Over a 40-year period Ramsay Street has become a very special place indeed. Each of the six houses situated in one of the world's most famous cul-de-sacs has brought us characters and storylines and comedy and memories which will linger long in our minds, an incredible legacy for a show that had been on shaky ground even in its very first year and yet has continued to power through mini-crisis after mini-crisis. It really felt like it could go on forever, continuing to battle through a television landscape which has changed significantly in the decades Neighbours has been on screen. If this really is the final curtain, then what a way to bring the house down, with recent storylines and returnees continuing to burn the fire in a show that refuses to go down without a fight. Although filming has now concluded on Neighbours most recent revival and Pin Oak Court has once again reverted to a quiet suburban Melbourne street, the memories will remain, the ghosts of the past and the characters we remember and cherish continuing to hold a place in our hearts.

"Now listen - what are you going to do about them bloody neighbours of yours?" So said Max Ramsay in the very first episode, his impatience at the raucous bachelor party at no. 28 lending itself to one of my very favourite one-liners, as he implored Jim to do something about the noise next door. I loved Max Ramsay, such a legendary character who you could instantly sympathise with, despite all his flaws. He always tried to do the very best for his family but ended up making things a whole lot worse, his forceful and rather bullying behaviour straining not only his relationship with sons Danny and Shane but creating irreversible cracks in his relationship with his wife Maria. His brutish and rather uncompromising behaviour mellowed as time passed, becoming a little bit more light-hearted as he formed a lovely bromance with his son Danny as they waged war against Gorilla man Clive, a re-forming of a father-son relationship which had never been close. Unfortunately, Max made a sudden departure from Erinsborough a little more than a year into Neighbours' run, with another Ramsay sibling, Tom, hastily drafted in to take his place.

Thankfully we did have a couple of stalwart characters who remained with the show for a longer period, Helen Daniels and Jim Robinson, iconic names from yesteryear who still live long in the memory today. Although Jim was slightly mellower than Max, his parenting style was ironically rather similar. He would often become exasperated and impatient with the antics of his children, from Julie's constant meddling to Scott's problems with Kim, whilst also trying to battle the hardship of raising his children without his wife. Despite being surrounded by the love of his children and with Helen constantly offering him sage advice, Jim still seemed lonely, never quite being able to find that something that he was striving for, although he did thankfully find some short-lived happiness with Beverly. His death was both brutal and heartbreaking, but his legacy as the father figure of the Robinson household was never in question, with his words of wisdom still echoing through as he tried to correct his son Paul's wayward path through life.

And what can you say about Helen Daniels. Legend doesn't quite do justice to such an important character, whose slow demise and subsequent death really brought the curtain down on the first twelve years of the show. It really felt like an era had ended. Not only was she a constant support to Jim and his children, but she formed many important friendships over the years, offering a friendly ear to Maria as she contemplated leaving Max and becoming a key confidant for Madge as she mourned the disappearance of Harold at sea. After Paul and Lucy's respective departures and Jim's difficult divorce from Beverly, no. 26 started to feel a little bit empty for Helen, so it was a blessing to see the return of Julie and Phil, with children Hannah and Debbie in tow, to bring light back into her life. She became a great support to Phil after Julie's tragic death, helping him deal with his grief, but the devastation and shockwaves of Jim's death reverberated through the last few years of Helen's life as she battled an ongoing depression and various mental health issues. It was quite fitting that Helen, feeling weak and tired as she returned to no. 26. managed to tamper down the ongoing Ramsay/Robinson feud that had been festering for a while, managing to reunite the respective families as they re-watched Scott and Charlene's wedding video. It was here that she took her last breath, peacefully passing away surrounded by those she loved.