Ive been watching Neighbours properly for the past 7 years I think. Before then I would watch it on and off. Im 18 so i was only one when it first started in the UK. Don't remeber it at all!!! But whenever im in cyprus, I always catch up with past episodes which they show on CyBC2 at about 6pm. Its hilarious they love it in Cyprus so much!
What about Aaron the mechanic? A semi-regular, last seen yesterday and who joined at the end of the last season. Or Gino, Lyn's boss at the salon? And as for those white middle class boundaries, how about Lil and Serena Bishop, both Serbian and their recurring guest grandmother, Svetlanka? Rocco is another semi-regular and he's Italian, as is his daughter, Carmella and Toadie Rebecchi is also of Italian origin.
In all, minorities do get reflected in Neighbours, just not in the obvious, painfully politically correct way in which other shows do when they add the obligatory black or gay character to the mix.
I take your point about the Karl/Susan storyline, which has been good lately, it has to be said. But I really think it’s about the only thing that has been.
Rocco, Harold’s son’s family, Gino [and Connor] may all be of varying European descent, but then arguably virtually all white people in Australia are, it’s just a question of how conspicuous that is to the [British] viewer.
But then again, the aboriginal population of Melbourne is slim – and it is set in suburbia, unlike Eastenders for example.
I’m not really interested in 'obligatory' characters, for the sake of it. I don’t know why writers try so hard half the time, when it should just come naturally to them.
That Gino was just a bitchy drama-queen hairdresser, with a dog under his arm. He was only really ever a device to further Lynn’s plotlines to be honest.
Well anyway, I know Neighbours is mostly escapism -- they seem to get some family stuff quite well, but illnesses, diversity and timescales are way off.
Well the greek community in Melbourne is the largest ehnic one and Neighbours doesnt reflect that, and also have a great ozzie gay scene aint reflected either.
Neighbours really is tailored for UK market.
Well like having Conor there they hav not done much with his Irishness, they should take the show to Belfast, as they are planning to do another UK storyline in future. With Belfast you get Ireland and the UK in one city.
Well today was Joe Scully's last appearance in Neighbours. It is quite amusing to see Gino filling the void left, taking over parts written for joe before he was sacked.
Well today was Joe Scully's last appearance in Neighbours. It is quite amusing to see Gino filling the void left, taking over parts written for joe before he was sacked.
The actor who plays him was sacked. He went off to see his Dad early on in today's episode. Then Gino was basically read Joe Scully's lines. It's not yet known how Joe is going to be finished off, but it will be pretty terminal. He won't be on our screens again...