Neighbours spin-offs
| Company type | Television franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Media |
| Founded | March 18, 1985 |
| Founder | Reg Watson |
Area served | Australia, United Kingdom |
| Products | Television series, novels, music albums, DVDs, webisodes, merchandise |
| Website | tenplay |
Neighbours is a longstanding Australian soap opera created by executive producer Reg Watson. It premiered on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985 and is presently shown on the digital channel 10 Peach. The brand has grown to include various spin-offs such as novels, music albums, DVDs, and webisodes. Notably, pulp fiction author Carl Ruhen penned multiple tie-in novels during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Music releases tied to the series began with Barry Crocker's rendition of the theme song and later expanded to feature a Christmas album and a romantic theme. Two television spin-offs reached pilot production, and five DVD collections containing early episodes have been made available. In 2013, Neighbours introduced its initial webisode series titled Steph in Prison, followed by further web-based episodes. Additional merchandise offerings comprise official videos, board games, stationery, and apparel.
Books
A range of both fictional and non-fictional books centered on Neighbours and its characters have been published over time. During the 1980s, Carl Ruhen authored nine tie-in novels. In 2005, four novellas inspired by characters from the show were released, distributed through Australia Post outlets and online platforms. These novellas explored life after Ramsay Street for key figures such as Felicity, Michelle Scully, Libby Kennedy, Darren Stark, Jack Scully, and Nina Tucker. The fourth novella delved into the early romance between Liljana and David Bishop. According to a spokesperson, these publications provide a fantastical continuation of the series' narratives.
Fiction
| Title | Author | Year | Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours: 1 | Carl Ruhen | 1987 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-1-85018-045-6 |
| Neighbours: 2 | Carl Ruhen | 1987 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32149-7 |
| Neighbours: 3 | Carl Ruhen | 1988 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32201-2 |
| Neighbours: 4 | Carl Ruhen | 1988 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32284-5 |
| Neighbours: 5 | Carl Ruhen | 1988 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32285-2 |
| Neighbours: 6 | Carl Ruhen | 1988 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32379-8 |
| Neighbours: 7 | Carl Ruhen | 1988 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32384-2 |
| Neighbours: 8 | Carl Ruhen | 1989 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32424-5 |
| Neighbours: 9 | Carl Ruhen | 1989 | Horwitz Grahame | ISBN 978-0-352-32587-7 |
| Neighbours: The Ramsays – A Family Divided | Valda Marshall and Ray Kolle | 1989 | Mandarin | ISBN 978-0-7493-0055-5 |
| Neighbours: The Robinsons – A Family in Crisis | Valda Marshall | 1989 | Mandarin | ISBN 978-0-7493-0056-2 |
| Facing Tomorrow | Ray Kolle | 2005 | Funtastic Publishing | ISBN 978-1-74150-848-2 |
| Rising Star | Sarah Mayberry | 2005 | Funtastic Publishing | ISBN 978-1-74150-851-2 |
| Sisters In The City | Sarah Mayberry | 2005 | Funtastic Publishing | ISBN 978-1-74150-850-5 |
| Summer Harvest | Sarah Mayberry | 2005 | Funtastic Publishing | ISBN 978-1-74150-849-9 |
Non-fiction
| Title | Author(s) | Publication Year | Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours Annual 1989 | Brenda Apsley, Clive Hopwood, Neil Pemberton | 1988 | World International Publishing | 978-0-7235-6841-4 |
| Neighbours: Behind the Scenes | James Oram | 1988 | Angus & Robertson | 978-0-207-16075-2 |
| Neighbours | John Kercher | 1989 | Grandreams Books Limited | 978-0-86227-672-0 |
| Neighbours Annual 1990 | Clive Hopwood | 1989 | World International Publishing | 978-0-7235-6859-9 |
| The Neighbours Factfile | Neil Wallis, Dave Hogan | 1989 | Angus & Robertson | 978-0-207-16382-1 |
| Neighbours Annual 1991 | Nicola Furlong, John McCready | 1990 | Hamlyn | 978-0-600-57045-5 |
| Neighbours: The Playscripts | Alan Hopgood | 1990 | Heinemann | 978-0-85859-556-9 |
| Neighbours Special | Clive Hopwood | 1990 | World International Publishing | 978-0-7235-6895-7 |
| Neighbours Special | Kesta Desmond | 1990 | Grandreams Books Limited | 978-0-86227-775-8 |
| Neighbours Annual 1992 | Ian Morrison | 1991 | Hamlyn | 978-0-600-57311-1 |
| The Neighbours Programme Guide | Josephine Monroe | 1994 | Virgin Books | 978-0-86369-831-6 |
| Neighbours: The First 10 Years | Josephine Monroe | 1996 | Penguin Group | 978-0-7181-4212-4 |
| Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street | Tony Johnston | 2005 | News Custom Publishing | 978-1-876176-78-5 |
Home media
Since 1989, episodes of Neighbours have been made available on VHS and DVD formats. In Germany, three DVD collections showcasing early episodes were introduced in 2012. Beginning in April of the same year, Shock Entertainment commenced releasing DVDs sequentially according to the original broadcast order starting from the series premiere. By October 2014, five DVD box sets had been distributed.
VHS
| Title | Release Year | Distributor | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Neighbours Wedding Collection | 1989 | BBC Video | Features episodes numbered 295, 523, and 724. |
| Neighbours: The Scott & Charlene Love Story | 1989 | Virgin Video | A feature-length compilation centered on Charlene Robinson and Scott Robinson. |
| Neighbours: How It All Began | 1990 | Virgin Video | Includes the initial four episodes. |
| The Official Neighbours Special: The First Ten Years | 1995 | Game Entertainment | A montage of significant moments coupled with cast interviews. |
DVD
| Title | Number of Episodes | Release Dates | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| Neighbours: Defining Moments | 15 | 22 September 2003 | 2002 | Contains a photo gallery. |
| Neighbours: The Iconic Episodes Volume 1 | 23 | 10 November 2008 | 15 September 2007 | Includes the special for the series' 1000th episode and a photo gallery. |
| Neighbours: The Iconic Episodes Volume 2 | 24 | 1 June 2009 | 18 October 2007 | One disc highlights the character Charlene. |
| Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 1 | 56 | 24 September 2012 | 4 April 2012 | Comprises episodes one through fifty-six. |
| Neighbours: The Charlene Years Volume 1 | 63 | 8 October 2012 | 4 April 2012 | Contains episodes from number two hundred thirty-four to two hundred ninety-seven. |
| Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume 2 | 56 | 25 March 2013 | 7 November2012 | Covers episodes fifty-seven to one hundred twelve. |
|
Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume3|| style="text-align:center;" |56||2013||6 March2013|| Includes episodes one hundred thirteen to one hundred sixty-eight. | ||||
|
Neighbours: From The Beginning Volume4|| style="text-align:center;" |65||2013||5 June2013|| Encompasses episodes one hundred sixty-nine to two hundred thirty-three. | ||||
|
Neighbours30th: The Stars Reunite|| Template:N/A|| style="text-align:center;" |—||1 April2015|| Features an extra one hundred minutes of footage. | ||||
Internet
The official online presence of Neighbours is hosted on Tenplay, the digital hub for Network Ten and its affiliated channels One and Eleven. This platform provides detailed cast and character profiles, news updates, interviews, photo galleries, and a catch-up viewing service. In the United Kingdom, Channel 5 launched Holy Soap in June 2010 as the designated UK website for Neighbours and Home and Away, featuring cast biographies, interviews, and full episode access. After Holy Soap ceased operations, Neighbours content was transferred to channel5.com.
In 2009, Neighbours became a pioneer among Australian television series by creating Twitter profiles for four characters—Declan Napier, Donna Freedman, Ringo Brown, and Zeke Kinski—to deliver daily updates that paralleled the broadcast storylines. FremantleMedia Enterprises regarded this initiative as an effective strategy to engage audiences by integrating digital media with narrative production.
December 2012 introduced Amber's Blog on the official website, where the character Amber Turner chronicled her family's relocation to Erinsborough. Subsequently, Sheila's Recap, narrated by Sheila Canning, provided weekly summaries of key events.
In 2014, the show enhanced viewer interaction by displaying Twitter prompts during commercial breaks to stimulate audience participation. To mark its 30th anniversary in March 2015, Channel 5 released a webisode titled Harold Bishop: The Musical. Additional digital-exclusive scenes have continued to foster audience engagement.
The online series Neighbourshood, launched in March 2016 and hosted by former cast member Ben Nicholas, delivered behind-the-scenes content including interviews and spoilers; a second season followed in 2017.
Steph in Prison
Coinciding with Stephanie Scully’s (Carla Bonner) comeback in April 2013, six webisodes depicted Steph’s therapy sessions prior to her release. Directed by former actor Scott Major, this series offered an introspective look into her psychological state.
Brennan on the Run
Ahead of Mark Brennan’s (Scott McGregor) 2014 return, this interactive webisode series explored his storyline involving witness protection. Viewers could influence plot developments through choose-your-own-adventure style episodes filmed using a Red Scarlet camera to achieve a distinctive visual aesthetic. Characters introduced in the spin-off, such as Sienna Matthews, were later incorporated into the main narrative. The series was screened at the Raindance Web Fest.
Neighbours vs Zombies
Announced in March 2014, this five-part zombie-themed web series featured both former and current cast members in a darker tone distinct from the primary show. Returning actors included Dan Paris as Drew Kirk and others like Ben Nicholas. Released on YouTube, it garnered positive feedback for its inventive genre crossover storytelling.
Hey Piper
Prior to Piper Willis’ debut in September 2015, webisodes portrayed her video calls with family members, enriching her backstory and deepening audience connection.
Xanthe ♥ Ben
This Instagram-based series consisting of 20 episodes in April 2016 centered on the relationship between Xanthe Canning and Ben Kirk before and after a hotel explosion, utilizing social media platforms for innovative narrative delivery.
Pipe Up
Running weekly from August 2016 through April 2018, this web series featured Piper Willis discussing challenges faced each week and included guest appearances from other characters such as Imogen Willis’ unexpected return filmed in London.
Road Trip
September 2016 webisodes introduced brothers David and Leo Tanaka during their journey toward Erinsborough, highlighting their relationship dynamics prior to joining the main storyline.
Summer Stories
Airing over Christmas 2016 as brief episodes bridging the primary show’s seasonal break, this series focused on multiple character arcs including romantic tensions and holiday preparations.
Mrs Robinson
A four-part web series explored Paul Robinson’s (Stefan Dennis) engagement to Courtney Grixti (Emma Lane), filmed on location at Heron Island in Queensland. This format allowed for fresh storytelling opportunities outside the constraints of the main show.
Neighbours vs Time Travel
Released around Halloween 2017, this five-part web series featured Paul Robinson traveling back to 1985, altering established plotlines with notable returns including Robert Robinson alongside other legacy characters.
SheilaTV
Launched in December 2018 following the milestone of the show’s 8000th episode, this series starred Colette Mann and Geoff Paine as Sheila Canning and Clive Gibbons responding to anonymous questions as part of Sheila’s media studies project.
Sheila & Clive
A five-episode video call-based series from November 2019 depicted Sheila and Clive managing a temporary long-distance relationship.
Robinson's Roundup
Beginning September 2023 alongside the show's revival, this online video recap series features Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) with other cast members reviewing weekly storylines infused with metatextual humor. Episodes were released weekly across social media channels with a YouTube compilation following season one’s conclusion in September 2024. The finale coincided with production ending in July 2025.
Music
Several music releases have been tied to Neighbours. Barry Crocker’s original theme tune charted modestly in the UK during 1988. Noteworthy songs include Angry Anderson’s power ballad "Suddenly" (1987), which was later covered by Sam Clark for the show’s 25th anniversary. Cast members have also released music linked to their characters: Delta Goodrem’s "Born to Try" reached number one in Australia after featuring on the show; Dean Geyer co-wrote "Unforgettable", performed by his character Ty Harper; Saskia Hampele released "Letting You Know" as Georgia Brooks. Compilation albums such as Neighbours: The Music’’ (2002) and Neighbours: 30 Years’’ (2015) celebrate the program’s musical contributions.
Television
Two spin-off pilots were produced but never commissioned: City Hospital, focusing on Clive Gibbons (Geoff Paine) after 1989; and a sitcom based on Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer), originally titled In Cheryl's Arms.
From 2000 to 2001, BBC broadcast two seasons of Neighbours Revealed, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.
For its thirtieth anniversary in 2015, Network Ten and Channel 5 aired Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, a documentary hosted by Stefan Dennis and Tim Phillipps showcasing reflections from current and former cast members.
In November 2019, a five-episode spin-off named Neighbours: Erinsborough High premiered on My5 and 10Play. It focused on students preparing for final exams while addressing themes such as bullying, mental health issues, sexuality, cultural diversity, parental expectations, and teacher-student relationships. The cast combined established characters like Olivia Junkeer (Yashvi Rebecchi) with newcomers such as Georgie Stone (Mackenzie Hargreaves).
In July 2022, Viacom Studios UK produced two programmes for Channel 5’s finale night: a documentary titled Neighbours Made Me a Star: From Ramsay St to Hollywood, along with a music clip compilation called Neighbours: All the Pop Hits & More, Especially For You, enhancing engagement with the brand’s legacy.
Other merchandise
Merchandise associated with the show includes a board game released in 1988 that allowed players to create storylines using story cards; trading cards; stationery; signed cast photographs; and themed apparel available through Mr Vintage’s online shop.
A licensed video game developed by Zeppelin Games was launched in 1991 for platforms such as ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 where players controlled Scott Robinson skateboarding through various courses.
To commemorate its thirtieth anniversary in 2015, Australia Post issued a limited-edition stamp collection featuring iconic characters including Harold Bishop, Karl Kennedy, Toadfish Rebecchi, Paul Robinson, and Bouncer. This collectible set was distributed nationwide at post offices.
References
- Johnston, Tony. Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing, 2005. ISBN 978-1-876176-78-5
- Mercado, Andrew. Super Aussie Soaps. Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 978-1-86403-191-1
- Monroe, Josephine. The Neighbours Programme Guide. Virgin Books, 1994. ISBN 978-0-86369-831-6