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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Brett Gibbons & Phoebe Jobling

Where the original Neighbours cast are now as classic soap faces axe after 37 years

The iconic show that kick-started the careers of global stars like Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan faces being axed.

The Australian soap, which first aired in the UK on BBC One in 1986, will reportedly be taken off our screens in August this year.

Bosses of the long-running show are said to be in make-or-break talks with Channel 5 over the show's future in the UK after 'budget issues'.

Neighbours was on track to celebrate its 37th year running this year, but now its future isn't looking so bright.

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If the show is to be taken off air this year, there are hopes that bosses can end the soap's stint with a bang by bringing back some of the most iconic actors such as Kylie Minogue.

The show was broadcast in the UK on BBC One for more than 21 years from October 1986 until February 2008 before moving to Channel 5, reports Birmingham Live.

Here we take a look back at the original cast, who were regulars in Ramsay Street when the show first aired in Australia in 1985, and find out what happened to them since.

Des Clarke, played by Paul Keane

Paul Keane as Des Clarke in early episodes of Neighbours (Grundy Television/Freemantle)

The first-ever episode opens with Des on his stag-do as he prepared to wed Lorraine Kingham, but he ends up falling in love with the stripper hired for the cabaret.

He was involved in a battle for future wife Daphne's affections, and they were married in 1986. He left the soap in 1990, but reprised the role 20 years later for the show's 35th anniversary.

After struggling to cope with fame, Keane struggled with a drug addiction which he battled for ten years.

In 2021, Paul's character Des returned to Neighbours for a short stint to help out the soap's Sheila Canning.

Keane revealed to Inside Soap that although he hopes to always be involved in the soap, he wouldn't return to Neighbours full-time due to 'other commitments in his life'.

Jim Robinson, played by Alan Dale

Jim Robinson, played by actor Alan Dale (Channel 5)

He played the character for more than 860 episodes from the very first show until his on-screen death from a heart attack in 1993.

However, he has continued to be a successful actor both in Australia and the United States over the years.

He is famously known for starring in hit series such 24 and Lost, and most recently he played Joseph Anders in CW’s drama Dynasty from 2017 until 2021.

Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis

Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) is the longest standing character on the soap (PA)

Stefan Dennis is the only original cast member still on the show.

He took a break from the programme in the 1990s to follow fellow cast members into the UK Top 20 with one hit song - Don't It Make You Feel Good - that reached number 16 in the charts.

He then returned to Ramsay Street in 2004 to play Paul Robinson, where he has featured in a string of the soap's most successful storylines.

Dennis has also appeared in hits such as The Bill, Casualty, and Dream Team.

Helen Daniels, played by Anne Haddy

Series matriarch Helen Daniels appeared in 1,162 episodes through 12 years, and at that time one of the longest serving actors.

She died at her home in Melbourne from a kidney related illness on June 6, 1999, aged 68.

In the UK, the episode broadcast on BBC One the following day, ended with a dedication to her memory, accompanied by an announcement of her death.

Elaine Smith, played by Daphne Lawrence

The Scottish-born actress became the on-screen wife of character Des Clarke after joining the soap from the first episode.

She remained in the role for just three years before returning to university to earn a degree in teaching. In 2017 she began work as a drama and primary school teacher in Sydney.

Shane Ramsay, played by Peter O'Brien

Peter O'Brien as Shane Ramsay in an early episode of Neighbours ((Image: Screen grab))

The eldest son of Max Ramsay, and was initially Des Clarke's love rival when he began dating Daphne Lawrence.

After a colourful time in Erinsborough, the character left Ramsay Street in 1987 to travel around Australia.

Since leaving Neighbours, he has appeared in a host of big roles including parts in Queer as Folk and Gossip Girl.

Max Ramsay, played by Francis Bell

He made his first on-screen appearance in the show's pilot episode.

Max was the patriarch of the Ramsay family and Ramsay Street is named after his grandfather.

He lived at number 24 with his wife, Maria (Dasha Bláhová) and their sons, Shane (Peter O'Brien) and Danny (David Clencie)., departing in May 1986 when his contract was not renewed after 190 episodes.

After leaving the show he suffered from depression and died in 1994.

Julie Robinson, played by Julie Mullins

One of the original members of the Robinson family, Julie came to a tragic end in 1994 when, during a murder mystery weekend, which was attended by many Erinsborough residents, her body was found at the bottom of a staircase.

Julie was the second actress to play the character, who became Julie Martin after marrying.

After leaving following a storyline dispute, she moved to Ireland and went back to the theatre.

Scott Robinson, played by Darius Perkins

He was the original actor in the role of teenager Scott Robinson in the soap opera. However, when the series moved to Network Ten at the start of 1986, Perkins left the role.

Perkins died from cancer on in January 2019, aged 54.

Kylie Mingogue and Jason Donovan as Charlene and Scott on their wedding day in Neighbours (Channel 5)

Neighbours has featured several guest appearances from celebrities playing themselves or specially-written characters.

These include Russell Crowe, cricketer Shane Warne, Little Britain's Matt Lucas and David Walliams, Paula Abdul and former Spice Girl Emma Bunton.

Top stars like Liam Hemsworth, Craig McLachlan, Holly Vallance, Delta Goodrem, Natalie Imbruglia, Margot Robbie and Kimberly Davies have all appeared in the soap on their way to stardom.

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