Reviving Ramsay Street
TV WEEK finds out how Network Ten plans to put the bubble back into Australia’s longest-running soap
Despite celebrating 20 years on TV and being inducted into the TV WEEK Logies Hall of Fame, Neighbours has recently suffered low ratings and criticism over its storylines. We ask new Network Ten drama executive Dan Bennett what’s being done to entice viewers back to the show.
Obviously the ratings haven’t been good lately.
No, they haven’t. It’s been a bit of a slide over the past six months, or so. It’s not performing as well as we’d like, but the show is not in any danger of being axed.
Why do you think people haven’t been tuning in?
Firstly, the show has perhaps lost its way in terms of storylines. Not all of them, but in a general sense it has drifted away from what has fundamentally been heartland Neighbours. We’ve tried to do more risqué storylines, and Paul’s shenanigans, while very entertaining, at times have pushed the credibility a bit far.
How will you get back to “heartland” Neighbours?
If you had to say what Neighbours is about, it’s a show about friends and family living on a street and dealing with the problems that people face every day. We’re going to make sure from now on that it all comes back to that premise.
Will you change the look of the show?
The simple reality is that Neighbours hasn’t been holding up. It looks very dated. The sets are being revamped, we’ll have new opening titles, we’ve got a new version of the theme… We’re looking at changing the way we shoot and having more location time.
Some big names are leaving soon, like Stephanie McIntosh…
It’s always hard when characters leave, but it’s also important to have a turnover in the cast. Each character has a certain story to tell and there comes a point when those stories have been told.
What can you tell us about the new family set to move in?
There’ll be a mum, dad and kids, and an extended family to join them later. I can’t say exactly who they are, but they are linked to one of the existing residents.
It’d be great if you could introduce Scott and Charlene’s kids!
Scott and Charlene are never very far from anyone’s consciousness, so I’m sure it’s been discussed. That’s a benefit of Neighbours – it has such a rich history. In fact, we’ve just reintroduced a former resident who’s coming back to stick around, so we’ll tell you a little more about that in the coming months.
Will there be another super couple?
Indeed! In fact, there will be more than one super couple.
Some readers have complained that romances don’t last long on the show.
That’s been a really significant problem – the chopping and changing of relationships. The audience hasn’t had time to become invested in any of the pairings before they’ve flitted off with someone else. That’s absolutely being addressed.
SPOILERS
Some of Australia’s most beloved actresses will be joining Neighbours over the next few months, but Dan denies it’s just a ratings stunt. “It’s part of always looking for the best people for the roles,” he insists. “But the added side effect of having such brilliant people is that hopefully the audience will be rushing to switch on as well.”
Keep an eye out for:
Jane Hall “Jane’s just signed on as a series regular,” Dan says. “She’ll play a character with connections to several Ramsay Street residents. And her bombshell will rock the street.”
Penny Cook The former A Country Practice and E Street star will play the guest role of Frazer and Ringo’s mum, Prue, for a few months.
Rachel Gordon “Rachel is playing a role totally different to anything else she’s played and she’s fantastic,” Dan says.
Rowena Wallace
Pat the Rat ( Sons and Daughters Veteran).
Rowena Wallace Rowena plays “scary” Mary Casey, who has been living in the suburb for a long time. When she appears she “causes trouble for just about everyone,” laughs Rowena. “But, in a way, you feel very sorry for her.”
Hit and miss
Dan gives his verdict on the recent Neighbours storylines.
The plane crash
“That’s an example of one of the heightened stories that really did work. Apart from delivering a spike in ratings, the effects are still being felt on air!”
Rosie and Pepper’s kiss
“I’ll let the audience decide about that. But it’d be fair to say it was probably a less successful attempt to deal with the issue than the Sky/Lana story a few years ago.”
Paul’s return
“Paul has really breathed new life into the show, but he’s been pushed just about as far as he can be. It’s important to have characters like Paul, but there needs to be a comeuppance.”
Baby Kerry’s leukaemia fight
“That was heartbreaking and worked a treat. The feedback we’ve been getting is great.”
The Timmins family
“It’s been on extreme or the other. As we know, both the boys have finished and Nell (Feeney) and Sianoa (Smit McPhee) finished on set last week. But there’ll always be a Timmins because Janae (Eliza Taylor-Cotter) is sticking around.”
very long indeed!
