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Why I Love...Neighbours

Neighbours logo
  • Posted at 5:16am
  • 15 March 2007
  • by GillianFerguson-RT
  • 16 comments

When it comes to Neighbours, it's more socially acceptable to admit an addiction to, say, Pot Noodles, or Lambrusco. There's no debate around the watercooler for the Neighbours fan. No discussions on the bus. No Christmas Day special. Neighbours is a lonely pleasure.

It's the Cinderella of soap operas - never seen at glitzy TV awards shows, unaccountably snubbed by every magazine's soap round-up, as if watching Neighbours might be somehow grubby, embarrassing, even suspect. As minority an interest as nude morris dancing.

Yet "fan" is too small a word for us loyal underground viewers. Like followers of some misunderstood religion, our silent dedication practised over so many eventful years, "devotee" might suit us better. Actually, Love Thy Neighbours would be a more fitting title for the programme.

See, you just wouldn't get that story anywhere else. Neighbours scriptwriters veer unpredictably between comforting inanity to what we call "magic mushroom" plotlines, worthy of any French surrealist art house film. As long as it's cheap. We've had psychotic murderous twins, sexy nuns, wrestling solicitors, suburban sheep…fantastic.

But the ultimate reason we watch Neighbours is its towering moral sense, something quite missing in soaps like EastEnders, which hog the limelight. You don't watch Neighbours and want to shoot yourself.

Sure, there may be more accidents/problems/lost family members/maniacs per square inch than most streets, but in the end, goodness will triumph. Understanding, tolerance, sheer compassion for one's neighbours will prevail. The sweet tears of justice stain your cheeks. Harold's pompous, judgmental jowls might be set a-wobbling, but even the most bankrupt soul is never beyond redemption. All ugly ducklings become princesses. Geeks become, er, spunks. Even the worst actor can squeeze a sympathetic sob - even Paul Robinson, who weeps like a two-year-old whose balloon has burst.

Plus, the UN should take note of Neighbours' supreme conflict resolution. It might take weeks of tedious plodding, but we are patient. Everything will be all right in the end. How much better and uplifting than seeing your favourite characters mown down, beaten up, divorced or betrayed.

Fair dinkums, Neighbours may not be exactly educational, but your vocabulary increases - all round bonzer.

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Post a comment | 16 comments

Comments

  • Posted on 24 June 2009
  • at 9:54am
  • by sadman

When I retired I decided to start watching a soap to provide some continuity to my life. This coincided with the return of one Dirty Den to Eastenders which was all the news then. When he left so did I and opted for Neighbours and the perpetual sunshine. My main complaint Is the number of storylines involving children

  • Posted on 27 March 2009
  • at 11:50am
  • by David

It was better on the BBC without the break - it's even worse on the Fiver channel with the extra break. How they get away with it I don't know......

  • Posted on 11 October 2007
  • at 11:47am
  • by Guest100

I think it is very sad that Neighbours is leaving the BBC but I will continue to watch. I feel that it deserves better care than it has been given in recent years and hopefully Five can provide this. I love the programme's morality and sense of fun - sadly lacking in UK soaps. I would also like to see a Radio Times feature on the show - surely it deserves this, too.

  • Posted on 29 August 2007
  • at 3:24pm
  • by Guest100

I think it's sad to move neighbours to Channel 5, neighbours is loved by the young and old generations. I never missed an episode since i was like 14. I still love watching it. Some people cannot recieved Channel 5 around the area, like myself so it will be massively unfair to neighbours fans.

  • Posted on 13 August 2007
  • at 5:10pm
  • by Guest100

I have been a fan of neighbours for many years, a fact which is much ridiculed by my friends. These days though I miss more than I watch due to work etc. I am hoping channel 5 will do an omnibus at the weekend so I can catch up, like they do with home and away.

Whatever happens I will continue to watch it whenever I can.

  • Posted on 13 August 2007
  • at 5:09pm
  • by Guest100

I have watched neighbours on and off since my teens usually missing it due to work (I am now 34) and I have to say I really like it, I don't bother with Eastenders or Corrie, though Corrie is usually less depressing than Eastenders, or so I gather from my mum.

When I heard the BBC were cancelling it, I felt really disappointed, it's good storylines and fun characters make it a fun interlude and I personally feel everyone needs a bit of escapism.

We pay a lot for our TV licence (and the BBC always want to charge more!!) and clearly there are a lot of Neighbours fans out there, so I think it was a big mistake of the BBC to not try harder to reach a amicable conclusion in consideration of the 3 million or so fans out there.

If channel five have successfully bid and won the right to show Neighbours, all I can say is thank goodness, I can continue to enjoy!

  • Posted on 13 August 2007
  • at 5:09pm
  • by Guest100

I have always watched Neighbours…and always will. However, I am still disappointed that the BBC decided not to increase their offer to retain the programme. The main problem I have with Neighbours being on Channel 5 is the obvious break they will have in the middle of the show…as well as the possibility of time changes. If Channel 5 is to retain Neighbours fans and successfully air it without irate letters of displeasure, they need to keep the original scheduled format which the BBC has now (i.e. two showing per day - with the times being as close as possible to the current shows.

  • Posted on 13 August 2007
  • at 5:08pm
  • by Guest100

"I have watched neighbours ever since I can remember. I still watch now every day with my two daughters who also thoroughly love it. It doesn't matter to us what channel it is on we will continue to watch it. Let's hope it's on long enough for my children's children to watch and enjoy this great programme. Long live neighbours!!!!!!"

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:20pm
  • by Guest100

I'm in my final year at Birimingham Uni and i set up a Neighbours Society last year. Since then we have very quickly become one of the biggest societies in the Student Guild and hold a weekly omnibus on Saturdays which is very well attended. NeigHbours is more than just a popular soap amoungst students, it's a cult and I think every University should embrace its popularity and start an official society so students can unite behind a common cause and share the Neighbours love!

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:19pm
  • by Guest100

Neighbours is the only 'soap' I watch. I so agree with the other comments - the other soaps are so dismal and dreary. I want something that takes me away from the cares of everyday life & Neighbours fits the bill - sure, horrible things happen but generally within a few short episodes they are soon forgotten & people are miraculously cured - take Carmella - scarless now! I expect Toadie will be up & running next week...The Open University has a thriving online Soap Forum and most comments are about Neighbours. Long Live the Cinderella of Soaps!

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:18pm
  • by Guest100

Absolutely agree with the above, I'm 26 and have been a fan since the Kyle & Jason days. I don't watch any other soap and I wouldn't consider myself a fan of soaps in general. When Mark Little was on the show he said he used to treat it like a surreal comedy which is precisely what it is and why we love it. Mark Little played Joe Mangel, arguably the best character ever.

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:18pm
  • by Guest100

Love or hate neighbours, you have to love that article! PS what happened to old Connor O'Neil?!?! The Shamrock was the best character. The toad has turned into a bumbling wreck since his departure...

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:18pm
  • by Guest100

Why is our beloved Neighbours the only soap without a weekend omnibus? On a sunday I am often forced to sit through hours of Hollyoaks and Eastenders because there is very little else on. Neighbours is a fantastic show and who else had renewed faith in humanity when Karl and Susan finally got back togehter?

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:17pm
  • by Guest100

Pure wit there. Straight up respect from your fellow viewer.

  • Posted on 28 March 2007
  • at 4:17pm
  • by Guest100

I've been watching it on and off since it started. And I'll happily admit it and the reason why - it's the babes!!! From Charlene and Jane, Beth & Nina through to Pepper, Sky, Carmella, Steph and all those in between. I also love the funny bits with Harold, Lou and so on. I went back to Uni so I could watch it again!!

  • Posted on 26 March 2007
  • at 10:28pm
  • by Valerie

I get a guilty pleasure out of watching Neighbours, but the theme song sticks in my head, which is a problem.

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