.
News Headlines

Fans of Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kinski) and Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) in the UK should keep their eyes peeled over the next week, as the pair are currently in the country to attend the National Television Awards. They'll be doing some publicity for Neighbours during their time here, including:
five news, 11.30am on Monday 30th October
The Paul Coyne Breakfast Show on Capital Gold, 5-5.30pm on Monday 30th October - available on Sky Digital Channel 0121
BBC Breakfast, around 8.30am on Thursday 2nd November
BBC Radio One, around 12 noon on Thursday 2nd November
Iain Lee on LBC 97.3, around 4pm on Thursday 2nd November - only available in London area, or on Sky Digital channel 0177
The Jono Coleman and Jo Breakfast Show on BBC London, 8.30am on Friday 3rd November
The Fred Macauley Show on BBC Scotland, 9.45am on Friday 3rd November - available on Sky Digital Channel 0116
TMI, BBC Two, from 9am on Saturday 4th November
Jackie and Alan will also be making (currently unscheduled) appearances on Channel 4's T4, on Delta FM and Unique FM and will be interviewed in the following publications: TV Easy, TV Times, What's On TV, TV Hits, The Daily Record, TV Quick, TV Choice, Closer, The Sun TV magazine. (please note that all of these appearances are subject to last-minute changes)

It may be more than 18 months since it celebrated the milestone in Australia, but today marks the 20th anniversary of Neighbours' first showing in the UK. Why not take the opportunity to look back on some of those 20th anniversary celebrations from last year?

One final reminder about voting for the 50 Greatest Neighbours. Voting closes next Tuesday at midnight, so there are still a few days to put in your vote if you haven't already. The countdown will then begin on Saturday 25th November.

Fiona Byrne's column in the Sunday Herald Sun brings us news of another Timmins departure this week. Following last week's report that Damien Bodie is quitting his role as Dylan Timmins, it now seems that Ben Nicholas (Stingray Timmins) will also be leaving. Both actors will finish filming in November, only a week apart, meaning that their final scenes will be screened in mid-2007. And with both of their characters so heavily involved with Stephanie McIntosh's character, Sky Mangel, the news only adds more fuel to the rumours that she will leave when her contract expires next April.

As two actors leave, there will be a new face in Ramsay Street in the form of David Hoflin. David has been drafted in to play a new character, replacing Christian Clark, who recently departed from his role as Will Griggs after only 12 weeks of filming.

The Sun newspaper has revealed more information on the upcoming Neighbours trip to London, thanks to a chat with Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy). Alan, along with Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kinski) and Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Izzy Hoyland) will be filming six special episodes in London. They will arrive in the UK on October 28th for a week of special promotional appearances, including a trip to the National Television Awards, before filming begins a week later, possibly in and around many famous London landmarks. Alan also reports that we should look out for a few "high profile cameos from British celebrities". The episodes will air around April 2007 in Australia, and in the UK a few months later.

Former Neighbours actor Ben Geurens (Toby Mangel) is set to join the cast of Home and Away from early 2007 in the role of rookie cop Ash Nader. Signing up ex-Neighbours seems to be something of a trend amongst the other soaps this year, with Simon Gleeson (Max Crawford) having just finished up his EastEnders role as Sid, Elaine Smith (Daphne Clarke) having a one-episode appearance on Home and Away earlier this year, and Anne Charleston (Madge Bishop) set to appear in three episodes of Emmerdale next month.

The shortlists have been revealed for this year's National Television Awards and Neighbours is once on the list for the Most Popular Daytime Programme award, against such popular shows as Deal Or No Deal and This Morning. Voting closes in two weeks, on Tuesday 31st October - the night of the awards - and you can visit the website to vote.

The Sunday Herald Sun is reporting that Damien Bodie is set to leave his role as Dylan Timmins. Damien has played hot-headed Dylan since early 2005 and is the latest in a string of cast departures, following Janet Andrewartha (Lyn), Dichen Lachman (Katya) and Christian Clark (Will). No other details are currently available, but with rumours that Stephanie McIntosh (Sky Mangel) is set to leave early next year, could a reunion be on the cards for the young couple before they leave town together?

Look out on the The Soap Show for an interview with Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi) from today. Also coming later in October will be an interview with former Neighbours actress Maggie Dence (Dorothy Burke).

MediaGuardian reports that Neighbours will soon be getting a third daily showing on BBC Three. After the episode airs in its usual 1.40pm and 5.35pm slots on BBC One, it will then be shown that evening on Three. To launch the new, extra showing, which is planned to begin within the next six months, Grundy intend to make several one-off episodes, which "are expected to include the back-story on key characters and extended storylines that complement the regular episodes." This latest news seems to confirm that the BBC is keen to hold on to one of its most popular shows, after recent reports indicated that Five had shown some interest in poaching it away.

He hasn't even made his first appearance on Australian screens yet, let alone those in the UK, but Christian Clark has quit his role as Will Griggs after only 3 months of filming. AdelaideNow reports that the actor "decided to leave the program and the producers have supported his decision". Christian will first appear on Australian screens on October 12th, and UK viewers will be able to see him, along with Natalie Saleeba (Rosetta), Nicky Whelan (Pepper) and Ben Lawson (Frazer) as the new residents of 30 Ramsay Street, in the New Year.

Popular Neighbours actress Esme Melville, who has played the recurring role of Rose Belker on the show since 2001, has passed away, aged 87. Esme had been ill for a short time, and died peacefully on Thursday 14th September in Melbourne.

In a career that spanned the best part of sixty years, Esme acted on stage and screen constantly, including stints on Neighbours in the 1980s and 1990s, and had just completed filming on a new film with Eric Bana called Romulus, My Father and an episode of the Real Stories comedy series. Esme's final appearance on Neighbours was back in May in Episode 4968.

A memorial service will be held for Esme at the Victorian College of the Arts, Federation Hall, Grant St, Southbank this Monday at 3pm.

All of us at The Perfect Blend are remembering Esme with much fondness and we shall miss Rose dearly.

To view our archive of past news stories click here