Neighbours General News Thread

[Bryan]

A news thread for all general peices of news regarding the show and the cast. I.e Digitial Spy news reports etc.

For big news stories, please feel free to set up a thread of it's own.

[Perdita]

First appearing on Ramsay Street in 1988 and returning full time in January 1992, Lou Carpenter became one of Erinsborough's most distinguished residents after years spent running the general store with best mate Harold Bishop. Along the way, he's flogged cheap vodka, knit-infested Russian hats and is now teaching those Apprentice-winning entrepreneurial skills to the younger generations. We caught up with actor Tom Oliver to find out how Lou is coping after Harold's departure and what we can expect from him next.

The big storyline at the moment is Harold's departure. That must be sad for Lou?
"Oh yes, definitely, but the old rascals keep in touch all the time. It was a sad farewell. Not just in character, but for me and Ian [Smith] too. We worked together for so long and were both on the same wavelength. We had as much fun off camera as we did on. He was a great actor to work with and it has left a great hole there - particularly comedy wise."

They were quite a double act weren't they?
"Some reviewers said we were like Laurel & Hardy or a cross between the two Grumpy Old Men and The Odd Couple. That just about sums us up on a good day I suppose!"

You started out as rivals at the start though?
"Yes, we had always been bitter rivals because Madge, Harold and Lou had all been at school together. Lou arrived in Ramsay Street to stop Harold from marrying her, but he won the day and Lou returned to Queensland. He came back four years later after Harold had disappeared and finished up living with her. He'd always had this huge crush on her."

Mickey and Lou do seem to have a very strong bond. How is that to act?
"We handle it carefully, because you know what that sort of question could lead to from some idiots about old men and young boys. I've made it very clear with the scriptwriters that nothing must have any hint of that sort of suggestions. Not that they would have done that to Lou in the first place, don't get me wrong. I do some work for an organisation called ChildWise and travel a lot to Thailand and Vietnam and am very strong on that score."

Lou seems to have been really taken in by the Parkers of late...
"Well he needed somewhere to live and was in a caravan outside their house. After they bought the house Steve told Miranda that they should invite Lou as he was always there anyway. It does seem like a bit of a fall from grace sometimes, but that's soap opera for you. At once stage I owned the garage, the pub, two houses in the street and I was mayor of Erinsborough, then they twist and turn it and suddenly one day I'm living in a caravan in the street."

Lou's always had very vivacious ladies. Any chance of him settling down?
"I don't think so. Deborah Kennedy, who plays Mischka, is doing very well in theatre at the moment. Legally, Lou is still married to Trixie Ticker, but she is in Hong Kong living off her Hello Dolly money, which is one of the reasons that Lou started going broke!"

What can we expect from Lou over the coming year?
"Well, I'm going to be taking a three-month break, so Lou will be off your screens for a bit. But when he comes back the Parkers will have gone, so who knows where Lou will even live. So long as it's not that bloody caravan!"

Would Paul Robinson put him up?
"Oh no, Lou would punch him in the nose any day of the week! It was rough when they made Paul a goody-goody after his brain damage. He's much better when he's evil. I came up with a joke storyline the other day where Lou injects woodworm into Paul's false leg when he is asleep, so when he runs for a bus he falls over. I think they thought that was even a bit too much - even for Neighbours."

A lot of characters seem to move to Bendigo, Colack and Perth after Neighbours. Where would Lou go?
"Yeah, Bendigo seems to be choice number one, some couples have gone to Perth too. I don't think Lou will ever retire. Just for fun I wrote half a dozen ideas of how Lou could leave the show. Choice number six was that he drops dead of a heart attack in the general store, holding a beer with a beautiful woman on his knee and a smile on his face. That would be Lou's perfect exit!"

Neighbours airs weekdays on Five at 5.30pm. It is repeated on Fiver at 7pm.

[Perdita]

Neighbours executive producer Susan Bower has responded to claims that the soap lacks cultural diversity, admitting that it is still an issue for the long-running series.

Last year, the show was criticised for its lack of non-white characters and failure to represent a multicultural Australia.

"Cultural diversity is still an issue in Neighbours," Bower told fansite The Perfect Blend. "We are getting there in 'background characters', that is extras, but I would still like to mix it up with larger roles."

She added: "What makes it difficult is that most of our families are white so if a relative comes to visit or to stay they will usually be from the same cultural background.

Spoiler:

You will soon see a delightful (and feisty) new character arrive when the Kennedy house accepts an exchange student from Korea."

[Abigail]

Neighbours actor Tom Oliver has admitted that he was 'gutted' when Ian Smith decided to quit the Australian soap.

The star described the pair, who first appeared together on screen in 1988, as "old rascals" and claimed that they keep in touch all the time.

"It was a sad farewell. Not just in character, but for me and Ian too. We worked together for so long and were both on the same wavelength," he told DS.

"We had as much fun off camera as we did on. He was a great actor to work with and it has left a great hole there - particularly comedy-wise."

Oliver revealed that the duo's on-screen chemistry has been compared to other double acts over the years.

"Some reviewers said we were like Laurel & Hardy or a cross between the two Grumpy Old Men and The Odd Couple. That just about sums us up on a good day, I suppose!"

[Perdita]

Neighbours is going back to its roots to concentrate on more family drama, says the series' script editor Pete McTighe.

In July 2007, the 24-year-old series launched a much-hyped revamp to curb dwindling viewing figures in Australia and move away from its sensationalised plots. Despite an initial spike of over 1 million viewers, ratings returned to an average of around 800,000 and have fluctuated ever since.

Speaking to fan site The Perfect Blend, McTighe said: "We're really taking the show back to its roots and concentrating on families.

"The Ramsay name is synonymous with the show, and when we were discussing our new family, from very early on we decided to tie them to the street in a very practical way.

"We’ve seen 3 or 4 blocks with the Ramsays now, and they’re fantastic. And I’m not just saying that."

As for any future Ramsay/Robinson family feuds, McTighe said: "It’s too early to say.We need to give these characters time to settle in."

It has always been about families in my opinion.

[Perdita]

Neighbours will air a controversial storyline later this year, script editor Pete McTighe has said.

Speaking to website The Perfect Blend, McTighe promised that the upcoming storyline is likely to be the focus of debate when it airs.

"We have controversy-central coming up on air in 2009," he teased. "It’s a huge story, and is likely to stir up quite a bit of debate.

"I honestly reckon the stuff we’re producing now is the best we’ve ever done. Just you wait til July 20!"

News of the controversial plot follows McTighe's claim that the show is going "back to its roots and concentrating on families".

[Perdita]

Neighbours has secured a nomination for 'Best TV Drama' at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

The long-running soap has been put up against entries from a variety of countries, including Brazil's Passione, Korea's Twinkle Twinkle, China's Three Kingdoms and Argentina's Left on the Shelf.

The other nominees are fellow Australian drama Dance Academy, Romania's In The Name of Honour and Canada's Little Mosque 5.

Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower joked: "I suspect the Neighbours sense of community resonated with the judges or they really love Dr Karl's singing as much as the other characters do - a close call!

"Needless to say, we're very proud to be acknowledged on an international scale."

The winning programme will be announced at the end of August.


Well done!

[Perdita]

Neighbours star Alan Fletcher has named screen son Jesse Spencer as his dream returnee for the soap.

Spencer played the role of Billy Kennedy between 1994 and 2000 before later finding international fame with his part as Dr Robert Chase in US TV show House.

Fletcher, who plays Kennedy patriarch Karl, told Channel 5's Neighbours site: "My great wish is that one day Jesse Spencer will finish working on House, because he has sort of suggested that when he is free of his contractual obligations he might be tempted to put in at least a guest appearance on Neighbours.

"I couldn't think of anything better than to have Billy turn up."

Asked what storyline he would like to see for the return of some old faces, the actor replied: "I think it would be quite lovely if they turned up for a major event, because I think for a lot of viewers it is very frustrating that, when there are weddings and funerals, not all the family can be there.

"It's obvious why they can't, and I think it would be quite extraordinary if there was an event. I think maybe what would be really cute is if we had a surprise birthday for one of the characters that everybody turned up at."

Benjie McNair is currently back on screen in Neighbours as the Kennedys' eldest son Malcolm.

[Abbie]

Neighbours has secured a nomination for 'Best TV Drama' at the Seoul International Drama Awards.

The long-running soap has been put up against entries from a variety of countries, including Brazil's Passione, Korea's Twinkle Twinkle, China's Three Kingdoms and Argentina's Left on the Shelf.

The other nominees are fellow Australian drama Dance Academy, Romania's In The Name of Honour and Canada's Little Mosque 5.

Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower joked: "I suspect the Neighbours sense of community resonated with the judges or they really love Dr Karl's singing as much as the other characters do - a close call!

"Needless to say, we're very proud to be acknowledged on an international scale."

The winning programme will be announced at the end of August.


Well done!

Shame, I prefer Home and away, think its far better and its been doing much better in ratings

[alan45]

Neighbours bosses have said that they would like Sheree Murphy to star in the soap.

The actress, who has had roles in both Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, is preparing to move to Australia after her footballer husband Harry Kewell was signed to Melbourne Victory.

"We heard a few months ago that she would love to have a role on Neighbours, but there has been no contact from her agent as yet," a show spokesman told the Herald Sun.

"If we could find a role for her that would be appropriate, we would, of course, consider her for the role. Our UK audience is massive, so to have somebody like Sheree would be great as she would be instantly recognisable to viewers over there.

"I suspect she grew up watching Neighbours in the UK, so I'm sure she would be open to the idea of joining the cast."

Murphy recently announced that she is expecting her fourth child with Kewell.