Episode 400 | |
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Neighbours episode | |
Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 400 |
Directed by | Mark Callan |
Written by | David Phillips |
Original air date | 11 December 1986 [1] |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Guest appearance | |
Episode 400 of the Australian television soap opera Neighbours was broadcast on Network Ten on 11 December 1986. It serves as the serial's season finale and first Christmas episode. It was written by David Phillips and directed by Mark Callan. The plot focuses on a boxing match between Shane Ramsay (Peter O'Brien) and Mike Young (Guy Pearce), who are competing for the affections of Jane Harris (Annie Jones). The build up to the match also reignites a feud between the Ramsay and Robinson families. When Clive Gibbons (Geoff Paine), who is refereeing the fight, is briefly knocked out, he dreams of a Christmas fantasy land featuring his friends and neighbours.
The episode was conceived after Network Ten executives decided to keep the show on the air beyond the end of the ratings period. As Neighbours was billed as "light and fun", the writers took the opportunity to create a fantasy sequence in the episode. They also wanted to avoid finishing the season with a cliffhanger, which had yet to become a feature of the serial. Producer Phil East said the episode would give viewers a "gentle, happy ending to the year." The dream sequence sees the cast take on the roles of colourful pantomime characters, with Clive as Father Christmas. Episode 400 received a mixed reception for its dream sequence. It has been branded both "bizarre" and "surreal", and has been included in several features about memorable soap moments. Stacia Briggs from the Eastern Daily Press said the episode "mimicked taking hallucinogenic drugs".
Paul (Stefan Dennis) and Jim Robinson (Alan Dale) make a bet about the outcome of a boxing match between Shane Ramsay (Peter O'Brien) and Mike Young (Guy Pearce). Outside in the street, Dan Ramsay (Syd Conabere) and Jim argue about their families. Madge Mitchell (Anne Charleston), Clive Gibbons (Geoff Paine) and Mike intervene, and Clive suggests they get together to talk things through. Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy) and Madge also fall out while discussing their family histories. At Number 24, Clive admits the boxing match was his idea, but he never intended for it to take place. The training was supposed to be an outlet for Shane and Mike, who have been arguing over Jane Harris (Annie Jones). Dan continues taunting Mike and the Robinsons. Mike calls him a liar and Des Clarke (Paul Keane) has to separate him and Shane. The gym is already being used at lunchtime. Clive tells Shane that he should just shake hands with Mike. Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) agrees, pointing out that Jane hates all the fighting. Shane tells her that the fight is not about Jane anymore, but rather about family. Jane arrives to ask Shane to call off the match, but Dan tells her that no Ramsay has ever walked away from a fight. She says that neither Shane or Mike will make her the excuse for it and leaves.
At the gym, Clive reads up on the rules and tells Daphne Clarke (Elaine Smith) that he will stop the match as soon as he can. In the changing rooms, Dan keeps encouraging Shane to beat Mike. Helen arrives with Lucy Robinson (Kylie Flinker), and Jane tells Charlene that she still hopes the fight will be called off. As Shane and Mike enter the ring, Lucy calls Paul a traitor for supporting Shane, while Scott and Charlene argue. Clive points out that it is nearly Christmas and asks that they all call it quits, but his plea is ignored. Susan Cole (Gloria Ajenstat) rings the bell to start, but Clive gets in the way and is struck twice by Shane and Mike, knocking him out. Clive dreams that he is Father Christmas, while his friends are various pantomime characters, who tell him what they want for Christmas. Paul appears and carries Susan off, before the grotto ceiling falls in and Clive wakes up. Jane pleads for the fight to end and Mike and Shane agree. Helen gets Paul and Jim to donate money to the children's party. Clive and Susan make plans for Christmas. Lucy asks Dan if there is any hard feelings and he says no, before leaving together.
The 400th episode of Neighbours also serves as the 1986 season finale, which producers decided to mark with a Christmas special. [2] Producer Phil East told Stephen Cook of TV Week that the show would normally come off the air at the end of the ratings period in early November, but Network Ten executives decided to keep it on air for as long as possible, which enabled them to do a Christmas story for the first time. [3] In the lead up to the episode, the residents of Ramsay Street are drawn into the drama of a love triangle involving Shane Ramsay, Mike Young and Jane Harris. Upon realising that the whole thing has got out of hand, Clive Gibbons jokingly suggests the boys fight for Jane. [2] This leads to the arrangement of a boxing match between the pair, which kicks off the episode. [3] The plot also sees a revival of the Ramsay/Robinson feud, as they take opposing sides ahead of the fight. [4]
East revealed that Clive, who is acting as the referee, gets knocked out during the fight and has a dream featuring all the characters. [3] He explained that as the show is "basically light and fun", the writers discussed what they could do to round out the year and took the opportunity to create a fantasy sequence. He pointed out that unlike fellow soap Sons and Daughters , Neighbours had never featured cliffhangers and they wanted to stick to that "tradition". [3] East stated: "It will be a very gentle, happy ending to the year. It will still be quite a peak without having someone at death's door." [3] Writers for TV Week later observed that from 1986 until 1990, Neighbours usually finished the season with "a happy ending and a good old-fashioned Christmas singalong". [5]
The dream sequence features the cast in "a Christmas fairyland" in which they take on the roles of colourful, "totally over the top" characters. [3] As Clive drifts into the dream, he finds himself as Father Christmas, while the Ramsay Street residents also appear in the fantasy. A reporter for TV Radio Extra wrote "Some of them viewers will recognise instantly; others will be harder to identify. They have never been seen like this before." [4] Lucy Robinson is an Elf, Scott Robinson is a Tin Soldier, Charlene Mitchell is a Clockwork Doll, Madge Mitchell is Little Bo Peep, Jim Robinson is a Wizard, Shane and Mike are Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Jane is a Christmas Fairy, Dan Ramsay is a Clown, Helen Daniels is the Fairy godmother, Mrs Mangel (Vivian Grey) is Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, Daphne and Des Clarke are Bride and Groom dolls, Susan Cole is Mary Christmas, her son Sam Cole (Thomas Hamston) is Happy Christmas, and Paul Robinson is the Baron. [2] [3] [4] East said the cast "had a ball" filming the scenes, [3] and Paine also had fond memories of making the episode, calling it "a wonderful, imaginative and creative time." [6]
The episode has received a mixed reaction from critics since it was broadcast. A TV Scene columnist wrote that it was "a show with a difference." [2] They observed that the "yuletide spirit is well and truly missing from Ramsay St" at the beginning of the episode. But despite Clive making "a rapid and undignified exit" from the fight, there is a happy ending as he dreams of a White Christmas with the residents from the street. [2] When the episode aired in the UK in 1988, an Evening Post reporter included it in their "Soap Box" feature, and noted that "It's Yuletide Down Under which heralds the revival of the old Robinson/Ramsay feud". [7] They said that Clive "ends up seeing more of the action than he'd anticipated." [7] Daniel Martin from The Guardian named Clive's dream sequence as one of the 10 most memorable soap Christmases. [8] He stated that it was not the serial's best dream sequence, which went to Bouncer's Dream, but "this candy-coated reminder to the grim British contingent of how it should be done is burned onto the brains of twentysomethings nationwide." [8] Martin called it "a bizarre festive dream sequence where the cast were re-imagined as pantomime characters." [8]
MSN TV editor Lorna Cooper also branded Clive's dream "bizarre". [9] A writer for TV Cream pointed out that episode featured the first Neighbours dream sequence, which later became a show tradition. They dubbed Clive's dream a "surreal Christmas fantasy". [10] The Eastern Daily Press ' Stacia Briggs also chose the episode as part of her "Memorable Christmas moments from the soaps" article. [11] She wrote "From the sublime to the ridiculous, this was an example of Neighbours scriptwriters smashing down the fourth wall and presenting an episode that mimicked taking hallucinogenic drugs. Although not quite as mind-bending as Bouncer's Dream sequence (never bettered), Doctor Clive's festive dream came a close second." [11] Briggs also joked that it was "like a Stilton dream." [11] Michael Idato of The Sydney Morning Herald included the episode in his "10 strangest moments on Ramsay Street" feature. He thought the scriptwriters might have been "high" when they came up with the "absurd plot". [12] While reviewing the show's season finales, TV Week commented "Clive was knocked out in a boxing match and dreamed that Ramsay Street had turned into a Christmas panto. Go figure." [5]
Ramsay Street is the fictional cul-de-sac in which the characters of the Australian soap opera Neighbours live. The street is set in the equally fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours storylines primarily centre on the residents of the street, which was named after Jack Ramsay, the grandfather of original character Max Ramsay. A blackjack game between Jack and Sam Robinson determined whose name the street would be named after. Only six houses on the street are featured on a regular basis; numbers 22 to 32. Number 34 was featured for the only time in 2018. The cul-de-sac is at the end of a long street and the rest of the houses are on the other side of the main road which bisects it. The street behind Ramsay Street is named Mirrabooka Drive. A storyline within the show saw the name of the street nearly changed to Ramsbottom Street. Harold Bishop led a protest against it and won.
Madge Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986. Madge was introduced as the sister of original character Max Ramsay. She soon becomes the main matriarch of the Ramsay family. Madge arrives with her marriage in tatters, her son in prison, and her daughter a runaway teen; she rolled up her sleeves and got a job in The Waterhole to support the family as a single mother. She departed on 27 November 1992, before making a return on 7 November 1996. Madge died on 6 April 2001 from terminal pancreatic cancer. Charleston reprised the role for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations from 4–20 March 2015, and for the intended finale on 28 July 2022.
Scott Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. He was created by Reg Watson as one of the serial's twelve original characters. Originally played by Darius Perkins, he made his debut during the first episode broadcast on 18 March 1985. Perkins was 20 years old when he received the role of teenager Scott. He felt some anxiety about his audition performance and did not think anything was going to come from it, until the production company contacted him a month later to sign on as Scott. When production moved to Network Ten in 1986, producers wanted "a more upfront" Scott and the role was recast to Jason Donovan, who joined the cast following his graduation from school. He made his debut on 12 February 1986, and producers hoped Donovan's blond hair and blue eyes would increase the character's appeal. Perkins later said that he had been physically and mentally exhausted after filming for nine months, and felt unable to continue in the role of Scott.
Charlene Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Kylie Minogue. Charlene was introduced to the show along with several new characters, as part of a revamp by Network Ten to increase ratings. Minogue auditioned for the role in 1985, shortly after finishing her high school exams. She attended the audition dressed as the character and casting director Jan Russ cast her in the role. Minogue was initially contracted for a week, but this was later extended through to mid-1988. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 April 1986.
Henry Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Craig McLachlan. He made his first screen appearance on 19 February 1987. Henry is the only son of Fred and Madge Mitchell and brother to Charlene and Sam Cole. Henry was known as a joker and was always coming up with schemes to make money. Henry dated Sue Parker and Melanie Pearson before beginning a relationship with Bronwyn Davies. He later moved to New Zealand to be a Disc jockey and married Bronwyn. He departed on 23 November 1989. McLachlan won three Logie Awards for his role as Henry during his time with Neighbours.
Jane Harris is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Annie Jones. She was created by writer Ray Kolle and debuted during the episode broadcast on 31 July 1986. Jones originally auditioned for the role of Charlene Mitchell, but she was not successful. This prompted Jones to telephone the producers for two months asking for a role in the show until eventually she was cast. In 1989, Jones decided to quit the serial in order to pursue other projects and the character departed on 9 September the same year. In 2005, Jones was one of many former cast members who agreed to return to the serial to mark the 20th anniversary of Neighbours. On-screen she was featured making a cameo in Annalise Hartman's documentary about Ramsay Street. Jones reprised the role again in 2018 for two guest stints starting on 6 April and 26 November 2018. She returned on 10 February 2020 as part of the serial's 35th anniversary celebrations, before returning to the regular cast from 8 July 2020. Her final appearance aired on 28 July 2022 in the Neighbours finale. She reprised the role as part of the series' continuation, via Amazon Freevee, on 18 September 2023.
Des Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. Des was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode. Des departed during the episode broadcast on 11 October 1990. Keane later reprised the role as part of Neighbours' 30th anniversary celebrations in March 2015. He also returned for the 35th anniversary on 18 March 2020, again in August and December 2020 and for the serial's final episodes in 2022.
Daphne Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elaine Smith. Daphne was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. The producer had originally wanted Rebecca Gibney to play the role, but she joined the cast of another television series. When Smith came in to audition for a guest part, her appearance, particularly her short haircut, caught the attention of the casting director, who had been looking for an "outrageous image" for the character of Daphne. Smith won the role and she made her on-screen debut in the soap's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985.
Mike Young is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Guy Pearce. Pearce was in his final year at school and only had amateur theatre experience when he auditioned for the role. After winning the part of Mike, Pearce soon relocated to Melbourne and began filming in December 1985. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 1986. Mike's arrival was part of an attempt to give the serial a youthful look. He was given immediate links to the other character through a friendship with Scott Robinson, who helps him secure work at the local coffee shop.
Clive Gibbons is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Geoff Paine. Paine was spotted by the Reg Grundy Organisation and offered the role of Clive. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 21 January 1986. Clive's storylines included running a gorillagram agency, setting up a gardening business, saving Lucy Robinson's life and falling in love with Susan Cole. Paine decided not to renew his contract, as he feared being typecast and felt the role was no longer believable. He departed Neighbours on 27 February 1987, but made a brief return in 1989. Paine reprised the role 28 years later, and Clive returned on a semi-regular basis from 9 March 2017. He was reintroduced as the chief operating officer of Erinsborough Hospital. Paine felt that Clive had matured during his time away from Erinsborough, but said his "cheeky side" would still appear every so often. He was restored to the series' main cast in July 2020 and appeared in the final episode of the original run of Neighbours on 28 July 2022.
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance during the show's first episode, broadcast on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max Ramsay and Maria Ramsay. His storylines included training to be an Olympic swimmer and being involved in two car crashes, with the second killing Jean Richards, leaving Shane facing manslaughter charges. Writers also created a relationship story with Daphne Lawrence. O'Brien decided to leave Neighbours in 1986 and Shane departed during the episode broadcast on 3 March 1987. O'Brien reprised the role in July 2022 for the show's final episodes.
Danny Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by David Clencie. He made his first appearance during the serial's debut episode broadcast on 18 March 1985. Danny was the first character to speak in the show. Danny's storylines focused on his troubled relationship with his father Max and his subsequent discovery that Tim Duncan is his real father, his friendship with Scott Robinson and his job as a bank teller. Danny moved away from Ramsay Street on 31 July 1986. In 2005, Clencie reprised his role as Danny for a cameo in Annalise Hartman's documentary on Ramsay Street.
Max Ramsay is a fictional character in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Francis Bell. Reg Watson created Max as one of the serial's twelve original characters. New Zealand actor Bell had wanted to appear in a major role in a long-running series for a while when he was cast as the head of the Ramsay family. He liked the serial's focus on ordinary people, and the comedy and drama of everyday life. Bell made his debut as Max in the show's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985. Max is portrayed as a rough, domineering, hard-headed man who makes sure his feelings are known. He has good intentions but is unsure of himself beneath his tough façade. Max is proud Ramsay Street was named after his grandfather, whose traditions he strives to uphold. Max is a self-employed plumber; Bell said he had wanted to play a working-class Australian because he came from a similar background.
Bouncer is a Labrador Retriever featured on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 February 1987 and he exited the series on 12 February 1993 after six years. He was played by Bouncer throughout his duration on the show and he was trained by Luke Hura.
The Ramsay family is a fictional family from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The family were one of three central families created by Reg Watson and introduced in the first episode of Neighbours in March 1985. Watson wanted the Ramsays to be humorous and rougher than the Robinson family. Ramsay Street, a cul-de-sac which is the central setting of the series, is named after the family. In 2001, the last Ramsay, Madge, departed the series. Eight years later, a new generation of the Ramsay family was introduced.
"Episode 523" is the 523rd episode of the Australian soap opera Neighbours. It premiered on Network Ten on 1 July 1987. The episode was written by Ray Harding, directed by Rod Hardy, and executively produced by the serial's creator Reg Watson. Episode 523 focuses on the wedding of popular couple Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell. The storyline was devised by the producers after some viewers became outraged by the idea of an unwed couple moving in together. They also believed that the wedding would be "the perfect climax" to the character's long-running relationship and an instant ratings hit.
"Neighbours: The Finale" comprises the 8901st, 8902nd and 8903rd episodes of the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. It premiered on 28 July 2022 on both Network 10 and 10 Peach in Australia, and on 29 July on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom. It was conceived as the end of the serial, after it was cancelled due to the loss of its UK broadcaster and failure to find an alternative buyer, and production ceased after it was filmed. The episodes were written by Shane Isheev and executive producer Jason Herbison, and directed by Scott Major. Production on Neighbours ended on 10 June. Production and cast had known the show was facing cancellation since 2021 and ideas for a suitable finale were already being planned at that point. In response to the news of the show's potential cancellation becoming public in early 2022, an online petition amassed more than 67,000 signatures to save the show. The petition did not change Channel 5's decision, who maintained that Neighbours remained popular and ending the show was solely a "business decision". Production were then tasked with bringing the show to an end within a few months. Herbison had already envisioned an ideal way to end the series, and Isheev and other writers supported his plans. Herbison did not wish to end the show with excessive finality, such as in the destruction of the primary location of Ramsay Street, and opted for a celebratory theme that acknowledged the show's history.