Post by Cornwallgirl on Jun 24, 2007 13:44:39 GMT 1
Inside Soap Neighbours Extra!
Neighbours may currently be off air for two weeks to make way for the BBC's annual coverage of Wimbledon, but exciting things are happening on the set Down Under. Not only is the soap indergoing the biggest re-vamp in its 22-year history, but the cast and crew are buzzing with the news that Five has poached the UK screening rights from the Beeb for a rumoured £300 million. As one of the shows best-loved stars, actor Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) is well qualified to talk about the impact of the historic channel switch due to take place next March. So Inside Soap asked him the questions we all want answers to . . .
Hi there, Ian. How do feel about Neighbours moving from the BBC after more than two decades?
We've been with the Beeb since the beginning, so finding out that we're leaving is a bit like discovering that you mother's not your mother! I'am sad, as we've had such a good run with them. The people we've dealt with have been real ladies and gentlemen, and have always treated us so swell. However, I'm sure that Five will be equally warm and welcoming, so it's a very exciting time all round for us.
And what about the much-publicised £300 million that Five reportedly stumped up? Was it really that much?
It's little wonder the Beeb couldn't keep up! It's hard to know what to say. I suppose Five thought to themselves, 'Instead of starting something new, why not stick to the street we love?'. They're giving the audience something warm and familiar.
By the time Neighbours moves to Five in Spring next year, the show will have undergone a massive revamp. Do you feel it's been in the doldrums recently?
Like every long-running show, things go down a hole every now and then, and we've been done a hole. Storylining is the hardest job in the world - I know, because I've been there myself, working in that capacity on various programmes. The most common problem is when writers say: "We can't do anymore with this character - let's get someone else." So they bring in new people, and before long, the cast grows so big that the audience gets bewildered. I became confused for a while myself! Now the producers have realised what's wrong and said, "Let's fix it".
What will we see in the coming months?
Neighbours is essentially about families, and that's what we're going back to. The changes are happening in every department. It's a fun time to be on the show, and I'm really enjoying coming into work again.
How do you feel about the show's move to shooting in High Definition, giving it a film-like look similar to that of the other big Aussie soap, Home and Away?
I'm not great with technology, but I do see that advantages - eveything looks prettier! Having said that, I've always believed that If the scripts are good, it doesn't matter if you shoot in black and white. People will watch.
It's also a time of change for Harold, not least because he'll be without a family around him again once his granddaughter, Sky Mangel, leaved Ramsay-Street later this year.
I like to think Stephanie McIntosh [Sky] and I created a little bit of magic together on screen - and I hope that's not just my ego talking. I guess Ian Smith feels the same way as Harold does when it comes to the old boy's family members leaving. It's sad that you no longer have that tie.
What about the decision to axe the Timmins family? It seemed to upset alot of loyal fans, even while it was welcomed by some others.
I think it was a huge mistake to get rid of them - I was in love with every single one. Fortunatly, 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 guarenteed of having a child like her in real life, I might have considered it.
Respected Aussie actors Steve Bastoni and Nicki Coghill have just started work on the show as Mum and Dad to the Parker caln, who'll arrive on screen in Australia later this year. How are they settling in?
It's great to have two actors with such great experience on the show. We make fun of them, because they're still at the stage where they sit down and analyse every word in the script. What happens over time is that an automatic way of doing things kicks in. I like to think back to when Anne Charleston was in Neighbours as Harold's wife, Madge - I could look at a script and know exactly how she'd play a scene without even thinking.
Are you still in contact with Anne?
Oh yes, we're very much in touch. She was in Australia briefly a few weeks back, but sadly we missed each other. I'm hoping I'll get to see her in Emmerdale when I'm in the UK doing panto at Christmas.
Finally, we hear you might be the latest soapie to hit the charts! What's the story?
Well, I've recorded a song called I Am Not A Pop Star, and we're just about to finish the music video. Of course, it's not meant to be taken seriously - it's a gag, and I hope people have a good laugh. They actually wanted me to record an album and I said no. Imagine that when you think about how many kids would kill to make an album!
Inside Soap, 23-29 June 2007
By Jason Herbison
Page 50-51
