KEEPING UP WITH THE KENNEDYS
JACKIE WOODBURNE AND ALAN FLETCHER - 30 YEARS ON RAMSAY STREET
Neighbours turns 40 – iconic Neighbours couple Dr Karl and Susan Kennedy celebrate three decades on Ramsay Street ahead of the soapie’s landmark anniversary celebration.
On the cusp of its 40th anniversary next year, Australia’s beloved soapie, Neighbours is counting down to an ecstatic celebration. Those party whistles will reverberate around the world as its influence on inbound tourism gathers pace with ‘Brand Australia,’ tucking into the birthday cake.
After all, to Neighbours’ passionate UK fans, Melbourne’s fictional Ramsay Street, in Erinsborough, is almost on par with the Sydney Opera House as a famous landmark. Of course, it’s the place where Neighbours become good friends.
Back in `22 when Neighbours was being prematurely killed off just like a soapie hero, the final episode was the highest rating in Australia for a generation. Around 5.5 million people in the UK cumulatively tuned into the finale, which was initially broadcast on July 29.
Tourism Australia immediately hopped in with a 30 second TV commercial, airing on UK’s Channel 5 during the finale. This bespoke ad featured famous Neighbours’ clips alongside breathtaking destination footage of iconic Australian locations.
Susan Coghill, Tourism Australia’s chief marketing officer explained that the ad was “our way of saying goodbye to Neighbours and inviting fans to Come and Say G’Day”.
Executive producer Jason Herbison, who has been described as ‘the heartbeat of Neighbours,’ understands the pull towards Australian tourism.
“I think Neighbours taps into an idealistic idea of what life in Australia is like,” he says. “Time and time again we hear that the Brits love the warmth and the sunshine, which of course is quite different to the reality of a Melbourne winter. But the relationship between Brits and Aussies has always been a ectionate and I think that the popularity of the show links to that.”
Margy Osmond Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Tourism Task Force regards the Neighbours’ juggernaut as a valuable tourism asset.
“The popularity of TV shows and films continues to be a key driver of international tourism to our shores with fans increasingly wanting to experience Australia for themselves,” she says.
And then out of the blue, came the massive plot twist, with the soapie revived by US media giant Amazon.
This sudden change in its fortunes, certainly took the long-standing cast members by surprise.
As far as we were concerned, the show was done and dusted and it was just time to give it a good farewell,” Jackie Woodburne tells Australian Life, during a filming break on the Neighbours’ set where she plays the iconic Susan Kennedy – wife of Dr Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher).
This month, marks Woodburne and Fletcher’s 30th anniversary on Neighbours. They have been married, divorced and then married again. This followed a bout of amnesia (Susan Kennedy slipped on some milk and hit her head, which conveniently eradicated some of Dr Karl’s past transgressions). They’ve also parented three children and there’s been shocking infidelity along the way.
Alan Fletcher, attributes their staying power to their incredible rapport, which even pre-dated Neighbours.
They had initially met and worked together on the set of another iconic TV serial, Cop Shop.
“Jackie played my sister,” says Fletcher.
“Fletch was my overly protective brother and we had enormous fun working together,” Woodburne recalls.
It’s this chemistry which is evident on the Neighbours’ set. Before she joined the show, Woodburne received a call right out of the blue.
“Alan being Alan, we hadn’t spoken for a while but he rang up and pretended to be a journalist asking me about my new role,” Woodburne continues. “There were some very inappropriate questions.”
“I did ask her how she felt to be working with the legendary Alan Fletcher?” he admits.
“I fell for it as I was a little bit like a deer in the headlights with this unexpected call,” she laughs.
And those 30 years of battling through various dramas in Erinsborough, well, they’ve just flown by.
“An actor being employed anywhere for 30 years is a rarity but the fun we have is second to none,” Fletch points out. He says that something very special takes place on set.
“No matter what is going on in our lives outside of the show, as soon as we walk into this building, surrounded by so many boisterous and fun people, everything changes,” he explains. “It’s like being in a parallel universe where the stress of daily life does not exist.”
The couple thrive on the challenges that their onscreen marriage presents.
“One day, we’ll be doing a huge emotional scene where we’re sobbing and then later that same day, there may be some comedy moments,” Fletch remarks. “The variety of work is also extraordinary. It’s a sitcom and a hospital drama, plus much more.”
All this has resulted in a massive fan base for Neighbours, which is shared on social media platforms.
“We’re very connected to the fans and they’re very connected to us,” Fletcher explains.
Six cast members embarked on the Neighbours Farewell Tour last year in the UK. But it was swiftly transformed into a celebration after `Amazon’ stepped in with a life raft.
“That tour was one of the most extraordinary things that I have ever done,” Alan Fletcher says. “We mingled with 250 people every day at a Meet & Greet before the show. Many told us what Neighbours meant to them. For some, it was profoundly important,” he says.
“We’re not just a little Australian soapie but a massive and important part of their lives. They were devastated when it ended, so when it was announced that the show was coming back, it mattered, it truly mattered,” he says, sounding a little emotional himself now.
At least 40,000 people had bought tickets for the sell-out Farewell Tour, which included 15 shows. Next year, they’ll return to do it all over again to mark Neighbours’ 40th anniversary.
In the meantime, there’s a new fan base in the USA where 9 Neighbours was recently nominated in the best Daytime Drama category at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards – the first Australian drama to be nominated in this important category.
“We’ve had a wonderful response from our new viewers in the US,” says Jason Herbison. “The most common response is that people expect it to be like a US daytime soap, when the pace is actually much faster and the production value higher.”
No doubt many of this new USA fan base will also tune into that 40th anniversary episode next year to see how it will unfold.
“Recent milestones have tipped into nostalgia, however the 40th will be a bit different. There are nods to the past but it’s very forward-looking too. The stories will set us up for weeks and months to come,” Herbison explains.
“That’s right, we have absolutely no idea what will happen next,” Alan Fletcher says agreeably. “With Neighbours anything is possible.”
