Friday 29 July 2022 10:51 PM 'It's 1988 all over again': UK viewers bask in 'pure nostalgia' of Neighbours ... trends now

UK audiences were flooded with nostalgia during an emotional Neighbours finale which saw Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan make an epic comeback to the soap, joining a host of stars amid Margot Robbie and Holly Valance returning to Ramsay Street for one final time.

The Channel 5 soap first aired in 1985 and has been on screens for 37 years, but in March it was announced the Australian series was being axed after 8,903 episodes with the finale airing in Australia on Thursday and on Friday evening in the UK.

The finale was jam-packed with appearances from long-gone characters as fans were given a nostalgic glimpse through Neighbours' history, with characters tearfully flipping through photo albums, a lingering melancholic piano score and the odd in-joke. 

Although the finale aired in Australia earlier this week, dedicated UK fans had to wait until Friday evening to watch the much-anticipated last ever episode of the soap opera, and viewers were quick to share their emotional reactions to the show. 

The finale centered around Toadie's (Ryan Moloney) wedding to Melanie (Lucinda Cowden) as many familiar faces reunited for the picturesque lakeside ceremony and street party afterwards, while other pals - including Margot Robbie's Donna Freedman) - sent their well wishes in sweet video messages to mark the big day.

And appearing on screens once again, Kylie and Jason's beloved characters Charlene and Scott Robinson made their much-anticipated entrance to the garden party as they pulled up on Ramsay Street in their recognisable green Mini before surprising their pals.

And viewers were quick to gush over Scott and Charlene's first appearance on Ramsey Street in more than 30 years, taking to Twitter to comment on how 'nostalgic' and 'emotional' it made them feel.

As the iconic pair arrived on screens, Kylie and Jason's real-life love song Especially For You belted out in the background, with fans left delighted at the unexpected crossover. Kylie and Jason recorded the love ballad in 1989 - one year after they left Neighbours and soon before they ended their three-year romance. 

Speaking about Scott and Charlene's much-anticipated return, one user penned: 'OK, I AM CRYING NOW SCOTT AND CHARLENE.' 

'SCOTT AND CHARLENE, I'M HAVING AN 80'S FLASHBACK HAHHA,' another wrote.

Another comment read: 'Not me getting emotional at hearing especially for you.'

More added feeling like 'it's 1988 all over again', enjoying an evening of 'pure nostalgia'.

Another fan favourite that viewers were delighted to see return was Guy Pearce as Mike Young, with many praising him as the ultimate highlight of the finale. 

'Much as I love Scott and Charlene, it's the Mike and Jane love story that carried the final episode. Guy Pearce is a legend,' one viewer commented.

Another wrote: '...I was so excited about the return of Scott and Charlene - and that was great of course. But Guy Pearce - what a performance!!'

A third post read: 'Respect to Guy Pearce for fully committing to the final ever episode of Neighbours!'

But as audiences basked in the eighties-filled nostalgia, others noted that Kylie had very few lines, quipping that she was 'charging by line' as they shared their disappointment she didn't have a larger role.

'They couldn't pay Kylie enough to say more than one single word?' One asked. 

'Kylie doesn't speak much does she,' another remarked. 

Another joked: 'Has Kylie lost her voice?' 

Scott and Charlene returned to Erinsborough for the first time since they bid farewell to the suburb and moved to Brisbane after tying the knot in a romantic wedding ceremony more than 30 years ago.

As well as Kylie and Jason making a final appearance on the show, there were also epic returns made by Holly Valance (Flick Scully), Natalie Imbruglia (Beth Brennan), Guy Pearce (Mike Young) and Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) as they reprised their roles on the soap opera.

They were joined by Daniel MacPherson, (Joel Samuels), Peter O'Brien (Shane Ramsay), Natalie Bassingthwaighte, (Izzy Hoyland), Mark Little (Joe Mangel) and Paul Keane, who memorably played Des Clarke.

Also appearing in the finale were Annie Jones (Jane Harris), Anne Charleston, who portrayed matriarch Madge Bishop, Jacinta Stapleton (Amy Greenwood), and Delta Goodrem (Nina Tucker).

And stars from more recent years on the soap joined the episode, including Olympia Valance (Paige Smith), Jodi Gordon (Elly Conway), Zoe Cramond (Amy Williams) and Kate Kendall (Lauren Turner).

With Ben Hall (Ned Willis), Olivia Junkeer (Yashvi Rebecchi) and Zima Anderson (Roxy Willis) completing the line-up of Neighbours alumni returning.

The much-anticipated final episode focused on Ramsay Street favourite Toadie, played by Ryan Moloney, finally getting his happy ending as he tied the knot with Melanie (Lucinda Cowden), surrounded by familiar faces.

After two decades of storylines which saw his wife Dee go missing on their honeymoon, his second wife Sonya tragically die from cancer, and Dee coming back from the dead, Toadie's marriage was the perfect end point for the soap after 37 years on air.

And the romantic wedding also saw celebrity appearances made by Margot Robbie and Delta Goodrem as the happy couple were played a montage of video messages from Toadie's pals to mark their big day. 

Toadie and Melanie got hitched in a ceremony officiated by the lake by his old friend Susan Kennedy, before a party on Ramsay Street to celebrate.

The bride recited emotional vows to Toadie as their friends looked on, telling him: 'Before I met you, I thought I was done. Finito! Send in the clowns! She's never going to meet anyone ever again!

'But then, I met you. And what started with tiger print... ..ended up being the happiest, of my entire life. most loving relationship Nell, Hugo, Cal, you've given me the family that I've always wanted. And I'd like to remember your very special mummy today too.'

Later, it was down to Karl Kennedy to spring a surprise on the newlyweds, telling Toadie: 'You're like a son to us. Well, that's ridiculous, isn't it?'

'Toad, you ARE a son to us. Toadie, Melanie, the kids, you're part of our family, and you always will be.'

'Of course, today has special significance because you're leaving Ramsay Street. The street is not going to be the same without you, and we're not the only ones who think that.'

'Some of our old neighbours who couldn't be here have sent you some messages.'

Karl played a video with messages from Toadie's old pals, featuring a huge selection of cameos including Margot Robbie's Donna Freedman, much to the delight of fans.

As the video messages ended, Toadie decided to listen to his friends, telling Karl and Susan: 'Right. Well, uh, I... guess we're not going anywhere, are we?'

After their lakeside wedding ceremony, the couple celebrated their marriage with a street party back at home, where they were reunited with a host of familiar faces.

In Charlene and Scott's emotional scenes, the couple looked as smitten as ever as they leant against their Mini, took in the surroundings and reminisced on their time together in the town.

Charlene sported a navy denim jumpsuit as she stayed true to her famous overall fashion trend and brought back her iconic blonde curls as they arrived at the garden party.

Meanwhile, Scott cut a casual figure in jeans and a plaid shirt as he wrapped his arm around his partner as they looked as loved up as they did on their wedding day more than 30 years ago.

As the characters returned to the show, Kylie and Jason's famous duet Especially For You could be heard playing in the background in an unexpected crossover moment.

Kylie and Jason, who dated in real life, recorded the love ballad together in 1989 - one year after they left Neighbours and soon before they ended their three-year romance.

'Wow wow wow,' Scott said as they stepped out of the car, 'This is crazy. We made it eh?'

Charlene then declared: 'Home sweet home,' before reuniting with their pals Mike Young (Guy Pearce) and Jane Harris (Annie Jones) at the street party for the episode's closing moments.

Scott and Charlene were seen embracing their pals Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Mike as they enjoyed drinks and chatted on a balcony, while waving down to groups of their friends partying in the garden. 

Although many of the Neighbours had made moves to leave Ramsay Street, with For Sale signs seen erected outside the well-recognised houses, they decided to stay in their beloved home by the end of the finale. 

Elsewhere in the episode, Mike (played by Guy Pearce) laid his feelings on the line for Jane (Annie Jones) and it proved to be the happy ending fans across the world needed.

'The reality is I'm still in love with you. Probably more now than I ever used to be,' he told an emotional Jane. 

'I realise this is probably a bit much, but if I was here, we could take things slowly and see where this goes,' he continued. 

In the final monologue, lead character Susan Kennedy, played by Jackie Woodburne, waxed lyrical about the street and the show's global community of fans. 

Before heading outside to join in the party, Susan decided to write down an introduction of the Street, with her trip down memory lane clearly stirring emotion within the teacher.

She began: 'How do you begin to describe a street?  Do you talk about the houses? The bricks and the mortar, the gardens and the trees? Or do you talk about the people? The young, the old and everyone in between'

And as she walked out onto the famous Ramsay Street, she continued: 'Where do you begin with the history? Do you begin with your own or those who came before you? 

'When we moved to Ramsay Street, the community was already here. The Ramsays and the Robinsons... the stories from those early days are legendary! And their legacy still lives on today.'

While looking around and waving at faces from the past to the present, she continued: 'There have been many families over the years of all shapes and sizes. Some of them unexpected and friends who became like family, whether they were related or not. 

'Love has always been a central thing - how many romances were born on this street? Things seldom ran smoothly of course, but they usually worked out in the end. 

'I think of all the people who never crossed paths who could have been great friends. And those who kept turning up whether we welcomed them or not.'

As the scene cut to returning stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan (Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson), Susan said: 'The street always has a way of bringing people back.'

She went on: 'Then I think of the people who can't come back. The people gone too soon. How would they look if they were still alive today? If they'd been allowed to reach their potential.'

The camera panned to late Neighbours characters Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) and Doug Willis (Terence Donovan) sitting at a table alongside Harold Bishop (Ian Smith).

Susan's heartwarming speech continued: 'So many people that were lost, and then others... others who were just lost. 

'I think you have to

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