40 Years Of 'Neighbours': The Show That Changed The Face Of Aussie Music

Forty years ago today, a show called Neighbours premiered on Australian TV.

It bombed.

Four months after it started on Channel Seven, Neighbours was axed. Fortunately, Channel 10 threw the show a lifeline. 

When Ramsay Street relocated in 1986, no one had any idea of the impact it would have on the music world.

Four decades on, no non-music show has given the world more pop stars. In fact, Neighbours has a greater hit-making strike rate than The Voice.

Here’s the Ramsay Street Top 16:

KYLIE MINOGUE (Charlene Mitchell, 1986-1988)

The story: Seventeen-year-old Kylie Minogue joined the cast of Neighbours in 1986, playing a mechanic named Charlene who falls in love with Scott (played by Jason Donovan).

A producer at Channel 10, Greg Petherick, had a regular Thursday night jam session with colleagues, including Neighbours stars Alan Dale and Peter O’Brien. When Kylie asked Greg for a song she could sing at the jam, he gave her a cassette of Little Eva’s 1962 hit The Loco-Motion.

One of the Neighbours producers, Alan Hardy, was a fan of the ailing Melbourne football club Fitzroy and convinced members of the cast to perform at a benefit gig at Festival Hall. It was billed as “The Fitzroy FC Giant Fightback Variety Night”.

Kylie did a duet with Aussie actor John Waters, a cover of Sonny & Cher’s I Got You Babe. When the crowd demanded an encore, Kylie sang The Loco-Motion. Alan Dale, who played Kylie’s father-in-law, recalls: “We couldn’t believe it, she could sing like an angel.”

Greg Petherick organised a demo recording of the song and, after numerous knockbacks, got Kylie a deal with Mushroom Records, where Amanda Pelman convinced label boss Michael Gudinski to sign the actor. Unfortunately, the Fitzroy Football Club went broke, and like Scott and Charlene, they moved to Brisbane.

The stats: Ten number one singles in Australia – no Aussie artist has had more. Seven number one singles in the UK and 11 #2 hits. Forty-seven Top 40 singles in Australia and 52 in the UK. 

Fun fact: Kylie is the only person in the world who has won Logies, ARIA Awards, BRIT Awards and Grammys.

Signature song: Kylie’s version of the Little Eva song, titled The Loco-Motion, became the biggest-selling Australian single of the ’80s and remains Mushroom Records’ biggest-selling single ever. It also hit number three in the US.

JASON DONOVAN (Scott Robinson, 1986-1989)

The story: After Kylie’s career took off like a locomotive, Mushroom and Stock Aitken Waterman signed her co-star and secret boyfriend Jason Donovan.

The stats: Jason became the first Aussie act to enter the UK charts at number one when his cover of Sealed With A Kiss debuted on top in 1989. He’s had 16 Top 40 singles in the UK (five in Australia), including four chart-toppers. 

Fun fact: Jason and Kylie were both part of the Band Aid II version of Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1989. Bob Geldof attended the recording session with his wife Paula Yates and their six-year-old daughter Fifi Trixibelle, who wanted to meet Jason.

Signature song: Neighbours’ greatest duet – Especially For You. Woolworths in the UK ordered 250,000 copies of the single – before the song had even been written. It topped the charts in the UK, Ireland, Belgium and Greece and became SAW’s biggest single. In 2018, it provided the soundtrack for Neighbours’ first same-sex wedding when David married Aaron.

DELTA GOODREM (Nina Tucker, 2002-2004)

The story: When Delta’s debut single, I Don’t Care, stiffed, her team got her a gig on Neighbours, playing shy schoolgirl Nina Tucker.

The stats: Delta has had nine number one singles – second only to Kylie when it comes to Aussie acts. She holds the record for the most chart-topping singles from the one album – all five singles from her debut, Innocent Eyes, hit number one.

The album spent 29 weeks on top, a record for an Australian artist. And it became the first album by a local woman to sell one million copies in Australia. In 2003, Delta won seven ARIA Awards – the most by a woman in one night.

Fun fact: Nina’s first boyfriend in Neighbours was Taj Coppin – played by James Reyne’s son, Jaime Robbie Reyne. Her mum was played by Wendy Stapleton, who had a band in the ’80s called Wendy & the Rocketts.

Signature song: Delta debuted Born To Try on Neighbours.

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA (Beth Brennan, 1992-1994) 

The story: After moving out of Ramsay Street, Natalie Imbruglia relocated to London, where she got a record deal and released Torn, which became one of the biggest singles of the ’90s. She was married to Daniel Johns from 2003 to 2008. He wrote and co-produced Satisfied on her third album, Counting Down The Days, and co-wrote her 2009 single Want.

The stats: Torn went to number one in Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Spain and Sweden. It peaked at #2 in Australia (kept out of top spot by Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On). Natalie’s debut album, Left Of The Middle, sold seven million copies worldwide. She has won eight ARIA Awards.

Fun fact: Torn was co-written by The Cure’s bass player Phil Thornalley. It was first recorded in 1993 in Danish by Lis Sørensen as Brændt (“Burnt”).

Signature song: Torn was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The trophy went to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On.

CRAIG McLACHLAN (Henry Ramsay, 1987-1989)

The story: Craig McLachlan was Kylie’s brother in Neighbours.

The stats: Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2’s self-titled debut hit the Top 10 in Australia and the UK. His cover of Bo Diddley’s Mona won the 1991 ARIA Award for the year’s Highest-Selling Single. It reached #3 in Australia and #2 in the UK.

Fun fact: Henry Ramsay was initially a bad boy, having been an armed robber. His former cellmate, Kenny, was played by another actor-turned-rocker Russell Crowe. 

Signature song: Heeeeey Mona!

HOLLY VALANCE (Flick Scully, 1999-2002)

The story: In her early career, Holly Valance was promoted in the UK press as Kylie’s main pop rival. She released two albums and had three Top 10 singles in Australia and the UK. 

The stats: Holly was the third Neighbours star to have a number one single in the UK when Kiss Kiss debuted on top in 2002. It was a cover of a 1997 song by Turkish artist Tarkan.

Fun fact: Aussie legend Ross Wilson is kind of Holly’s step stepdad. Ross’s wife, Tania, was married to Holly’s dad.

Signature song: Kiss Kiss.

STEPHANIE McINTOSH (Sky Mangel, 2003-2007)

The story: Jason Donovan’s real-life half-sister also embarked on a singing career after finding fame in Neighbours.

The stats: Stephanie’s debut album, Tightrope, hit number four on the ARIA charts in 2006.

Fun fact: The making of Stephanie’s debut album was turned into a reality TV show called The Steph Show.

Signature song: Steph’s debut single, Mistake, reached #3 in Australia and #47 in the UK.

NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE (Izzy Hoyland, 2003-2006) 

The story: Nat Bass left Neighbours in 2006 to focus on her music career but has reprised her role as Izzy several times. She joined Rogue Traders in 2004.

The stats: Three Top 10 solo singles, including her Don’t Give Up cover with Shannon Noll, which hit #2 in 2006. Nat’s 2009 solo album, 1000 Stars, hit number one. She has also had two Top 5 albums and five Top 5 singles with Rogue Traders.

Fun fact: Rogue Traders’ biggest hit, Voodoo Child, sampled Elvis Costello’s Pump It Up.

Signature song: Voodoo Child, which hit #4 in 2005 and then hit #3 in the UK.

THE TWINS (Caroline & Christina Alessi, 1990-1992)

The story: Identical twins Gayle and Gillian Blakeney were reporters on the kids show Wombat, alongside Agro, before joining the cast of Neighbours at the start of the ’90s. They followed the Kylie and Jason path and worked with Stock Aitken Waterman, releasing music as The Twins.

The stats: Three Top 100 hits in the UK – All Mixed Up (#77), Mad If Ya Don’t! (#75) and a cover of Prince’s Wanna Be Your Lover (#62).

Fun fact: Gayle and Gillian were wearing Kiss make-up when they made their music video debut in The Monitors’ 1980 hit Singing In The ’80s.

Signature song: All Mixed Up.

STEFAN DENNIS (Paul Robinson, 1985-1992, 2004 -)

The story: The only original cast member who’s still in the show, Stefan Dennis plays the villainous Paul Robinson, who is the older brother of Scott (Jason Donovan) and brother-in-law of Charlene (Kylie Minogue). Inspired by the success of Kylie and Jason, Stefan released two singles at the end of the ’80s.

The stats: Two Top 100 hits in the UK in 1989 – Don’t It Make You Feel Good (#16) and This Love Affair (#67).

Fun fact: Toadie and Dr Karl performed Don’t It Make You Feel Good in a lip-sync battle at the Waterhole in 2021. Paul Robinson remarked that he thought the song was actually pretty good.

Signature song: Don’t It Make You Feel Good.

DEAN GEYER (Ty Harper, 2008-2009)

The story: After coming third in the 2006 edition of Australian Idol, behind Damien Leith and Jessica Mauboy, Dean Geyer joined the cast of Neighbours before moving to Glee in the US. While in Ramsay Street, he released a duet, Unforgettable, with co-star Caitlin Stasey.

The stats: Dean was actually a music star before Neighbours, releasing the Top 10 album Rush in 2007, featuring the Top 10 single If You Don’t Mean It.

Fun fact: In 2008, Dean became engaged to The Veronicas’ Lisa Origliasso and appeared in the video for their Top 10 hit This Love.

Signature song: If You Don’t Mean It.

SAM CLARK (Ringo Brown, 2007-2010)

The story: Sam Clark played Ringo who married Margot Robbie’s character, Donna Freedman. Sam left the show to focus on his music career.

The stats: Sam has had two Top 40 hits – Broken and Devastated. In 2010, he released his debut album, Take Me Home.

Fun fact: Sam covered Angry Anderson’s Suddenly, which was Scott and Charlene’s wedding song and then Ringo and Donna’s wedding song.

Signature song: Broken.

BONNIE ANDERSON (Bea Nilsson, 2018-2021)

The story: Bonnie Anderson was a singer before being cast in Neighbours. In fact, she was the first winner of Australia’s Got Talent. And 13 years later, she won the second season of The Masked Singer Australia.

The stats: Bonnie has had three Top 100 hits on the Australian charts.

Fun fact: In 2020, Bonnie recorded a new version of the Neighbours theme for the opening credits.

Signature song: Sorry, which was incorporated into the Neighbours storyline in 2019.

ALYCE PLATT (Jen Handley, 1995-1996)

The story: Sale Of The Century and Sons and Daughters star Alyce Platt moved into Ramsay Street in 1995, playing medical student Jen Handley. 

The stats: The Neighbours fan site The Perfect Blend says, “Although Platt has produced the most adventurous and intriguing music from any Neighbours star, commercial success has eluded her.” As well as her own music, starting with her 2004 debut Beautiful Death, Alyce did a country duet with Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl) called Sorry Is The Word.

Fun fact: Alyce later returned to Ramsay Street, playing a new character – crime author Olivia Bell.

Signature song: Funny Little World, the title track of her 2015 album, which she wrote with Boom Crash Opera’s Pete Farnan.

BEN MITCHELL (Cameron Hudson, 1992-1993)

The story: Cameron Hudson shared a house on Ramsay Street with Beth Brennan (Natalie Imbruglia). His uncle was Doug Willis, played by Jason Donovan’s dad, Terence Donovan.

The stats: Ben has released four albums, including 2019’s Slow Is The New Fast, co-produced by The Cruel Sea’s Matt Walker.

Fun fact: In 2008, Ben returned to Ramsay Street, playing Matt Freedman – the father of Margot Robbie’s character, Donna.

Signature song: You Can’t Fight That, the first single from Slow Is The New Fast.

GUY PEARCE (Mike Young, 1986-1989)

The story: In the glory days of Neighbours, Guy Pearce was actually the most musically talented member of the cast but was reluctant to pursue a music career because he didn’t want to deal with the soapie-star-turned-singer stigma. He did have a single, Call Of The Wild, in the 1989 Australian movie Heaven Tonight, and also recorded the soundtrack for the 1999 movie A Slipping-Down Life. Guy finally released his debut album, Broken Bones, in 2014.

The stats: Has released two solo albums – 2014’s Broken Bones and 2018’s The Nomad.

Fun fact: Guy appeared in the video for Silverchair’s 2003 single Across The Night.

Signature song: The Nomad.

Everybody needs good Neighbours. But not every Ramsay Street release has been a big hit. Here are seven misses:

ALAN FLETCHER (Dr Karl Kennedy, 1994- )

Dr Karl should actually be on the hit list. He has been Neighbours’ most musical character, regularly pulling out his Maton guitar to play a few songs.

Alan Fletcher is a genuine musician (unlike Harold Bishop/Ian Smith, who only pretends to play the tuba). But no one takes Dr Karl’s band, The Right Prescription, seriously. In real life, Fletch has done several UK tours with his bands Waiting Room and The X-Rays. In 2022, he released a solo album called The Point. He played at Tamworth this year and recently released a duet with his wife, Jennifer Hansen, called Tell ’Em.

ALBIE WILDE & THE DAYGLOS

Never heard of ’em? After Kylie and Jason’s success, Mushroom Records had high hopes for Albie Wilde & The Dayglos, a band featuring Neighbours stars Annie Jones, Fiona Corke and Nick Carrafa. “It’s just a one-off,” Annie said when they released their debut single, Hey Ciao. “We may do another one, but that would be a one-off, too.” But after the single failed to chart, Albie and the band said ciao.

DAN FALZON (Rick Alessi, 1992-1995)

Neighbours heartthrob Dan Falzon had a band called Milk with his brother Tom. In 1997, they released their one and only single, 17, which was a cover of The Regents’ UK hit from 1979, 7 Teen.

FELICE ARENA (Marco Alessi, 1992)

After leaving Neighbours, Felice Arena released a cover of the Bee Gees’ More Than A Woman under the pseudonym “Moses”. He later became a successful children’s author, creating the Specky Magee series.

MADELEINE WEST (Dee Bliss, 2000-2003)

Dee’s marriage to Toadie did not end well, with the wedding car flying off a cliff. But the role turned Madeleine West into a star. Music manager Ralph Carr – who resurrected Tina Arena’s career – snapped her up and was planning an album. But it never happened.

MARK STEVENS (Nick Page, 1988-1990)

After a stint with Young Talent Time, Mark joined the Neighbours cast. He then signed a record deal with BMG and collaborated with Nik Kershaw. In 1990, he released a cover of Marianne Faithfull’s Broken English, but his career was derailed by drug and alcohol issues. Mark then became a Christian, working with the Hillsong Church.

NICOLA CHARLES (Sarah Beaumont, 1996-1999)

Following Natalie Imbruglia’s worldwide success, Festival Mushroom signed Nicola Charles, who was best known in Neighbours for luring Dr Karl into an adulterous liaison. Charles recorded an album called Listening In Color, but it was shelved.