Neighbours

Nice to see quality control alive and well at the BBC. Pity they didn't get a look at the plans for the opening titles in time to say "WTF?"!



Anything been confirmed about the duration, Karl?

After the BBC Governors meeting in Belfast the other night, I approached Michael Grade and spoke for about ten minutes about how he picked Neighbours and the myth surrounding his daughter Alison being responsible for it ended up on tea-time. he told us it was all correct, that they'd bought Neigbours for the upcoming morning strand before it got cancelled on Seven, that they panicked they only had a year's worth of episodes but then got the call to say Ten picked it up. He was very helpful and was had a great chat. I should point out we discussed more serious matters also but it was a great insight right from the very top of the BBC. And when I asked if he saw a future for Neighbours on the BBC, he said definately as long as people keep watching it. It seems to serve the purpose of connecting younger viewers with the demographic normally served by Channel 4.

Incidently, the topic of Doctor Who also came up and he admits to loving the new series, that his objection to the old one was that you could never be genuinely scared by anything so obviously made of cardboard!

The idea of the pan shot of Ramsay Street was first put to Grundy back in late 2002 so they could have it as part of their series of ECPs to launch the new BBC website. However, this never was done in time for broadcast (Feb 2003) due to the break in Neighbours production, the BBC then decided to just have a Ramsay Street still on those days.

So it looks like after 3 years it's been finally made.

Not totally sure as I wasn't given a stright answer, but we can only hope it will be 40 seconds long as No.32 currently cut off on the closing credits.

I have been watching Neighbours on RTE for the last few evenings, and I have to say the ending of the show and the credits starting seems very messy, the theme tunes sounds as if there is something wrong with it, it reminds me of the remix ITV news has done with their theme tune, if you could describe a theme tune as dry well i have just done it.
One other point to note about Neighbours on RTE, RTE have been using Channel Tens first ad break to have their ad break in the show, complete with a sliding up smaller version of the Neighbours logo, I thought for a second RTE had decided to go with the three ad breaks.
Anyway thats my rant for now.

i like the panning round view of ramsay street unfortunatly we loose half of it due to the annoying habit of continuity anouncers cropping it to promote something else

talking of titles why has summer disapeared from the opening titles, i wasn't aware she had left the series

Yeah she is only a guest now.

I was sad enough to flick through the Nations the other day during the end and what a surprise, only Network had an ECP. And whilst the others had long finished their "if you have been affected" speech, the Network announcer was still babbling on until the Grundy slide.

No wonder Sarah Gentry called them "carpet salesmen"

Summer left the series last year, and returns occasionally to make guest appearances (in line with the school holidays). She was back at Christmas for a few episodes, but won't be seen for another couple of months again now.

Well you might have enjoyed the first showing of Neighbours today as there were no trailers taking up half the screen during the credits.

RTE should try and get the panning view of ramsay street also.

I hope that he isn't going to end up being one of these characters such as Valda and Libby, who turn up for a few months, and then dissapear for a year again!

Much as I like Val/Libby, I just get annoyed when they come and go... and it was a little wierd when Valda didnt go to Charlies funeral!