.
News Headlines

MediaGuardian reports that Neighbours won its evening timeslot on Monday, despite competition from the returning Paul O'Grady Show on Channel Four. The victory was only small, however, with Neighbours receiving 2.6 million viewers, to Paul's 2.5 million. Also in the same timeslot, The Weakest Link achieved 2.3 million, while The Sharon Osbourne Show continued to trail behind, with only 1.2 million viewers.

Another, slightly more unlikely, cameo is on the cards, according to the UK's Sunday Mirror newspaper, in the form of David Beckham and his wife, Victoria. The report claims that the producers are hoping for an appearance from the famous footballer and his singing wife when the show films in London and Madrid later this year. So far, they're only considering the offer.

2006 has already seen cameo appearances from Rove McManus, Shane Warne and Brodie Holland, and the trend looks set to continue into 2007. Fiona Byrne's column in the Sunday Herald Sun reports that Australian Idol presenter Andrew G will film a cameo this week, to be broadcast at the beginning of next year.

According to BBC Entertainment News, former Neighbour Anne Charleston (Madge Bishop) is joining the cast of Emmerdale in the role of Lily, sister to current character Edna Birch. Lily will descend on Emmerdale village for a family funeral and is only intended to stick around for three episodes, though the character may be brought back for a longer spell if successful. Anne is said to be "over the moon" with the new role.

Alan Fletcher and his band Waiting Room are back in the UK in November and December for another tour. The dates and venues are:

* PA denotes: Personal Appearance by Alan - No Band

Sat 25th November - Essex University - Open Door - Tickets on sale

Mon 27th November - Hull University - Open Door

Tues 28th November - Belfast - Open Door

Thurs 30th November - Edinburgh University - Info Coming

Fri 1st December - Strathclyde Uni, Glasgow - Open Door - On Sale NOW

Sat 2nd December - Newcastle University - over 14's only. Tickets cost £14 in advance. They are on sale now from http://www.ticketline.co.uk or over the phone on 0191-233 - 0444

Sun 3rd December - Edge Hill, Liverpool (PA*)- Closed Door

Mon 4th December - Liverpool John Moores (PA*)- Closed Door

Tues 5th December - Birmingham Guild of Students - Closed Door

Weds 6th December - Event 2, Brighton - Open Door

Thurs 7th December - Wales to be confirmed (PA*)

Thurs 7th December – Bristol University (PA*) – Info Coming

Sat 9th December - Aberystwyth - Closed Door

Wed 13th December - Swansea University - Info coming

Thur 14th December - Bath University - Info coming

Fri 15th December - UHSU, Hatfield - Closed Door

Read our review on a previous Waiting Room tour here; our interview with the band here; and our interview with Alan here.

According to MediaGuardian, Neighbours has seen off new competition for its early evening slot, from The Sharon Osbourne Show. The first time the programmes went head-to-head, on Tuesday, saw Neighbours win its time slot, with 2.4 million viewers, to Sharon’s 1.9 million.

Meanwhile, Broadcast News has reported new plans by five to steal Neighbours from the BBC when bidding for the show opens up next year. The BBC contract runs out in 2008 and five are keen to replace Family Affairs, their own soap which was axed last year, in the 6.30pm slot. The BBC, however, are thought to be keen to keep a tight grip on one of their most popular shows. Plans are already in motion to show episodes “a day ahead” from next April on BBC Three.

And finally, Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) has reported on his own site that plans are underway for a third series of Neighbours Revealed. The previous two series’ were broadcast towards the end of 2000 and 2001 but, after a six-year gap, another series should be ready to show next Spring.

Further to recent news about the departures of Janet Andrewartha (Lyn Scully) and Stephanie McIntosh (Sky Mangel), it seems that another Neighbour is set to depart. The Herald Sun reports that Dichen Lachman (Katya Kinski) will not have her contract renewed and will finish filming in the next few weeks. Dichen, who joined the cast in late 2005 as the eldest Kinski sibling, will make her final appearance on our screens in early 2007.

Former Neighbour Anne Charleston (Madge Bishop) will be appearing on stage at Dublin’s Mill Theatre in the play The Matchmaker in late October.

Another former Neighbour, Talia Zucker (Erin Perry) is currently appearing at Melbourne’s La Mama Theatre in the play Lunatic Park, until September 3rd.

More details on both plays are available on our Neighbourhood Watch page.

Meanwhile, new Australian series Tripping Over, featuring ex-Neighbours Brooke Satchwell (Anne Wilkinson) and Daniel MacPherson (Joel Samuels), will be screened on the UK channel five this Autumn, according to The Sun.

Fiona Byrne’s column in the Sunday Herald Sun has revealed that Janet Andrewartha is set to leave her role as Lyn Scully after seven years. She will reportedly film her final scenes on Wednesday, before immediately heading out to the Edinburgh festival where she will be directing a production. Her last episodes will air at the end of 2006 in Australia and early 2007 in the UK.

Meanwhile, Inside Soap magazine reports that Stephanie McIntosh is also likely to be leaving her role of Sky Mangel when her current contract runs out next April. Like her half-brother Jason Donovan (Scott Robinson), Stephanie hopes to concentrate on her musical career after her departure, which would have seen her on our screens for four years.

Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), appearing on the UK’s 101.8 DeltaFM last week, confirmed that he would be in the UK to film for Neighbours later this year. He and Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kinski) will film several scenes in the country, with rumours that Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Izzy Hoyland), who filmed her final scenes as Izzy in June, will also be making a cameo appearance.

The Australia-wide search for new Neighbours talent, as part of a competition in Dolly magazine, has come to an end. Two new young actors, 15-year-old Adelaide Kane and 18-year-old Sam Clark have been chosen from thousands of hopefuls to join the cast on three-month contracts, with filming due to commence later this month. Adelaide will take on the role of Lou’s daughter, Louise, who will return five years after going to live with her biological father, John Allen. Sam will play the part of Ringo, who is the younger brother of Frazer, a new character set to hit Australian screens soon. Both Louise and Ringo will first appear on Australian and UK screens early in 2007.

An official forum is now available for fans of Stephanie McIntosh, who is currently busy juggling her new pop career, as well as starring in Neighbours and her own reality series, The Steph Show. Fans of Steph can access the forum, here.

To view our archive of past news stories click here