Neighbours is a long-running Australian television soap opera created by television executive Reg Watson. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985 and aired until December 2025, most recently on digital channel 10 Peach. Since its inception, several spin-offs have been produced, including books, music, DVDs and internet webisodes. Several annuals and books by pulp fiction writer Carl Ruhen were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Barry Crocker's version of the theme tune was the first music release from the show, which also has included a Christmas album and the show's love theme. Two potential television spin-offs have reached the pilot stage, while five DVD box sets of Neighbours episodes from the beginning have been released. In 2013, Neighbours launched their first webisode series Steph in Prison. Several other webisode series have since been released. Other merchandise includes official video and board games, stationery and clothing.
Books Several fictional and non-fiction books about the show and its cast and characters have been released. During the 1980s, pulp fiction writer Carl Ruhen penned nine tie-in books. In 2005, four novellas based on characters from Neighbours were released. The books were available to buy at Australia Post outlets and on the internet. Three of the four books focussed on the post-Ramsay Street lives of Felicity (Holly Valance) and Michelle Scully (Kate Keltie), Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Darren Stark (Todd MacDonald), and Jack Scully (Jay Ryan) and Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem). The fourth novel centred on Liljana (Marcella Russo) and David Bishop's (Kevin Harrington) early relationship. Of the books, a spokeswoman said "It's different to what happens in the show; it's more like a fantasy of what happens, might have happened, in the show, they would take about an hour to read if you're a quick reader".
Fiction Title Author Year Publisher ISBN Neighbours: 1 Carl Ruhen 1987 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 2 Carl Ruhen 1987 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 3 Carl Ruhen 1988 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 4 Carl Ruhen 1988 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 5 Carl Ruhen 1988 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 6 Carl Ruhen 1988 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 7 Carl Ruhen 1988 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 8 Carl Ruhen 1989 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: 9 Carl Ruhen 1989 Horwitz Grahame Neighbours: The Ramsays – A Family Divided Valda Marshall and Ray Kolle 1989 Mandarin Neighbours: The Robinsons – A Family in Crisis Valda Marshall 1989 Mandarin Facing Tomorrow Ray Kolle 2005 Funtastic Publishing Rising Star Sarah Mayberry 2005 Funtastic Publishing Sisters In The City Sarah Mayberry 2005 Funtastic Publishing Summer Harvest Sarah Mayberry 2005 Funtastic Publishing
Non-fiction Title Author Year Publisher ISBN Neighbours Annual 1989 Brenda Apsley, Clive Hopwood and Neil Pemberton 1988 World International Publishing Neighbours: Behind the Scenes James Oram 1988 Angus & Robertson Neighbours John Kercher 1989 Grandreams Books Limited Neighbours Annual 1990 Clive Hopwood 1989 World International Publishing The Neighbours Factfile Neil Wallis and Dave Hogan 1989 Angus & Robertson Neighbours Annual 1991 Nicola Furlong and John McCready 1990 Hamlyn Neighbours: The Playscripts Alan Hopgood 1990 Heinemann Neighbours Special Clive Hopwood 1990 World International Publishing Neighbours Special Kesta Desmond 1990 Grandreams Books Limited Neighbours Annual 1992 Ian Morrison 1991 Hamlyn The Neighbours Programme Guide Josephine Monroe 1994 Virgin Books Neighbours: The First 10 Years Josephine Monroe 1996 Penguin Group Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street Tony Johnston 2005 News Custom Publishing
Home media Episodes of Neighbours have been released on several VHS and DVDs. The first ever Neighbours video was released in 1989 and contains three wedding episodes. In 2012, three DVD box sets featuring the early episodes of Neighbours were released in Germany. From April 2012, Shock Entertainment began releasing DVD box sets of Neighbours episodes in broadcast order from the beginning. As of October 2014, five box sets have been released.
VHS Name Release year Distributor Notes The Neighbours Wedding Collection 1989 BBC Video Contains episodes 295, 523 and 724. Neighbours: The Scott & Charlene Love Story 1989 Virgin Video Feature length montage of episodes focusing on Charlene and Scott Robinson. Neighbours: How It All Began 1990 Virgin Video Contains the first four episodes. The Official Neighbours Special: The First Ten Years 1995 Game Entertainment Compilation of memorable moments and interviews with the cast and crew.
DVD Name Episodes DVD release dates Notes Region 2 Region 4 Neighbours: Defining Moments 15 22 September 2003 2002 Includes a photo gallery. Neighbours: The Iconic Episodes Volume 1 23 10 November 2008 15 September 2007 Includes the 1000th episode party special and a photo gallery. Neighbours: The Iconic Episodes Volume 2 24 1 June 2009 18 October 2007 One disc is dedicated to the character of Charlene. Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 1 56 24 September 2012 4 April 2012 Contains episodes 1–56 Neighbours: The Charlene Years Volume 1 63 8 October 2012 4 April 2012 Contains episodes 234–297 Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 2 56 25 March 2013 7 November 2012 Contains episodes 57–112Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 3 56 2013 6 March 2013 Contains episodes 113–168 Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 4 65 2013 5 June 2013 Contains episodes 169–233 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite — 1 April 2015 Contains an additional 100 minutes of footage.
Internet Neighbours''' official website is located at http://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/neighbours and is part of Tenplay, the official website of Network Ten and its sister channels One and Eleven. The website contains information on the cast and characters, news, interviews, photos and a catch-up service. UK broadcaster Channel 5 launched Holy Soap in June 2010 as the official UK website for both Neighbours and Home and Away. The website contained information about the cast and character profiles, and exclusive interviews. It also allowed viewers to watch full episodes of the shows. After the closure of Holy Soap, Channel 5 moved Neighbours to its new home at channel5.com.
In 2009, Neighbours became the first Australian series to establish Twitter accounts for four of its characters; Declan Napier, Donna Freedman, Ringo Brown and Zeke Kinski. The accounts sent daily updates to their followers, gave advice and talked to each other. The updates were "complementary to the show's on-air storylines" and FremantleMedia Enterprises vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann believed it was a good way to get the audience to engage with the characters off-screen. The messages were overseen by the Fremantle digital team, which integrated with the story department of the Neighbours production team.
In December 2012, Neighbours launched Amber's Blog on the official website. It featured Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow) documenting her family's move from Mount Isa to Erinsborough ahead of their debut on-screen. The website later used the character of Sheila Canning (Colette Mann) to document the week's events in a feature called "Sheila's Recap".
In 2014, Neighbours became the first Australian drama series to feature on-screen conversation-starter Twitter questions during each episode's three commercial breaks. The questions were tweeted during each broadcast from the official Neighbours Twitter account, accompanied by a relevant photo from the storyline. Tony Broderick, the head of TV Partnerships Australia, said "It's an impressive innovation from a TV series in its 30th season on air, and shows that the residents of Ramsay Street can still teach the television industry some new tricks." The on-screen conversation-starter Twitter questions were later removed. On 16 March 2015, in honour of the show's 30th anniversary, Channel 5 released a webisode titled Harold Bishop: The Musical, which sees cast members breaking into song to celebrate Harold's return. On 31 August, ahead of the show's first three-hander episode, a "digital-only bonus scene" was released featuring Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin) and Lauren Turner (Kate Kendall) discussing their feelings after they had sex.
A new online series, Neighbourshood, was launched on 7 March 2016. It is a behind-the-scenes show presented by former Neighbours actor Ben Nicholas. Episodes were uploaded to the official YouTube at the beginning of the week. A second 22-part series was commissioned in 2017. The format is similar to the previous series, with viewers meeting a different Neighbours cast member each week and shown various spoilers.
Webisodes
Steph in Prison To coincide with Stephanie Scully's (Carla Bonner) return to Neighbours in April 2013, the serial released six webisodes on their YouTube channel that featured Steph talking to a psychiatrist (Trudy Hellier) before her release from jail. Steph talks through a variety of issues and explains that she is returning to Erinsborough for someone. The webisodes also provide an insight into Steph's actions upon her return. The webisodes were directed by former Neighbours actor Scott Major. He explained that being part of Steph's original exit storyline did not influence his approach to directing the webisodes. He decided to film the webisodes in a different style to show viewers what it was like in Steph's head. He said "I wanted viewers to be a little uncomfortable, make them feel they were intruding on these private conversations."
Brennan on the Run Mark Brennan's (Scott McGregor) return to Neighbours in February 2014, was preceded by the webisode series Brennan on the Run, which focused on his time in witness protection. A trailer for the spin-off was also released. The webisodes were interactive, with viewers able to choose the outcome of the story and take control of Brennan "as he faces challenges, dodges danger and encounters a little bit of romance". Each webisode ended with a "yes" or "no" answer, which then took viewers to a different video in the style of a choose your own adventure. The webisodes were shot using a Red Scarlet camera by digital producer Ric Forster, which gave them "a different, edgier look and feel" compared to the main show. Mark's girlfriend in the spin-off, Sienna Matthews (Sarah Roberts), was later introduced to Neighbours. While his witness protection handler Greta Jackson (Alexis Porter) made an appearance in September 2014. In the same month, Brennan on the Run was shown at the Raindance Web Fest.
Neighbours vs Zombies In March 2014, a new zombie webisode series was announced. Digital producer Ric Forster pitched the idea of a zombie series featuring former characters in 2013. Upon learning about Screen Australia's Skip Ahead programme, which gives help with funding and resources, Forster contacted YouTube vlogger Louna Maroun to join the project. Maroun commented "There's a huge fanbase for the zombie genre. It's so fresh and amazing that FremantleMedia are willing to do this sort of thing. It's just a fan dream." Forster wanted Neighbours: Zombies on Ramsay Street to be different from Neighbours, and said the visuals would reflect the dark nature of the story. Scenes were shot in both interior and external locations. An abandoned hospital and Kennedy bedroom sets were specially created for the series. Maroun appears as Hope Gottlieb, a former character who previously appeared in the show as a young child. The storyline sees Hope teaming up with Mason Turner (Taylor Glockner) to try and stop a zombie invasion.