It is a chilly day outside Nunawading Studios but the cast of Neighbours remain chipper as they quickly pull bulky padded jackets over their finest summer clothes during a break from filming. It is always hot and sunny in Erinsborough, the fictional suburb where the soap opera is set, but that can be a problem when shooting takes place during the heart of a Melbourne winter. The cast are attending a wedding – because there is always a wedding on Neighbours. In March 1985, it all began with a wedding. When the show ended in July last year, it bowed out with a wedding. And now, when the show returns later this month, it will again begin with a wedding. Some things never change – except that Jeff Bezos is now footing the bill to ensure this very grey Melbourne day has blue skies on-screen.
It was a shock when Neighbours was cancelled after 37 years and a staggering 8,903 episodes. Then after just three months off the air, it was announced that the soap would be returning – this time with the backing of the streaming giant Amazon. It was also, clearly, a shock to the cast.
