The Neighbours 30th Anniversary was a series of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The celebrations span over two weeks, beginning on 4 March 2015 in Australia, while starting on 18 March in the United Kingdom. The anniversary features many storylines, but points around Paul Robinson's (Stefan Dennis) Erinsborough festival and the wedding of Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps) and Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow). The serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, began planning the 30th anniversary over a year in advance. Over ten former cast members from all eras of the show were invited back to "honour the past and present". Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were also invited, but they both downturned the offer. The celebrations marked Ian Smith and Anne Charleston's returns to Neighbours as Harold and Madge Bishop respectively. Madge was last seen during her death in 2001 and returns as a ghost in Harold's mind, which Herbison was initially worried would not be accepted by Charleston nor Smith, however both approved of it. The storyline was also popular amongst viewers.
Herbison told Digital Spy that he wanted the anniversary to reignite old storylines, climax current ones and lead into future ones. The Erinsborough festival opens when Harold accidentally drives his campervan into a stand. Over 70 extras and additional cameramen and crew were required for filming. Amber and Daniel's wedding marked the final plot of the celebrations. Daniel and Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan), who is hiding her love for Daniel, become trapped in an old well together. Kaplan explained that a set for scenes in the well was specially built with four walls to make Kaplan and Phillipps feel claustrophobic. Herbison also confirmed that at the end of the two-week-long storyline, a character would be killed off. Matt Turner (Josef Brown) is hit by a driver while being confronted by Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin).
Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem) also returns during the anniversary, which Goodrem revealed herself on social media before it was officially announced by Neighbours. Nina sings "Only Human", a song digitally released by Goodrem to coincide with her return, at the Erinsborough festival closing ceremony. Matt Preston also made a celebrity guest appearance after wanting to get on the serial for over seven years and called his appearance something he could tick off his bucket list. The Neighbours crew were applauded for their efforts in celebrating the milestone and some news outlets believed that the key success of the anniversary was the build-up and climax of Daniel and Amber's wedding. The serial was also critiqued for giving limited screen time to some returning cast members, while some publications judged the cast's acting. Australia Post released special Neighbours stamps in honour of the anniversary.
Plot Episodes 7073 to 7083 The Erinsborough festival commences under Mayor Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Naomi Canning's (Morgana O'Reilly) supervision by Lassiter's Lake. Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) acts as a fortune teller and Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) poses as a statue. Toadie and Chris Pappas (James Mason) see Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) and Vanessa Villante (Alin Sumarwata) and meet their daughter, Sebastiana (Izabella Anderson), before Vanessa announces her third pregnancy. Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) accidentally drives his caravan through a stall and breaks a fire hydrant, before imagining his dead wife, Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston), sitting next to him. Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) works on fixing the hydrant and tells his wife, Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele), to instead go to the ballet with Nick Petrides (Damien Fotiou), who is joyed following a bet he made with Paul to get Georgia to sleep with him. Harold meets Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow), the fiancée of his step-grandson, Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps). Madge disapproves of Amber and thinks that Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan) better suits Daniel, so Harold privately tells Daniel that he does not support their marriage, before Daniel and Amber uninvite him from the wedding. Naomi and Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) go public about their relationship.
Mark becomes suspicious of Matt Turner (Josef Brown) when he learns that he has been lying about the back pay he has been receiving from his job on the police force to pay off his mortgage. After Mark's brother, Tyler Brennan (Travis Burns), tells Dennis Dimato (David Serafin) that he no longer owes him any favours, Mark spots Matt quitting his job at Dimato's illegal car-stripping firm, so Matt tells his wife, Lauren (Kate Kendall), about it. At the Erinsborough bake-off, Janelle Timmins (Nell Feeney) arrives and nominates her cake, however ends up in an argument with Susan and Sheila Canning (Colette Mann) over whose cake is better. Georgia accidentally breaks the cake stand and all the cakes fall on the floor, except for Karl Kennedy's (Alan Fletcher) trifle. Judge Matt Preston awards Karl with the win. Mark promises not to report Matt if he takes six months of leave and tells him everything about Dimato's ring. Mark's ex-girlfriend, Paige Smith (Olympia Valance), kisses Tyler and accidentally calls him by Mark's nickname, so they agree to stay friends. Lauren tells Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin) about Matt's situation and tells Matt to sleep on the couch. Amber leaves for last-minute photography work, leaving Imogen, who is in love with Daniel, to set up the wedding. Naomi finds out that Paul organised Amber's trip to keep her away on the wedding day. Sheila asks Harold out on a date and Madge encourages Harold to go. Harold leaves the date when he realises Madge isn't there and later tells her that she will be his only true love. Georgia overhears Nick and Paul talking about the bet they made and tells Nick he is disgusting.
Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem) returns to Erinsborough and keeps a low profile, meeting with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) and Susan, when she reveals that she and Jack Scully (Jay Ryan) have separated. To avoid being noticed, Nina works as a cleaning maid at Lassiter's. Matt is angered when he sees Lauren confiding in Brad and Matt kisses Sharon Canning (Natasha Herbert), but is caught by Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou). Matt hides the truth from Lauren. Paul invites Des Clarke (Paul Keane) back to Erinsborough and they talk about Des' failed marriage to Lorraine Kingham (Antoinette Byron) in front of Daniel to get him to back down from his wedding. Paul then tells Amber that Imogen is in love with Daniel, before Imogen quits her role as maid of honour. Tom Ramsay (Gary Files) sees Imogen holding Daniel's present to Amber, a photo of Agnes Robinson. Tom explains that Agnes threw her pearl ring down an old well when her husband, Frederick Ramsay, did not return from war. Daniel learns that Imogen is at The Waterhole and goes to find her, before getting in her car and driving off together to talk. Paige sees them and thinks that they are running away together, so tells Amber. Guy Carpenter (Andrew Williams) arrives for the wedding. Harold ends up attending the wedding and tells Susan that he has been imagining Madge, but she has not been showing lately. Daniel begs Imogen to come to the wedding and she admits that she is in love with him and tells him the story of the ring. Daniel goes down the well with Imogen to find it, but when they don't find anything, they decide to climb out. The ladder breaks on them and they become stuck.
Aftermath In the aftermath, Amber tells everyone in the Church that the wedding is cancelled. Paul spots Nina at The Waterhole and asks her to perform the closing act of the festival, but she declines, so Karl pretends his throat is sore to get Nina to perform, which works. Nina then gets an apology text from Jack. Josh keeps an upset Amber company in her hotel room and they have sex. Sky Mangel (Stephanie McIntosh) calls Harold and invites him to move in with her. He agrees and Madge tells him that she will be staying in Erinsborough. Harold says goodbye to Susan, Karl, Lou and Toadie, before leaving and waving goodbye to Madge. Nick edits Paul's blood test results to trick him into believing he has cancer. In the well, Imogen finds Agnes' pearl ring. Naomi and Lucy Robinson (Melissa Bell) find and give Bouncer 2 the dog to Paul as a gift. Kyle diverts water down the well and Josh overhears Imogen yelling, so stops the water and rescues her and Daniel. When Brad discovers Matt's affair with Sharon, he confronts Matt on the side of the road and Matt is hit by a driver. He loses too much blood and dies in hospital.
Cast appearances Regular cast
Ryan Moloney as Toadie Rebecchi Rebekah Elmaloglou as Terese Willis Kip Gamblin as Brad Willis Harley Bonner as Josh Willis Ariel Kaplan as Imogen Willis Olympia Valance as Paige Smith Kate Kendall as Lauren Turner Jenna Rosenow as Amber Turner Josef Brown as Matt Turner Calen Mackenzie as Bailey Turner Tom Oliver as Lou Carpenter Tim Phillipps as Daniel Robinson Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson Morgana O'Reilly as Naomi Canning Colette Mann as Sheila Canning Chris Milligan as Kyle Canning Saskia Hampele as Georgia Brooks Scott McGregor as Mark Brennan James Mason as Chris Pappas Meyne Wyatt as Nate Kinski Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy Alan Fletcher as Karl Kennedy
Guest cast
Anne Scott-Pendlebury as Hilary Robinson Ian Smith as Harold Bishop Anne Charleston as Madge Bishop Scott Major as Lucas Fitzgerald Alin Sumarwata as Vanessa Villante Izabella Anderson as Sebastiana Travis Burns as Tyler Brennan Damien Fotiou as Nick Petrides Steven Sammut as Joey Dimato David Serafin as Dennis Dimato Steve Carroll as Ian McKay Nell Feeney as Janelle Timmins Matt Preston as himself Natasha Herbert as Sharon Canning Delta Goodrem as Nina Tucker Paul Keane as Des Clarke Andrew Williams as Guy Carpenter Gary Files as Tom Ramsay John Lidgerwood as Driver Stephanie McIntosh as Sky Mangel Melissa Bell as Lucy Robinson Uncredited as Bouncer 2
Production Development The 30th anniversary and its storylines were conceived over a year in advance by the serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison. At the beginning of 2015, the Neighbours title card and theme song were revamped in a new "retro-inspired" style for the anniversary. Herbison told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that his "main aim" for the celebrations were "to celebrate the past, present and the future of the show in a way that would be satisfying for our viewers." He also explained that he wanted to be weary of how each plot was planned out to not interrupt or spoil any storylines for the United Kingdom, which was airing episodes two weeks behind Australia. Herbison and production staff were hoping to create a "dash of nostalgia" by returning former cast members, however also wanted to bring current storylines to a climax. He admitted that the crew also wanted the anniversary to lead into some more longer storylines. Neighbours invited many cast members back from all eras of the serial and Herbison explained that he was thrilled with the characters who were brought back, all of whom had "natural reasons" for returning. All stories were written by Herbison and the storylining team following their pitch to the Neighbours broadcasters, who all "gave great ideas and feedback". Herbison described the anniversary as full of "drama, action, humour, romance, nostalgia and of course a little heartbreak" and teased, "You name it, we have every spectrum of emotion covered for the 30th with a lot of twists and turns with the stories, and many surprises."