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News Headlines

Neighbours is once again launching its Scriptwriter Training Initiative, with FremantleMedia joining forces with the Australian Writers Guild to offer two writers a place on the Neighbours writing team for six weeks as trainee storyliners. Past recipients include current Story Editor Eloise Healey and current Storyliner Elliott Devine. The two successful applicants will also receive $5000.

To apply, you must provide a story idea for Neighbours, using current characters, and although you need not have previous experience in performance writing, you must be a member of the Australian Writers Guild. Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 16th October 2009. For full guidelines and to download an application, visit www.awg.com.au.

Nominations have been announced for this year's National Television Awards, with Neighbours featuring in two categories - Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson) is listed for Serial Drama Performance, while Neighbours itself is listed in the Serial Drama category. Voting is open until 30th September 2009 and can be completed online or via a form picked up at WHSmith stores. The ceremony will take place at the O2 Arena on 20th January 2010.

Dates have been announced for Alan Fletcher's (Karl Kennedy) upcoming UK tour, supported by UK band The X-Rays. The tour will kick off in Liverpool on October 2nd. For a full list of dates and venues, as well as how to get tickets, click here.

Caitlin Stasey (Rachel Kinski) has won the lead role in the film adaptation of the novel Tomorrow: When The War Began. Caitlin will begin filming her role as Ellie Linton when production begins in the Hunter Valley later this month.

Meanwhile, Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Izzy Hoyland) and Steve Bastoni (Steve Parker) have been cast in the upcoming third series of Underbelly, which is currently filming. Natalie will also continue with her role as the host of So You Think You Can Dance? Australia when it returns for a third season.

Richard Grieve (Sam Kratz) is currently part of a campaign for planet-friendly farming, filming a music video alongside some singing cows. To watch the video, and for more information about the campaign, click here.

And finally, Erin McNaught who spent six months of last year serving muffins as Sienna Cammeniti, has joined MTV as a guest reporter.

Charlie's bar will be seeing more live performances later in 2009 and into 2010. The Herald Sun reports that singers Ben Lee, Cassie Davis and Korean Indie band The Black Skirts all filmed appearances this week, the latter flying in from Korea especially for the occasion, with scenes apparently centring around Sunny Lee (Hany Lee), who, along with Kate Ramsay (Ashleigh Brewer) and Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie), will be the backing singers for the group.

Neighbours.com also reports that Carl Riseley, Go Set, Sophie Koh, James Henry, Koolism, True Lies and Red Eyes will be appearing in the bar over the coming months.

The Herald Sun reports that Sam Clark (Ringo Brown) will be taking an indefinite break from Neighbours to focus on launching his music career. He'll finish filming in seven weeks, and will be gone for at least three months, though may not return at all. Though he wants to put all his energies into his music, and mentions that he's even turned down chances to sing on the show, he's quoted as saying that "I'm never going to escape from the fact I was on Neighbours, I've loved my time on the show - I still do."

Ringo will leave Australian screens, possibly for the last time, in March 2010.

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