Ian Smith, the actor who plays Harold Bishop in Australian soap opera, Neighbours has drastically reduced his hours on the show due to the amount of trouble he is given by youngsters in public.

Smithr said: “The recognition I get can be ugly. They hunt in packs, see me, laugh, point, sometimes chuck lager and shout things like, ‘you great, fat stupid ****’.”

Ian, 69, who has played Harold 21 years, added: “I absolutely hate it and by semi-retiring – just coming back for a stint every four months – I become a bit less recognisable and hopefully less subjected to the horrible abuse I’ve suffered.” Read more & comment »

To mark the move of Australian soap, Neighbours from BBC One, Five have put together this fabulous list of thirty things you didn’t know about Neighbours.

There are some crackers in here!

* On March 18th 1985, new soap Neighbours launched on Australian Channel 7. Despite an incredible opening dream sequence, the show was axed just months later. It was picked up by Network 10 in 1986 and the rest, as they say, is history.

* Erinsborough is an anagram of Neighbours – with an extra o and r.

* Ramsbottom Street was the new name proposed for Ramsay Street – Harold led the fight to prevent it.

* Neighbours has been the step on the road to world stardom for many artistes including: Kylie Minogue; Guy Pearce; Natalie Imbruglia; Alan Dale; Jason Donovan; Kimberley Davies; Craig McLachlan; Holly Valance, Jesse Spencer, Anne Charleston and Delta Goodrem.

* Russell Crowe played Kenny Larkin in several episodes in 1987.

* Hugh Jackman was signed and about to start when he got accepted into WAAPA (the prestigious Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts) so the programme let him go. Read more & comment »

Australian biini model, Imogen Bailey, has been signed up for a role on Aussie soap Neighbours.

The minor celebrity has appeared in afew Australian reality TV shows, but this is her first major acting role.

“Acting is a passion of mine. It has been a slow burn,” Bailey told Adelaide Now. “I have done bits and pieces over the years. When my agent called and said I had the role, I thought he was joking.”

“I had a sexy image and I am proud of my modelling and what I was able to do with my image,” she added. “But I am getting to a point in my life where I am trying to shed that [image] a little bit.”

Neighbours will move from BBC One to Five on the 11th of February.

UK TV channel, Five, is to launch it’s Australian hour next month when it will begin to air Aussie soaps Neighbours and Home And Away back to back.

From 11 February, Neighbours will be seen at 1.45PM and 5.30PM, with Home and Away following at 2.15PM and 6.00PM.

Neighbours is moving from BBC One to Five due to the huge hike in price imposed by shows owner, Freemantle. BBC could no longer justify the cost of the soap, so it was snatched up by Channel Five who previously pulled a similar move on ITV to get Home and Away.

Australian sopa opera, Neighbours is due to move from BBC One to Five later this month, and BBC One have lined up quiz show, The Weakest Link to replace it.

The change in schedule will mean that children’s shows, such as Blue Peter and Newsround will be moved to an earlier time in the afternoon, however a BBC spokesman has insisted that the move would not affect its commitment to showing children’s programming.

“We’re committed to showing 130 minutes of children’s programmes on BBC One,” he said.

Neighbours is moving from its traditional home on BBC One to Five on the 11th of February. I’m sure many of us will find this beyond weird, but I don’t think any of us will stop watching! Neighbours is way too much of a guilty pleasure to give up!

Neighbours longest serving actor, Ian White has revealed his decision to leave Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Ian, who plays Harold Bishop, has announced that he has decided to retire from his 30 year old career in showbiz and take life at a more relaxed pace.

Ian originally left Neighbours in 1991 after Harold went missing at sea, but returned five years later and has played Mr Bishop ever since.

One Neighbours insider called him “the heart and soul” of the programme, saying: “Ian really set the tone of the show, both on the set and behind the scenes.” Read more & comment »

Irish TV channel RTE has secured a long term contract for Australian soap, Neighbours.

The news will be good news for Irish neighbours fans, after BBC lost the show earlier this year.

Dermot Horan, director of broadcast and acquisitions at RTE added: “We are delighted to continue our association with Neighbours and FME and are very much looking forward to an increase in audience as the newly worked episodes come to Ireland. I have seen some of them and they bring a fresh new zest to the series.”

Kym Valentine left Aussie soap opera, Neighbours in 2004 to tour with the hit musical, Dirty Dancing. However she has revealed that she will soon be returning to our screens in the show that made her famous.

“I am hugely loyal to the show and I’m ready to go back and do what I love,” Kym told the Sunday Herald Sun. Read more & comment »

Neighbours actor Ian Smith, who plays fuddy duddy Harold Bishop in the Australian soap opera, has expressed his dismay at the shows producers decision to axe the entire Timmins family.

“I think it was a huge mistake to get rid of them – I was in love with every single one,” Ian told Inside Soap.

“Fortunately, we’re still left with Janae, played by Eliza Taylor-Cotter. If you want an actress who’s going places, look to her. She’s a natural-born comedienne and a lovely person, too. If I could have been guaranteed of having a child like her in real life, I might have considered it.”

The BBC issued a statement about Neighbours at 1.40pm on Friday 18 May 2007.

“‘We have this afternoon formally withdrawn from the bidding for Neighbours.

“The BBC has had a long and fruitful relationship with Neighbours, which has transmitted on BBC One for 21 years, and this has come to an end because of an unrealistic price demand.

“We do not believe that we could have justified to BBC viewers a price tag of what would have amounted to some £300 million across the term of the contract.

“Paying that sum would also have compromised our ability to invest in new original programmes.

“We made a fair offer and are sad that we have not been able to reach terms with Fremantle.”

Reports suggest that the BBC have already selected a soap opera to replace the hugely popular Neighbours which they may be axing after 21 years.

If the BBC lose Neighbours they are rumoured to be replacing it with US teen drama, Falcon Beach.

More than 4000 fans have signed a petition to keep Neighbours and all is not lost, “We are still hopeful we will hold on to Neighbours,” says George McGhee, the BBC director of acquisitions.

More than 4500 people have signed a petition to the BBC begging them to keep Australian Soap Opera, Neighbours

The petition comes in response to an announcement last week that the BBC may axe neighbours as it was becoming too costly per episode and then a follow up announcement saying that ITV was competing for the rights to the soap.

The BBC’s contract with Freemantle Media for Neighbours ends very soon, so expect a decision shortly.

We reported yesterday that the BBC were considering axing Australian soap opera, Neighbours, from their schedule as the price per episode has risen dramatically since they signed their last contract.

It has emerged today that ITV have grasped this opportunity with both hands and have now initiated a bidding war with the BBC over the show.

The BBC currently pays £25,000 per episode of the show and was prepared to pay up to £70,000. But this might not be enough to hold onto the most popular British daytime show, as ITV have thrown a massive bid of £100,000 per episode on the table.

Emma Bunton will star in two epsiodes of Neighbours,as herself, in May this year.

The show filmed two shows in London and also appearing are Julian Clary, Michael Parkinson and Neil Morrissey… as a vicar! Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who formerly played Izzy on the show will also be making her return.

Bassingthwaighte told Whats On TV: “I thought, ‘Am I going to remember how to play Izzy..?’ But it felt quite easy. And I had two of the best actors to work with opposite me. It was a blast.

“Emma Bunton was sweet as pie and she was tiny. Julian was very quiet.”

The episode will screen on BBC One on Thursday, May 24.