I didn't know Neighbours and Home And Away were off air over Christmas in Austrailia, I'd thought they'd be all year round, but over here I think the BBC doesn't show about 5 weeks worth of Neighbours a year, if you coun't Christmas/ New Year, Wimbledon and Bank Holidays.
It's been a standard policy in Australian television to pull all soaps over christmas and new year which goes back as long as I can remember.
Whereas here, we seem to put more on at Christmas!
H&A and Neighbours usually finish at the end of November and start up again in February. It's because the main Australian ratings period doesn't extend over December-January, because less people watch telly over the Summer holidays here. Because of the climate, we all spend more time outside over Summer, rather than sitting in front of the telly.The networks use the Summer ratings period to test out new series, or to show repeats of series, hoping to build ratings for the next year.
Funny how H&A feel they have to have the character names and actor names on the titles now and Neighbours don't have either!
Have they not been bothered to rebuild the caravan park set? All the shots I've seen have been set outside! Nice having Alisa back from the dead anyway, hilarious storyline.
Funny how H&A feel they have to have the character names and actor names on the titles now and Neighbours don't have either!
I was quite surprised to see them moving to adding the characters' names too - long overdue!
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Have they not been bothered to rebuild the caravan park set? All the shots I've seen have been set outside! Nice having Alisa back from the dead anyway, hilarious storyline.
If my memory serves me correctly, the bush fire happened during the Christmas break - and as these episodes will have been filmed before that break, I expect we'll be seeing the change soon. I'd thought it was the house exterior not the interior that was damaged (I presume the interior is a set with all the others somewhere in Sydney? Can anyone help with that?)
Agree that Ailsa being back adds to this hilarious storyline - I thought her moment of reappearance was an outrageously OTT scene, which I loved to bits.
If my memory serves me correctly, the bush fire happened during the Christmas break - and as these episodes will have been filmed before that break, I expect we'll be seeing the change soon. I'd thought it was the house exterior not the interior that was damaged (I presume the interior is a set with all the others somewhere in Sydney? Can anyone help with that?)
You memory serves you well, the house burnt down on 6th December. I have a feeling the cast have their break in July/August after filming the xmas storylines (they're filmed 4-5 months in advance.) I at least know they had a 2 week break last July 'cos I was with them! So I'm guessing we won't see the difference with the caravan park until about January (but I could be wrong)
It was just the exterior of the house in Kenthurst that was destroyed. At the moment Channel Seven are just using stock footage of the house but are planning to build a replica at the studios in Epping. They did film the actual fire though for possible future use! (Ironically they had scrapped a planned xmas cliffhanger which involved a bush fire!)
The actual destroyed house (which was part-let by Seven) and surrounding land has just sold for $1.6million and the new owners are planning to rebuild it as guest accommodation.
It was just the exterior of the house in Kenthurst that was destroyed. At the moment Channel Seven are just using stock footage of the house but are planning to build a replica at the studios in Epping. They did film the actual fire though for possible future use! (Ironically they had scrapped a planned xmas cliffhanger which involved a bush fire!)
The actual destroyed house (which was part-let by Seven) and surrounding land has just sold for $1.6million and the new owners are planning to rebuild it as guest accommodation.
So, where is Kenthurst in relation to Palm Beach (the 'real' Summer Bay for those who don't know)? When I was in Australia a couple of years ago, I visited Palm Beach (and saw the Surf Club there) but had no idea where any of the other outside locations were - not, of course, that I'll ever get to see the Fletcher/Ross/Nash/Sutherland house now...
Also, just out of interest, how come you are so matey with some of the cast? Sounds like an interesting story in itself.
Jackaroo Ranch in Kenthurst (the caravan park) is about an hour and a half's drive away from Palm Beach, and 45 minutes to the north-west of Sydney. I'm going on holiday to Palm Beach next year and know where quite a few of the locations are so I can visit them
Regarding the cast, just see this thread:
Claim to Fame Message #6
It came about after I won a competition.
Thanks, DJF (does a first name go with those initials?).
When you've been, I'd like a full map of all the locations, please. Useful for when I go back in 2004 or 2005.
That's ok! If you're interested there's a full report of my trip to LA on The Home and Away Source Another location you might be interested is the diner, it's in Collaroy on the coast between Sydney & Palm Beach. I've been asked to do another report for the site when I go so they'll all be up there eventually!
Yeah, I noticed that also, the brand new OPENING ttiles. Why have five not bought the new CLOSING titles? They are still using the old season's one's from last year.
Yeah, I noticed that also, the brand new OPENING ttiles. Why have five not bought the new CLOSING titles? They are still using the old season's one's from last year.
Are you sure? They still have the present set of "additional" cast, like VJ, Angie & her son, Ailsa et al.
Anyone see tonight's episoe? Will Alf be OK? Surely they can't write him out now... not after all these years!!
One major reason for Home and Away to have new opening titles in Australia, is that it has recently moved to HDTV production (not just 16:9 normal definition)
AIUI it is now being produced at 1080 lines, 25 frames progressive. When these episodes appear in the UK they might also appear to look like they have been "flickered" to appear like film - but they haven't - the cameras actually shoot at that frame rate.
No guarantee that this ties in with new titles - though it might do.
