The Neighbours 30th Anniversary was a series of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The celebrations span over two weeks, beginning on 4 March 2015 in Australia, while starting on 18 March in the United Kingdom. The anniversary features many storylines, but points around Paul Robinson's (Stefan Dennis) Erinsborough festival and the wedding of Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps) and Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow). The serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, began planning the 30th anniversary over a year in advance. Over ten former cast members from all eras of the show were invited back to "honour the past and present". Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were also invited, but they both downturned the offer. The celebrations marked Ian Smith and Anne Charleston's returns to Neighbours as Harold and Madge Bishop respectively. Madge was last seen during her death in 2001 and returns as a ghost in Harold's mind, which Herbison was initially worried would not be accepted by Charleston nor Smith, however both approved of it. The storyline was also popular amongst viewers.
Herbison told Digital Spy that he wanted the anniversary to reignite old storylines, climax current ones and lead into future ones. The Erinsborough festival opens when Harold accidentally drives his campervan into a stand. Over 70 extras and additional cameramen and crew were required for filming. Amber and Daniel's wedding marked the final plot of the celebrations. Daniel and Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan), who is hiding her love for Daniel, become trapped in an old well together. Kaplan explained that a set for scenes in the well was specially built with four walls to make Kaplan and Phillipps feel claustrophobic. Herbison also confirmed that at the end of the two-week-long storyline, a character would be killed off. Matt Turner (Josef Brown) is hit by a driver while being confronted by Brad Willis (Kip Gamblin).
Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem) also returns during the anniversary, which Goodrem revealed herself on social media before it was officially announced by Neighbours. Nina sings "Only Human", a song digitally released by Goodrem to coincide with her return, at the Erinsborough festival closing ceremony. Matt Preston also made a celebrity guest appearance after wanting to get on the serial for over seven years and called his appearance something he could tick off his bucket list. The Neighbours crew were applauded for their efforts in celebrating the milestone and some news outlets believed that the key success of the anniversary was the build-up and climax of Daniel and Amber's wedding. The serial was also critiqued for giving limited screen time to some returning cast members, while some publications judged the cast's acting. Australia Post released special Neighbours stamps in honour of the anniversary.
Plot
Episodes 7073 to 7083
The Erinsborough festival commences under Mayor Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Naomi Canning's (Morgana O'Reilly) supervision by Lassiter's Lake. Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) acts as a fortune teller and Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) poses as a statue. Toadie and Chris Pappas (James Mason) see Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) and Vanessa Villante (Alin Sumarwata) and meet their daughter, Sebastiana (Izabella Anderson), before Vanessa announces her third pregnancy. Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) accidentally drives his caravan through a stall and breaks a fire hydrant, before imagining his dead wife, Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston), sitting next to him. Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) works on fixing the hydrant and tells his wife, Georgia Brooks (Saskia Hampele), to instead go to the ballet with Nick Petrides (Damien Fotiou), who is joyed following a bet he made with Paul to get Georgia to sleep with him. Harold meets Amber Turner (Jenna Rosenow), the fiancée of his step-grandson, Daniel Robinson (Tim Phillipps). Madge disapproves of Amber and thinks that Imogen Willis (Ariel Kaplan) better suits Daniel, so Harold privately tells Daniel that he does not support their marriage, before Daniel and Amber uninvite him from the wedding. Naomi and Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) go public about their relationship.