“That was when I advanced from being an occasional viewer of Neighbours to a dedicated fan, not only watching it every night for entertainment but appreciating the whole production and the 200 or so talented people whose skills brought it to life at any one time.
“Visiting the studio at Nunawading helped to underscore the magnitude of the whole production process. Neighbours has been a source of employment and a valuable training and nurturing ground for thousands of people on both sides of the camera over the last 40 years,” Greg said.
Actors who went on to major overseas careers include Margot Robbie, Jason Donovan, Alan Dale, Guy Pearce and Jesse Spencer.
A number of singing stars also learned their lines and performed them for the cameras, like Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance.
Angry Anderson’s song Suddenly was chosen by Kylie for her wedding episode. And let us not forget too that the iconic opening theme was written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, and originally sung by Barry Crocker.
Over the last 40 years, Neighbours has featured guest appearances by celebrities including Red Symons, Molly Meldrum, Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys, former Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton, Daryl Braithwaite and Lily Allen.
Among those paying 40th anniversary tributes this week is the CEO of Screen Producers Australia, Matt Deaner.
“Neighbours has been a cornerstone of Australian television for four incredible decades, showcasing our talent, stories, and culture to audiences worldwide,” Matt said.
“While it’s bittersweet to celebrate this milestone, knowing it was discontinued this year, we recognise its extraordinary impact on our screen industry.”
Matt Deaner’s comments are among many published today by TV Tonight. See their special wrap of birthday messages from Australian producers, directors, writers, actors, composers, cinematographers, AACTAs, Logies and even rival networks, acknowledging four decades of achievement: Neighbours at 40: “Everyone working in Australian television today owes you a debt of gratitude”
TV Tonight also has other exclusive stories with comments by Neighbours actors including Stefan Dennis and Jackie Woodburne.
Neighbours is facing its third cancellation, after the network that launched it in 1985, Seven, shut it down the same year. It was then picked up by Network Ten where it ran until 2022, when Britain’s Channel 5 withdrew its significant funding contribution. Amazon threw it a lifeline in 2023 but recently announced a change in funding priorities. Unless another saviour comes along quickly, Neighbours will cease production in July and exit our screens in December.
As TV historian Andrew Mercado said about Neighbours‘ 40th: “I want to thank them for moving with the times and trying to reflect how multicultural and diverse Australia is today, and for all those memorable milestones involving weddings, explosions, mullets, dreaming dogs and Rob Mills’ bare bum.”
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