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> Top 30 Episodes
As Neighbours aired its 7000th episode, and prepared to mark 30 years on Australian television, we thought it was time to discover which of them were the most popular. We asked you to vote for your top ten Neighbours episodes of the first 7000, putting your favourite as number one and so on. The votes have now been tallied and the results will be revealed one each day. To read a full, illustrated summary of any of the episodes, click on the episode number.
30(-32) (26 Points)
Episode 1000 (1989)
Written by Lois Booton Directed by Steve Mann
 The first of three episodes in joint 30th place is Neighbours' 1000th episode, a big milestone for the show and an example of what many consider to be a true Neighbours episode, focused on family and community, good times contrasted with emotional drama. Set largely at Number 26, as was often the case in the early years being the 'big house' on the street, the Robinsons were hosting an engagement party for Des and Jane which quickly turned into a joint party for Joe and Kerry. Meanwhile Matt, Harold and Madge were all contemplating leaving Ramsay Street whilst Hilary had to swallow her pride and admit to her friends and neighbours that Matt was her son.
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Episode 4292 - Toadie and Dee's Wedding (2003)
Written by Martin McKenna Directed by Jeffrey Walker and Tony Osicka
 When news came in April 2003 that Neighbours had been filming their "biggest storyline ever" at Werribee Mansion in Melbourne's western suburbs, it seemed unlikely for it not to be linked to the departure of Madeleine West, who filmed her final scenes as Dee Bliss the same week. So as the day of Toadie and Dee's Wedding came around and they both spoke about spending the rest of their lives together their dreams of wedded bliss seemed destined to turn into complete disaster. As is always the case in soap, a series of convenient plot twists fell into place as the limo broke down and Stuart kindly loaned them a customer's car from the garage that Connor had been driving to the wedding in to drive themselves to the airport instead of being chauffeured. As the pair, distracted by their love for each other headed off for their honeymoon, Toadie lost control of the car, causing them to crash through a railing (and fly off a conveniently placed ramp) into the ocean. All of this was of course accompanied by the tune "I want to drown right now in a sea of love with you." Dee never emerged from the shallow waters they landed in, but fans still ask to this day when she's going to make an appearance on Toadie's doorstep.
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Episode 6000 (2010)
Written by Pete McTighe Directed by Tony Osicka
 2010 saw Neighbours reach two big milestones in one year, its 25th Anniversary and it's 6000th Episode. To celebrate they decided to push their one remaining original character, Paul Robinson off of Lassiter's new mezzanine terrace. A play on the 'Who Shot JR?' storyline on Dallas, the timeslot and G rating in Australia led to the story being changed to 'Who Pushed PR?' although as a man who had already survived being shot, falling off a cliff and a mid-air bombing, there was little chance of Paul dying. The culprit turned out to be Paul's wife, Rebecca which was revealed in a later flashback. Whilst the flashback left things open to interpretation and few could have blamed Rebecca if she had wanted Paul dead, she later fled the country having tricked Paul into signing an affidavit stating he would not press charges. Paul later tried to woo her back, but given he had since moved in a penthouse apartment with a balcony that probably wasn't the best idea.
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29 (27 Points)
Episode 4836 - The Plane Crash: Part One (2005)
'What Goes Up...'
Written by Peter Mattessi Directed by Chris Adshead
 The beginning of 2005's Plane Crash saga saw the Ramsay Street residents prepare for the 1920s themed Lassiter's Joy Flight to Tasmania. Little did poor Harold know, but when he generously gifted his family tickets on the flight he was sending David, Liljana and Serena to their deaths and had Lil paid more attention to the emptiness at the bottom of David's cup, perhaps they would all still be alive today. Meanwhile, Dylan Timmins found himself in trouble with the Police, whilst Connor O'Neill admitted to Toadie that he stole from Bounce bikini shop. The real drama began after takeoff though as Izzy opened a letter reading "Think about your life - and everything you've done" as a bomb continued to count down...
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28-27 (29 Points)
Episode 7000 (2014)
Written by Peter Mattessi Directed by Chris Langman
 Neighbours' last big milestone before the 30th Anniversary, reaching a 7000th episode is something many shows could only dream of, especially one that was axed after an already impressive 170 episodes. After the high drama of the tornado, Neighbours did what it does best - comedy - with Karl having found an un-scratched scratch card, eventually discovering he'd won $7,000. Of course, being Neighbours things weren't that simple as he lost the card and ended up retracing his steps having visited half of Erinsborough to collect lemons for the lemon curd he planned to make. Finally, Karl found the scratchcard at Number 30 where Toadie was hosting a nude lunch for some clients, so as Karl also stripped off so he could look around he eventually found the card stuck to Toadie's bum. Being Neighbours though, even in the most highly comedic episodes, it also managed to fit in some light drama as Susan struggled with counselling Nate before bringing us back down to earth with a bang as Toadie received an anonymous letter telling him that his wife was not who he thought she was...
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Episode 3110 - Susan Slaps Karl (1998)
Written by John Hanlon Directed by Chris Adshead
 The culmination of a 6 month long storyline which firmly cemented the Kennedys' place in the show as Susan confronted Karl over his affair with Sarah truly deserves its place in the top 30. Juxtaposed against the happiness of the wedding reception of Phil and Ruth, the Kennedy marriage was torn apart as Susan dealt with Billy's revelation in the previous episode that he thought his dad was having an affair with Sarah. The episode not only gave future US star, Jesse Spencer, a chance to shine as he confronted his Dad over his lies, it also gave Ryan Moloney a chance to show that he could handle drama as well as comedy as he faced Sarah and struggled to stay neutral, before deciding to support his second mum. The real stars of the episode were of course Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher, who after three years of on-screen marriage delivered a truly emotional performance that we have now come to expect from them and created one of Neighbours' most iconic moments as Susan slapped Karl, in tears because her own son had to tell her that her husband had been cheating on her. But as Karl insisted it was just one kiss, six months previous, fans suspected it was more, with Karl and Sarah having stayed in a motel the night before, and it wasn't until 2013 that Karl finally admitted the truth, that they had slept together, only for Susan to reveal that part of her had known all along.
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26 (32 Points)
Episode 5000 (2006)
'Five Thousand And Counting'
Written by Linda Stainton Directed by Tony Osicka
 Having now surpassed 7000 episodes, 5000 seems quite inconsequential, although it also marked 1000 blocks (a block being a set of 5 episodes) of Neighbours. As Robertprepared his grand finale, by drugging Paul and tying him up in an old mineshaft whilst having listened to Katya's story that she believed Robert had framed Cameron for his actions, Gail, Izzy and Elle went off in search of Paul and Robert. Meanwhile Karl and Susan struggled to hide their reunion from Zeke, whilst Karl continued to feel pushed out of Oodles 'O' Noodles by Justine. As Harold came around to the idea of Sky being pregnant, becoming a Great-Grandfather after all he'd lost, he left Janelle stunned as he revealed she was about to become a Grandmother. As Paul began to realise what Robert was up to, he cried for help as he was left for dead as Robert tied a rope between the mine's support post and his car and began to collapse the mineshaft.
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25 (33 Points)
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