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This is a little later than we'd originally planned but we hope this post is well worth the wait! The boys have already had their go, and now it's the turn of the girls: part two of our post which looks at the ladies of soap for whom the bulk of their wardrobe is probably made up of wedding attire! 3. Pat Butcher (EastEnders) When Pat Wicks first showed up on the Square back in 1986, she already had two ex husbands under her belt. Life in Walford would see her marry twice more. After her very dramatic arrival in Albert Square, it was clear to see that her first husband, Pete Beale, and his family absolutely loathed Pat. True, Pat and Pete's marriage had been nothing short of disastrous. The marriage did produce son David (no, that wasn't the disastrous bit, although Ian Beale might beg to differ!) although that didn't stop Pat from having affairs including with Pete's own brother, Kenny. And when it was discovered years later that their youngest son Simon was actually fathered by the man who went on to become Pat's second husband, Brian Wicks, Pete quite understandably, wanted to cut short Pat's life! But oddly enough, after years of detesting each other, Pete and Pat gradually turned a corner and stopped the hatred, with Pat even going on to become besties with her one time enemy, the second Mrs. Pete Beale, Kathy. Marriage to Brian was hardly made in heaven either. An unstable man who physically abused Pat and her sons for years, Brian remained a thorn in Pat's side, always trying to get money out of her, even after they'd split. It was only when she was reunited with her long-time love Frank Butcher, that Pat was able to get rid of Brian once and for all after he blackmailed her into giving him a car in exchange for a divorce. Despite Brian being the least known of all of Pat's husband's, having appeared on screen less than a handful of times, he has ironically been connected to many of the Square's residents over the years up to present day, including Simon; his late grandson Steven Beale; step-granddaughter Bianca, and even the Carters are distant former relatives due to Shirley Carter being the ex-wife of Brian's nephew. So the ghost of Brian Wicks has always loomed over the Square! But it was Pat's third husband, lovable rogue Frank Butcher, who was the one true love of her life. The couple met when Pat was sixteen and it was love at first sight for the couple, who then went on to have a secret relationship with Frank intent on leaving his fiancée, June. But when June revealed she was pregnant, Frank felt he had to do the right thing in marrying her with the couple going on to have four children including the infamous Janine. But Frank and Pat continued to have an on-off relationship for years until June's death when the couple were finally free to be together and went on to marry, also taking over from Den and Angie Watts as the new landlord and landlady of The Queen Vic. The couple ran other businesses but money problems occurred, which led to Phil Mitchell and Frank torching the car lot as part of an insurance scam. Sadly a young homeless man was killed in the blaze which sent Frank over the edge. He walked out of the Square and was missing for a couple of years, forcing Pat to move on without the love of her life. And move on she did with husband number four, dependable, trustworthy car dealer Roy Evans, - quite possibly the only man who truly loved Pat. Their relationship initially got off to a very bumpy start as Pat wasn't over Frank and it took her a while to trust Roy. But he proved to be a kind and considerate man as well as a good father figure to Frank's children Ricky and Janine. Eventually Roy moved in with Pat and the relationship seemed rock solid. Even when Frank reappeared and made it clear he wanted Pat back, she still chose Roy and she went on to become Mrs. Evans. But the heart wants what the heart wants and Pat never really did get over Frank, with both of them cheating on their respective spouses. As distraught as he was, Roy eventually took Pat back after realizing that he couldn't live without her. But it was a later discovery that Pat knew that Natalie, Roy's daughter-in-law was having an affair with Ricky that was a betrayal too far for Roy and he tragically suffered a heart attack and died. And it was when Pat was on her own deathbed that she revealed to Janine that her biggest regret was getting wed four times. The only person she should have married and stayed married to was Frank. 4. Denise Fox (EastEnders) When Denise Fox turned up in Albert Square and clapped eyes on dad-of-three Kevin Wicks - Pat's nephew - it was hate at first sight! Denise was divorced from her first husband, Owen Turner, a violent alcoholic and father of her youngest daughter, Libby. But somehow 'hate' turned to love with Kevin and Denise with the pair developing an attraction and finally admitting their feelings for each other before going on to marry in 2007. The marriage was a happy one despite their constant run-ins with Kevin's brash ex-wife, the now-formidable Shirley Carter (and Denise gaining Dean Wicks as a stepson!) but the marriage was sadly short-lived as Kevin was killed in a car crash on New Year's Eve - mere months after their wedding. Enter husband number three - Lucas Johnson: Denise's ex-partner, the father of her eldest child, Chelsea, and the man who would go on to become one of the most notorious Walford residents of all time. He definitely made the soon-to-appear Owen look like a saint! Lucas was a former drug addict who walked out on Denise and Chelsea soon after his daughter was born. But in the intervening years, Lucas managed to turn his life around and leave his past behind him, going on to become a dedicated father to his son Jordan; a church minister and a respectable pillar of the community. It took Denise a while to warm to him and she was angry with Chelsea for bringing Lucas back into their lives as she had a hard time forgiving him. But once Denise sees that Lucas is a changed man, the two start to get closer, going on to rekindle their relationship and marry in 2009. Big mistake, Denise! While Lucas's attempts to stay on the straight and narrow are genuine, seeking a divorce from his estranged wife, Trina, sets of a catastrophic chain of events starting with him accidentally killing Trina. In the process of concealing his crime, Lucas goes on to murder Denise's first husband Owen when he proves to be an obstacle for the couple; a dog who tries to dig up Trina's body, and a sex worker whose body he identifies as Denise in order to convince her family and friends that she had taken her own life - when in reality, Denise had been kidnapped by Lucas and was being held captive after he had confessed all to her. He remains in prison but was there for Denise in her hour of need recently when she suffered a breakdown - ironically due to her part in the death of Keanu Taylor! Following a doomed engagement to Ian Beale (yeah, we don't know why either!) and a fling with Phil Mitchell which resulted in the birth of their son Raymond, Denise went on to marry her fourth husband, Jack Branning in 2021 in a double wedding alongside her daughter Chelsea who married the psychotic Gray Atkins - a man who could very well have been mentored by her dad! Despite only having been married three years, Jack and Denise have already had more ups and downs than a pancake tossed on Shrove Tuesday but so far they seem to be sticking it out. 5. Alexis Colby (Dynasty) If ever there was a character who knew her way around the altar, it was Alexis Colby, the unstoppable queen bee of Dynasty . Played by the inimitable Joan Collins, Alexis didn't just step into the Carrington family drama; she set the stage for some of the most iconic plotlines in soap opera history - not to mention her own marital sagas. Over the years, Alexis’s four marriages weren’t just a sequence of romances—they were powerful, high-stakes moves in her quest for influence, survival, and, sometimes, just sometimes, even love. Husband number one was Blake Carrington, an oil tycoon and head of Denver-Carrington, and arguably the most powerful of all her husbands. Their marriage was long over by the time Alexis returned to Denver, but it was always simmering in the background. Their connection sparked the classic battles and rivalries that drove the heart of Dynasty . Despite Blake’s new marriage to Krystle, Alexis’s fierce loyalty to her children and her complex ties to Blake kept her rooted in Carrington territory, making sure she never truly let go. Then came Cecil Colby. In a strategic twist, Alexis found her way back into the power circles of Denver by marrying Blake’s business rival, Cecil Colby. Although their marriage was cut short by Cecil’s untimely death, Alexis’s union with him set her up for financial independence and a powerful legacy through ColbyCo. Some might say she was widowed too quickly, but Alexis turned this marriage into a formidable asset, shaping the future battles of the Colby and Carrington dynasties. Dashing, charming, and devastatingly handsome Dex Dexter became husband number three, and quite possibly the only man Alexis ever truly loved. The passionate, adventurous Dex Dexter brought out Alexis’s softer side, but their relationship was far from easy. Dex was younger, brash, and unafraid to stand up to her—a match for Alexis’s fiery personality. Their tumultuous marriage was a rollercoaster of passion, betrayal, and resilience. Though it didn’t last, Dex and Alexis’s marriage had a raw energy that fans couldn’t forget, with each showdown just as thrilling as their moments of romance. The last of Alexis’s husbands was Sean Rowan - who also happens to be the one husband that viewers often forget! But then their marriage was very brief. Sean swept Alexis off her feet with his charm, but as usual in soap opera fashion, all was not what it seemed. Sean had a hidden agenda for marrying Alexis, bringing another layer of tension to her story. Their short-lived marriage, full of deceit and drama, underscored Alexis’s vulnerability despite her strength, proving that even the fiercest could fall prey to the wrong man. Alexis’s marriages weren’t just relationships; they were chapters in a saga of ambition, revenge, and love. Her iconic status as one of soap’s most married women is a testament to her complexity as a character and to Dynasty ’s storytelling brilliance. In each marriage, Alexis redefined herself, adding new layers to her indomitable legacy. Photos: YouTube Blog Graphics: Angel Noire

This year Friends celebrated thirty years since it was first broadcast - and the world was never the same again. But the sad passing of one of the show's main stars, Matthew Perry, who played the loveable Chandler Bing, cast a shadow over the thirtieth anniversary celebrations. There were moving tributes to Matthew and it's comforting to know that he will never be forgotten. But the fact that someone who had such presence and and lit up our screens for the last thirty years is no longer with us. It’s hard to believe it’s been just over a year since Matthew Perry sadly passed away. Many of us can still remember that strong sense of shock and loss we felt as the news broke. His portrayal of Chandler Bing left an indelible mark on Friends and the hearts of fans worldwide. For fans of the iconic sitcom, it didn't matter that many of us had never met him - we felt as though we'd known him all our lives having seen him on our screens for almost three decades. As we reflect on Perry’s legacy, we'd like to honor him by revisiting the most memorable aspects of his iconic character. Some people are just born to play certain roles and we can't imagine anyone playing Chandler the way Perry did. From his sarcastic yet witty one-liners to his vulnerable, heartfelt moments, Chandler was a character who grew from the funny guy with an unidentifiable job to a beloved husband, uncle, father and... friend. Not to mention a source of never-ending laughter. Let’s celebrate what made Chandler Bing unforgettable, one classic moment at a time. 1. Monica: The One With Whom Chandler Finds True Love OK, hands up everyone who thought that writers had literally lost the plot when it was revealed that Chandler and Monica were going to hook-up in London? We'd already had Ross and Rachel get together - and look how that turned out! How on earth could things work out for a highly-strung, control freak who desperately wanted to get married (we didn't know about the Monica Wedding Fund back then!) and an ultra laid-back commitment-phobe whose relationship issues stemmed back to childhood? But for those of us who had doubts, well turns out we couldn't have been more wrong. Chandler’s relationship with Monica was one of the biggest surprises and successes of Friends , and it quickly became a fan-favorite romance. What began as a one-time fling in London evolved into a committed relationship and further strengthened the group with warmth and authenticity. Chandler’s vulnerability with Monica allowed him to grow emotionally, proving he could be a loving, supportive partner. From his heartfelt proposal to their journey toward parenthood, Chandler’s love for Monica showed us a softer, more open side to his character - one that even sarcasm couldn’t hide. 2. Janice: Oh. My. God. When we think of Chandler’s relationships, we can’t forget Janice—his on-again- off-again-can't-get-away-from-her girlfriend who, in many ways, was his complete opposite. Known for her iconic catchphrase, "Oh. My. God," Janice was loud, expressive, and totally unpredictable, which made for some of the funniest moments on the show. Chandler’s recurring inability to resist her added a hilarious element to his character arc. No matter how hard he tried to break free, Janice would inevitably pop back into his life at the most unexpected times, much to his (and the audience’s) horror and amusement. Kathy: A Relationship of Growth and Heartbreak Kathy, Joey’s girlfriend-turned-love-interest for Chandler, was one of Chandler’s more serious relationships before Monica. With her love of books and sense of humor, Kathy brought out a caring and romantic side of Chandler. However, their relationship was tinged with conflict and jealousy, and his suspicions ultimately drove a wedge between them. The heartbreak he felt when things ended with Kathy was a critical moment for Chandler, teaching him about trust, his own insecurities, and the importance of honesty in relationships. 3. Joey: The Ultimate Bromance (Just Don't Tell Ross!) Chandler may have known Ross first and been friends with him since high school - before the two became brothers-in-law - but there's no denying that Chandler also had a very special bond with his roommate Joey. Their friendship was one of the most cherished parts of Friends . They were more than just roommates—they were best friends who shared countless inside jokes, personal milestones, and, of course, a love for foosball. Whether it was Chandler lending Joey financial support or Joey giving Chandler advice on relationships, the two had an unbreakable bond that provided both comic relief and emotional depth. Their friendship was heartwarming and hilarious, reminding us that family can be chosen and that true friends are there through every bad haircut and questionable dating choice. 4. Thanksgiving: The Gift That Keeps on Giving Chandler’s dislike of Thanksgiving was legendary, stemming from childhood trauma involving his parents’ divorce. This annual tension created some of the best Thanksgiving episodes, as Chandler tried (and hilariously failed) to enjoy the holiday. His experiences—like getting his head stuck in a turkey or making up with Monica after a fight—were filled with humor but also carried a sense of healing. By the time he and Monica were married, Thanksgiving had become a celebration of their new family, showing Chandler’s growth from a reluctant participant to a joyful host. 5. Chandler’s Job: Unsolved Mystery - Call Robert Stack! One of Friends ' longest-running jokes was the mystery surrounding Chandler’s job in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration—a title that confused everyone, including his friends. Despite his financial stability, Chandler was deeply dissatisfied with his career, often using humor to cope with his lack of fulfillment. Eventually, he found the courage to switch to a career in advertising, a leap that represented his growth and desire for a more meaningful life. His career change was a reminder that it’s never too late to follow your passions, even if that means starting over from scratch. 6. Chandler’s One-Liners: Could He Be Any More Sarcastic? Chandler’s sarcasm was his most defining trait, and Matthew Perry’s comedic timing made every line unforgettable. His quick wit was a defense mechanism, often hiding his insecurities and fears, but it also made him one of the funniest characters on Friends . Whether he was delivering a perfect one-liner or making a playful jab at one of his friends, Chandler’s humor added a distinct flavor to the show. His catchphrases like “Could I be  any more…” became iconic, and his unique style of humor kept audiences laughing season after season. Matthew Perry’s Legacy Chandler Bing was more than just a character; he was a beloved friend to millions of viewers who grew up laughing at his jokes and empathizing with his insecurities. Matthew Perry breathed life into a complex, unforgettable character who showed us that humor and heart can often go together hand in hand. Perry’s portrayal reminded us that it’s okay to have flaws; to laugh at ourselves, and to strive for something better - even when the journey is messy. As we celebrate Chandler’s best moments, we also celebrate Matthew Perry’s extraordinary legacy - a gift of laughter, vulnerability, and warmth that will continue to bring us joy for years to come. Photos: YouTube GIFS: Wix Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Neighbours' fans who have watched the show from the early days are beside themselves with excitement after it was announced that Caroline Alessi and her twin sister Christina would be returning to Ramsay Street. This is the most recent in a line of blasts from the pasts as lately Jane Harris, Dr. Beverly Marshall, Gemma Willis and even the deceased Jim Robinson have all made brief returns to the show. Clearly the powers that be have picked up on how much viewers love getting all nostalgic and seeing the old faces return so hopefully there'll be more past characters to grace Melbourne's most famous cul-de-sac with their presence. If anyone's listening, could you please bring back Gaby Willis, Bronwyn Davies, her sister Sharon, Nick Page and Melissa Jarrett? Cool! What's even more surprising about this return is that it was believed that the actresses who played the Alessis, real-life twins, Gayle and Gillian Blakeney, had given up acting so no one expected them to reprise the roles that made them mega famous in the UK. And mega famous they were! During their time on Neighbours , Gayle and Gillian graced pretty much every magazine cover; appeared on countless TV shows, and even performed in the mandatory pantomime that every Neighbours and Home and Away actor and actress was obligated to do during the nineties (oh no they didn't!) Even after leaving the show, they were still very much in the public eye especially in the UK. And yes - there was a pop career! But then from being everywhere, the Blakeney twins were nowhere. No, they had not declined in popularity but rather they quit showbiz while still at the top of their game; left their native Australia for a new life in America where they opted to live out of the spotlight; getting married and families. It's no surprise then, according to a lot of social media comments, that Neighbours viewers today - especially those who were born after Gayle and Gillian quit Neighbours - aren't too sure who the Alessi twins are or why their return is such a big deal. Hopefully this post will clear that up! CAROLINE AND CHRISTINA ALESSI Who is Linda Giles? And no it's not Cockney rhyming slang for uncomfortable ailments! When the mysterious Linda Giles moved to Ramsay Street as a tenant in Paul Robinson's old house and took a job working for him at Lassiter's, many of the residents - especially Joe Mangel - felt there was more to Ms. Giles than met the eye. And they were right - there was a lot more. Twice as much in fact! Because Linda Giles didn't really exist. 'She' was actually two people - twin sisters Caroline and Christina Alessi. The sisters had witnessed a murder a while back and had to go into witness protection. They were advised by police to pose as one person so they assumed the identity of Linda Giles. They were rumbled by Paul who agreed to keep their secret, but once the killer had been caught, the sisters were no longer forced to hide behind an assumed identity and were given a warm welcome by the rest of the Street. However there was no protection program that could protect them from the charms of Paul Robinson (as most of the women in Erinsborough have discovered, usually to their cost!) Christina fell in love with Paul and went on to become the third Mrs. Robinson and mum to Paul's fifth child Andrew (viewers didn't know about Paul's twin sons, David and Leo, back then!) but was left devastated when she discovered that Paul had become romantically entangled with her sister which led Caroline to flee Erinsborough and start a new life in Italy. Christina eventually forgave Paul and the two left Ramsay Street to start a new life in Hawaii. Sadly it wasn't to be and the two divorced with Paul heading back to Erinsbrough, and Christina and Andrew going to live in Scotland before returning to Australia. Alessi Twintastic Facts The Alessi twins were in Neighbours for a period of two years starting in 1990. The sisters were of Italian descent with Caroline being the elder of the two. Both twins replaced Paul's ex-wife Gail in every way possible! Both lived in her former marital home after Gail left Paul. Caroline took over Gail's old job of assistant manager at Lassiter's, while Christina ran the gift shop which had also previously been run by Gail. Christina also went on to marry Paul, and not long afterwards baby Andrew came along. Even though Christina ended up marrying Paul, viewers often forget that in the beginning both girls had a crush on Paul but decided that neither should go there. And they stuck to that until Caroline starting dating Adam Willis, leaving Christina free to pursue Paul. Viewers remember the scandal when Caroline became romantically involved with her brother-in-law Paul. But she also had a relationship with his dad, Jim! Caroline and Jim began a relationship when his marriage to Beverly hit the rocks, although husband and wife soon reunited when they discovered that Beverly was pregnant. Caroline and Christina had a telepathic connection and used it to try to locate the other's whereabouts, or could sense when the other was in pain. The Alessis are the only twins on the show where Neighbours has highlighted the twins telepathic bond. Everyone remembers Paul and Christina's bickering over what they were going to call their new baby. Christina insisted on him being Benito after her uncle in order to keep her dad happy. Benito ended up being one of baby Andrew's middle names... ...While Uncle Benito and his family moved into Paul and Christina's former home after the couple left Ramsay Street to move to Hawaii. Both the Alessi twins moved abroad after they left Erinsbrough, with Caroline going to Italy, and Christina moving to Hawaii and then Brazil with Paul; before heading over to Scotland after their divorce, and finally moving to Sydney where she's still believed to be living. Gayle and Gillian Blakeney The Blakeney twins joined Neighbours  when the show was at the height of its fame but Gayle and Gillian were not showbiz newbies as they had been in the business since they were ten years old and were already well known in their native Australia. They made appearances in music videos for pop band The Monitors , before becoming presenters on shows such as Wombat. But it was Neighbours that turned Gayle and Gillian into household names in countries where Neighbours was shown. After their two year stint on the soap, the Blakeneys decided to focus on their music career, so they moved to the UK and became a pop duo called er, The Twins and signed up with the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman. They released three singles, All Mixed Up; I Wanna Be Your Lover, and Mad If You Don't. As fab as The Twins were, they didn't reach the dizzying heights of musical fame as fellow Neighbours' alumni Kylie and Jason. But they stayed on in the UK and even became co-hosts along with Des O'Connor on Take Your Pick. But then life-changing roles beckoned when they filmed an episode of American detective show Silk Stalkings. After years of being in the public eye, Gayle and Gillian loved the anonymity that came with being in America. And they liked it so much, they decided to stay. They're still based in California where they've lived for more than twenty years, raising their families, and building businesses and brands. In a podcast interview with Georoid Farrelly, Gillian revealed that by the time the Blakeneys arrived in America, she had already decided on a different career path for herself and quit showbiz before going on to run a vitamin company and then a toy company with Gayle. Today Gillian is the co-founder of scarf emporium, Leigh and Luca. But none of that has stopped Gayle and Gillian from returning to the set of Neighbours after twenty seven years to film three episodes that will air in September. It's been a long time and we can't wait! Blakeney Twintastic Facts Gillian's name is pronounced with a hard 'g' sound (as in grace) rather than the usual 'j' sound. Christina Alessi became Paul's wife, and in real-life Gayle Blakeney was in a relationship that lasted two and a half years with Stefan Dennis who played Paul. In an interview with News of the World 's Sunday magazine after they had left Neighbours, Gillian Blakeney revealed that she was glad to have hung up Caroline's business attire for good as it really wasn't her. Gillian said that she was more of a new-age hippy and loved wearing silver jewellery and silk shirts with jeans. In the same interview, the Blakeney twins talked about their belief in astrology and how it was guiding their career. Gayle and Gillian moved to England to kickstart their pop career, but eventually left to start a new life in California. Gayle is married with two children - a boy and a girl. Gillian married for the second time a couple of years back and adopted her new husband's two kids - a girl and a boy. She also has a daughter from her first marriage. Gillian is the co-founder of a scarf company called Leigh and Luca The Blakeney Twins interest in twin psychology might explain why Caroline and Christina's telepathic connection was written into storylines as the girls worked very closely with writers to get that portrayed convincingly. When they were filming their Head and Shoulders commercials, Gayle and Gillian had to dye their espresso coloured locks black as it appeared too red under the studio's lights. Gayle and Gillian, we can't wait to see you back on Ramsay Street! Photos from YouTube Word Cloud by Angel Noire

Hi Nostalgiacs! Goodness it's been a busy week! We've done five states in a week. I don't think even NKOTB do that (they probably do more!) So my state count has gone up by two as I've now added Maryland and Virginia to my list of states I've visited, not to mention my first ever visit to the nation's capital. DC far, far, FAR exceeded my expectations. The White House, Lincoln Memorial, The Capitol... symbols of America that I'd grown up seeing on TV and in newspapers and now here they were right in front of me. Mr. D had only ever been to DC once on a school trip, so our visit brought back memories for him of that trip. My sore and aching feet told me that we'd done a lot of gallivanting but in reality, I know that there was so much more to explore. I'm also disappointed to have missed my friend and former colleague who was visiting my home city while I was in hers. Typical! I am definitely hoping that there will be a next time. And I have to mention the delicious seafood platter I scoffed while in Maryland. It's true - you can't go to Maryland and not try the seafood, especially their world famous crab cakes. I got the platter from Bill's Seafood in Maryland, which wasn't the take away shop or restaurant that I thought it might be. But rather it was a fish market where you can buy fresh seafood or freshly cooked fish dishes to take away. My seafood platter consisted of that crab cake, broiled shrimp, broiled fish, breaded oysters, macaroni salad and my fave crinkle cut chips. Everything was very enjoyable... but not one hundred per cent sold on the breaded oysters although they weren't terrible. Would definitely go back again. And thanks to my mate MJ for giving me the idea to visit Bill's Seafood - the best fish n' chips I've ever had! Photos by Angel Noire Our most recent date night was completely, totally, and utterly right up my street (quite literally as well!) as our local drive-in was hosting a Retro Movie Weekend, screening movies from the eighties and nineties. The choices available were Back To The Future, The Goonies, Jurassic Park, and Jaws. Talk about spoilt for choice! There was even an opportunity to take pics with retro movie props! Wow! Had I just died and gone to heaven??? It goes without saying that I was totally in my element, and decided to go all out on an eighties vibe, with the dress - that reminded me of what my style-conscious aunts used to wear in the decade that style supposedly forgot - accessories, and even scrunched hair, which I haven't done since I was fifteen. And it was while I was scrunching my hair that the thought occurred to me that I needed to invest in a set of hair crimpers if I wanted to do that full-on eighties' thing! Unfortunately it was because I spent so long doing my hair, that by the time we got to the drive-in, the queue to take pics with the movie props was way too long and we'd have risked missing the start of the movie. Hopefully there'll be another time but Mr. D and I had a great time watching The Goonies and Back To The Future again. And coming from a country where we don't really have drive-in movie theatres, I can say nothing beats watching a movie on the big screen in the open air - even if the sound is a tad bit fuzzy! And special shout-out to my little nephew as I borrowed his playmat to take a snap of my outfit. Hasn't it got just the right amount of eighties flourescent! Photos by Angel Noire In 1999, I made my first ever visit to America, fulfilling my childhood dream of visiting the mythical, magical place that only existed in movies and TV shows and finally seeing what all the fuss was about! One of the things that my family and I did during that visit was make a very brief stop in New York to have dinner before getting back on the road and heading back to Chicago. Twenty years later, I made another brief visit to New York when I made my first ever visit to Yankee Stadium last weekend to watch the New England Revolutions take on New York FC. As most people know, I don't have a sporting bone in my body. This is the girl who lived five minutes down the road from Wembley Stadium for nearly twenty years and never went to a sporting event! But it was a very interesting experience and I'm glad I did it - even if the long coach journey did make me feel ill, and the Revs lost! I hope that one day I will be able to have the full 'tourist in New York' experience. Maybe in 2039! And incidentally, I first went to Portland, Oregon in 2009 when I started dating the fella. perhaps all good things for me happen in America during years that end with a '9'... Photos by Angel Noire After almost three decades, it is so good to see Gayle and Gillian Blakeney back in the spotlight. The ladies made their long-awaited return to Neighbours on Friday, reprising their famous roles as Caroline and Christina Alessi. Fans are marvelling at how the Blakeney twins have barely changed let alone aged since they were last on Ramsay Street, but after years of living in Los Angeles where they're currently based, I can definitely detect an American twang! And the few promo appearances by the twins I've seen are a reminder of the times when Gayle and Gillian were the hottest thing since um, something really hot, and were absolutely EVERYWHERE!!! Unfortunately they're only in Neighbours for a couple more episodes but I have really been enjoying this blast from the past. Hopefully it won't be long before they make another visit - and not another twenty seven years! Photos from YouTube Word Cloud by Angel Noire

Neighbours fans are in for a massive dose of nostalgia in the next couple of weeks when four of Paul Robinson's former wives are set to return to Erinsborough. That's right, Neighbours is getting all Macbeth meets Scrooge meets Henry VIII meets the Witches of Eastwick when Paul is visited by the ghosts - or wives - of marriages past. We've already seen the return of Gail Lewis, now we eagerly await the returns of Christina Alessi - along with twin sister Caroline - Lyn Scully, and Rebecca Napier. This will be the first time all of Paul's surviving ex-wives will be together on the Street, and even though we don't yet know what the storyline is, we know it's going to be huge! Those who haven't watched Neighbours in the eighties and nineties probably won't be familiar with all the wives of Paul (gosh, that sounds like a cult!) And even those of us who have been lucky enough to have watched Neighbours from the beginning might still need reminding because the most married man on Ramsay Street has had so many wives even we can't keep up! So as Therese Willis prepares to become the sixth Mrs. Paul Robinson, we take a look at all the women who tried - and failed to make an honest man out of Paul. Good luck, Therese! 1. Terry Inglis (Maxine Klibingaitis) 1985 The estranged wife of a bank robber, the future Mrs. Robinson arrived in Ramsay Street as Max Ramsay's plumbing apprentice. But instead of making a beeline for Paul, Terry took a shine to his friend Shane and started dating him. When their relationship didn't work out, she began a relationship with Paul and after a whirlwind romance, married him - while she still had feelings for Shane. Despite her marriage to Paul and being welcomed into the Robinson family, Terry couldn't escape her connection to the criminal world. Prior to marrying Paul, both she and Max were held hostage by her fugitive husband - the same husband, incidentally, who caused the car crash that ended her former boyfriend Shane's diving career. After becoming Mrs. Robinson, Terry was hounded by Charles Durham; a dubious character from her past. A confrontation between the pair lead to Terry accidentally killing Charles and eventually shooting Paul when he tried to go the police, before going on the run. After being captured and jailed, Terry wrote to Paul asking him to come and visit her, and quite naturally - he wanted her to go take a hike. Sadly the next time Paul heard about Terry, was when he was informed of her death as Terry had committed suicide while in prison. Terry proved to be a tragic character; someone who tried to get away from her criminal past but couldn't quite shake it off for good and eventually it caught up with her. Although she is wife number one, Terry is often the most overlooked of all of Paul's wives - probably because she appeared in the early days when Neighbours was just getting warmed. But Terry Inglis is one of the most significant - albeit short-lived - of all the Neighbours characters. Firstly she was the first new regular character to be added to the Neighbours cast; and she was the first, and so far, only character in Neighbours' history to have died by suicide which would have been quite controversial back then. And finally we have Terry to thank for turning Paul Robinson from someone sweet and lovable - yes, hard as it is to believe, Paul was lovable once - into Erinsborough's Mr. Nasty. The short-lived marriage had such a traumatic effect on Paul that he was never the same again - as his next four wives discovered to their cost... 2. Gail Lewis (Fiona Corke) Neighbours fans look back on Paul's marriage to Gail with a great deal of fondness, partly because it serves as a reminder of when the soap was in it's heyday, and partly because of the formidable chemistry between Paul and Gail. Even Stefan Dennis who plays Paul has said in interviews how he would love for Fiona to return. Well Stefan, you've just got your wish! Gail had previously worked with Paul as a flight attendant and then arrived in Erinsborough to work as Paul's assistant. They then entered into a marriage of convenience as part of a business arrangement while fooling family and friends into thinking otherwise. Because Paul and Gail had an open marriage, suspicions were roused when they were both seen being overly pally with other people forcing them to come clean to Paul's family - much to the disgust of the Robinsons. Scott and Charlene however, were not so easily fooled and knew that the couple were secretly in love. It took all of their powers of persuasion to get Paul to go after Gail when she was about to leave Erinsborough for a new life in New York. Thankfully the couple finally admitted their feelings, and a declaration of love followed by a passionate kiss - witnessed by a delighted Scott and Charlene - finally convinced Mrs. Robinson mark two to stay. Paul and Gail were madly in love and happy for a while. But problems arose when they decided to try for a family. They eventually had to resort to IVF, and further heartbreak was around the corner when Gail discovered that Paul already had a three year old daughter (Amy) with his ex-girlfriend, Nina. But the IVF proved to be successful and Gail became pregnant - with triplets. But this is soapland and nobody is allowed to be that happy. Tragedy was in store for the couple when Gail's father Rob was killed in a road accident - something she held Paul responsible for. When Paul seemed more preoccupied with work then helping Gail through her grief, Gail did the only thing she could - she packed her bags and left Erinsborough for a new life in Tasmania where she gave birth to Cameron, Robert and Lucinda, and eventually remarried. But her appearance in Annalise Hartman's documentary implied that she was not quite over Mr. Robinson... 3. Christina Alessi (Gayle Blakeney) Then along came Christina... someone who was as far removed from Gail as you can get. While Gail was family-minded and loved her home life with Paul, she was also driven and career-minded, something Christina was not. With Christina, Paul was unlikely to be discussing Robinson Corporation matters over his tea and toast in the morning as he had done with Gail, but maybe homely, maternal Christina was exactly what Paul needed... or maybe not! Christina Alessi came into Paul's life when she and her twin sister Caroline were posing as one person, Linda Giles, as they were both in witness protection. After his marriage to Gail broke down, Paul decided to move out of Ramsay Street so rented out his house to 'Linda' and even hired her as his assistant without knowing the truth. When Paul eventually rumbled the twins (why does that sound so naughty???) he agreed to keep their secret and did so until they were both able to leave witness protection. It was during this time that Christina fell for Paul but just as she was ready to make her move, Paul fell for Isabella, a waitress he met in Argentina, who he planned to marry much to Christina's dismay. But the wedding was off as soon as Isabella was exposed as a fraud. This paved the way for Paul and Christina toget together and also for Christina to become the third Mrs. Robinson in record time. The arrival of baby Andrew made their family complete. But did Paul get his happy ever after? Did he heck! Paul and Caroline ended up falling in love which led to Caroline fleeing to Italy. Once Christina found out, all hell broke loose with the Robinsons on the verge of divorce. But Paul and Christina, realising that they still loved each other, decided to give their marriage another go so left to start a new life in Hawaii before moving to Brazil... where they eventually divorced! And now Christina is back in Erinsborough after being away so long... whatever could she want now..? 4. Lyn Scully (Janet Andrewartha) If there's one thing that viewers will have noted from all of Paul's multiple wives, fiancées, girlfriends, flings, is that he really doesn't have a type... and his marriage to beautiful but mumsy Lyn Scully confirmed that! And furthermore Paul was a complete one eighty from Lyn's ex-husband and former fiancé, who incidentally were both called Joe. Whatever did a caring, kind-hearted, devoutly Catholic, earth mother see in ruthless, money-minded, cynical Paul Robinson with his dodgy deals and don't-give-a-damn attitude? Naturally more than a few of Ramsay Street's residents raised eyebrows when Lyn and Paul became a couple after working together. Out of all his former wives, it's quite clear that Lyn was the only one that he never really loved at all, even though he claimed he did - right before he dumped her just hours after their wedding, competing with EastEnders' Ian and Mel Beale for the shortest soap wedding in history! While Lyn was obviously smitten with the charming Mr. Robinson, he saw her as someone he could make good use of whenever it suited him, and knowing that she had feelings for him, he often messed with her head. Lyn in turn, underwent a complete personality transplant and became someone that her family and friends - and viewers - didn't recognise. She refused to listen to people's concerns, and she even got entangled in some of Paul's dodgy schemes. Even though big-hearted, trusting Lyn was totally blameless their relationship brought out the worst in Paul, and viewers saw him being being incredibly ruthless, mean and manipulative. Not to mention cheating on Lyn with Rosie Cammeniti. And although Lyn was completely crushed by Paul's confession that not only had he been unfaithful with Rosie but he would do it again with Rosie or anyone else who was dumb enough to take a shine to him (those weren't his words) Lyn soon bounced back, accepting that an annullment was the best solution and even went on the honeymoon that she and Paul were supposed to have taken together. But being with Paul did teach Lyn a thing or two about playing people back at their own game. When Paul started to receive blackmailing notes over his affair with Kirsten Gannon while in a relationship with Rebecca Napier, it wasn't long before he realised who was behind them... Lyn Scully! And Lyn didn't even bother to try to deny it but after reaching a deal with Paul, he agreed not to go to the police. Furthermore she made a grand entrance at Paul and Rebecca's wedding when she announced that she was still legally married to Paul. But the real showstopper came when in a bid to desperately get back shares that Paul had given Lyn, he pretended to be interested in them giving their relationship another go. Lyn appeared to be falling for it, leaving viewers yelling at the TV! But it appears that the former Mrs. Robinson was not the gullible, loved-up pushover that Paul once thought she was, as Lyn had been on to him the whole time, and took great pleasure in telling him that she'd signed over the shares... to her daughter, Steph. 5. Rebecca Napier (Jane Hall) Ah the fifth Mrs. Robinson - glamorous, way-too-young-and-foxy- to-be-a-grandmother Rebecca with her trademark wrap dresses, fabulous hair and massive heart. Strong, feisty and intelligent; Rebecca was certainly no pushover like some of Paul's previous wives had been... so how did someone as smart as her agree to marry Paul Robinson of all people? Rebecca Napier was someone from Paul's past with a complicated history. For years, she thought that Paul was the father of her son, Declan, but this later turned out to be incorrect. But she ended up falling for Paul all over again, and -surprise, surprise - agreed to do him the honour of picking out a wedding gown. For herself of course - not Paul! Paul's previous wife, Lyn returned to Erinsborough right before his and Rebecca's engagement party - much to the chagrin of the happy couple. While she was there, Lyn confided in Susan Kennedy that Paul had cheated on Rebecca with Kirsten. Susan, being good friends with both Lyn and Rebecca felt that Rebecca had a right to know, so she told her - and the wedding was off. But being forgiving as she was, Rebecca gave Paul another chance, and this time they did make it to the alter - only for proceedings to be halted by Lyn who announced that Paul was still legally married to her. This led to a tussle back on Ramsay Street between the former bride and the bride-to-be but once Lyn and Paul's marriage was annulled, Rebecca did indeed become the fifth Mrs. Robinson. But if Rebecca was expecting to have her happy ever after then it proved that she really didn't know Paul at all. Mr. Robinson, unable to keep it in his pants, slept with Diana Marshall - and she was only too happy to reveal that information to a devastated Rebecca. This revelation led to a confrontation between Rebecca and Paul on the mezzanine at Lassiters' - where Paul ended up on the ground in a whodunnit in which Rebecca was eventually revealed to viewers as the culprit. But the ever-lovely Paul on waking up from his coma, used this information to blackmail Rebecca into staying with him. For a while his ploy worked even though Rebecca did begin an affair with Michael Williams. But Rebecca's eldest son Oliver wasn't going to sit by and watch Paul Robinson stomp all over his mother, so he flew back to Australia to rescue her and Declan and take them back to Portugal. However it seems as though some people never learn and when Rebecca was next in Erinsborough on business, she couldn't help but fall for the charms of her former husband again, and even considered giving it a go once more. But common sense prevailed and knowing that it was never going to work with Paul, Rebecca left Erinsborough once again. Who was your favourite out of all of Paul's wives? Photos from YouTube Word Cloud by Angel Noire

Hi Nostalgiacs! This week's post has something of an Aussie soap theme. Anyone who grew up in the eighties and nineties will know that it was all about Neighbours and Home and Away ! Neighbours is teasing all it's long-time viewers with a very intriguing storyline. What has caused four of Paul Robinson's ex-wives to return to Erinsborough? What do they know that we don't? And more importantly, what do they know that Paul doesn't know? We cannot wait to find out. But fans are enjoying the trip down memory lane as we remember those past characters of yesterday, and we are marvelling at the fantastic coup pulled off by Neighbours in getting all the original actresses to return. Fiona Corke, Janet Andrewartha, and Jane Hall have all made guest appearances since leaving the show as regular cast members, but Gayle Blakeney and her twin sister Gillian who played the Alessi Twins have not, and fans are delighted to see them back on Ramsay Street after twenty seven years - especially as they retired from acting not long after leaving Neighbours. We have no idea what they have in store for Mr. Robinson but we can't wait! And talking of Gayle and Gillian Blakeney, check out our post on the twins. After walking out of Erinsborough and into the Californian sunshine, the Blakeney sisters felt it was time to leave showbiz behind and try something new. But now they're back playing the roles that turned them into household names in the UK. Since their most recent stint playing the Alessi Twins, could Gayle and Gillian have been bitten by the acting bug again??? Watch this space! And look out for more twin-themed posts on this site to celebrate the return of the, um Twins! But sadly it's not all good news. Earlier this week, I woke up to the tragic news that Ben Unwin, the actor who had played Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from the mid-nineties until 2005 had sadly passed away. It was such a shock as he was only 41. fans of the show will remember Ben for the role he played and his amazing talent, but those who knew him - judging by the comments I've read - will remember him for his kind heart and for being a genuinely nice guy. R.I.P Ben x Photos: YouTUbe Wordcloud: Angel Noire

Actress Lucy Benjamin will once again be reprising her role as EastEnders lickle Lisa Shaw. Since first leaving the show in 2003, Lucy has made a few guest appearances and now that she's back again. Viewers can soon watch Lisa frequently lock horns with Sharon, Kathy, Phil and Ben. If only her former mother-in-law, the legendary Pauline Fowler, was still on the Square - there'd be fireworks for sure. Not to mention broken fruit bowls! And of course Lisa's return means that she's reunited with her best friend, Melanie Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite) for the first time in seventeen years. But enjoy it while it lasts because Tamzin Outhwaite will be disappointing us all by leaving EastEnders this autumn. Those of us who watched EastEnders back in the nineties will remember the special bond that Lisa and Mel had which encompassed two nineties phenomena - girl power and ladette culture. But what was really special about their friendship was how they supported each other through life's ups and downs, whether it was Mel's debacle of a marriage to Ian Beale, her almost equally disastrous marriage to Steve Owen, or Lisa's catastrophic relationship with Phil Mitchell, the girls always had each other's backs. That's not to say that their friendship was without problems. There was Lisa's jealousy of Mel at one time, and Mel, forgetting the meaning of loyalty as well as her dislike of Phil, mistook him for a cuddly toy and took him to bed! But this is soapland so all was (eventually) forgiven and the girls' bond was stronger than ever. When Lisa fled Walford to get away from Phil, she escaped to Portugal... where Mel was living! Throughout the show's thirty four year history, female friendships have been something of an underlying theme. Over the years, there's been Carly Wicks and Dawn Swann; Dot Branning and Yolande Truman; Lauren Branning and Lucy Beale, and Tanya Branning and Jane Beale. These female friendships have created some real heartwarming moments on the show. We take a look at some of the most memorable female double acts Walford has ever seen. 1. SHARON WATTS AND MICHELLE FOWLER Michelle's mum Pauline (Wendy Richard) once told Sharon (Letitia Dean) that she was the closest thing that Michelle (Susan Tully) would ever have to a sister. Pauline certainly knew what she was talking about because just as the girls loved each other like sisters, fought like sisters, fell out like sisters, they always made up again - just like sisters! A teenage Sharon and Michelle But Sharon and Michelle usually fell out over things that most sisters didn't typically argue about. Instead of clothes and make-up, they fought over their growing attraction to their mutual friend Kelvin Carpenter; Michelle getting shot by deranged Dougie, the 'friend' of Sharon's husband Grant; Sharon revealing her true identity to Michelle's daughter Vicki ("She's not my aunty, she's my sister.") And years later there was Sharon's shock discovery that her ex-husband Grant was the father of Michelle's son, Mark. Not to mention her disgust at learning that Michelle had been having a fling with one of her underage students. And of course the biggest fall-out occurred after Michelle revealed who Vicki's father was - Sharon's dad, Den! EastEnders fans will remember that fantastic two-hander when the truth came out in 1989 - the episode fans had eagerly been waiting three years for. Though understandably furious at first, Sharon's anger finally subsided, and she looked at the whole episode less about her best friend sleeping with her dad and more about Michelle giving her a sister. An atomic bomb could never destroy the lifelong bond between Sharon and Michelle, and the two women have always been incredibly supportive of the other. Michelle was Sharon's rock during the whole 'Sharongate' saga, while Sharon was there for Michelle when she returned from America with her marriage and career in tatters. These days Sharon is known on the Square for being Linda Carter's best mate but their friendship pales in comparison to Sharon and Michelle's. The rapport between Sharon and Michelle played out so effortlessly on-screen probably because Letitia Dean and Susan Tully are also very close friends in real life, with Susan on bridesmaid duty at Letitia's 2002 wedding. 2. ANGIE WATTS AND KATHY BEALE These days we're more used to seeing Kaff in the er, cafe but fans of the show from day one will remember that in a past life, the now-resurrected Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) was a barmaid at The Queen Vic and best friends with the landlady Angie Watts (Anita Dobson.) Their husbands Pete and Den were best friends, as were their kids, Ian and Sharon. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'keeping it in the family'! On the surface, the two women couldn't have been more different but they had a very strong friendship and were each other's closest confidant. Kathy worried a great deal about Angie and her alcoholism, and couldn't understand why Angie would put up with Den and his womanizing ways - the very thing that was driving Angie to drink and to have flings of her own. Angie in return was fiercely protective of her friend and provided a listening ear whenever Kathy was at loggerheads with her mother-in-law Lou, and during times of real crisis, for instance when Kathy was being blackmailed by Nick Cotton and the truth about her traumatic childhood was revealed. But that's not to say that the two friends didn't fall out from time to time. Kathy was disapproving of Angie's flings even though she knew it was Angie's way of getting her own back on Den, and she was disgusted when she learned that Angie was seeing Andy O'Brien. Then there was the time Angie delivered a slap that almost took Kathy's head off because she found out that Pete and Kathy had been covering for Den and his mistress, Jan. Poor Kath thought she was doing the right thing for all involved. But thirty seconds later, the row was forgotten as Angie and Kathy left Den in the lurch behind the bar, announcing that they were heading 'up west.' There were more testing times ahead for their friendship even after Angie had left Walford, when Sharon tried to seduce Kathy's fiancé Phil. Sharon tried to use Kathy's friendship with her mother to get back into her good books - but Kath was having none of it! With Angie departing, Kathy needed a new close friend who lived on the Square. That surprisingly turned out to be Pat Butcher, the first Mrs. Peter Beale and a woman Kathy once hated. But by the time Kathy left the Square to live in South Africa, Pat became 'the best friend I ever had.' Wonder what Angie would say about that! 3. DOT COTTON AND ETHEL SKINNER The friendship between Dot Cotton and Ethel Skinner was legendary and the stuff good laughs are made of. The pairing of straight-laced, easily-shocked Dot who was always quoting chapter and verse and mischievous, fun-loving Ethel with her cheeky glint and naughty cackle was comedy gold. Theirs was another friendship that went back to the early days of EastEnders , when along with Pauline's mother Lou, they were a trio of long-time friends who had remained close well into their old age. After Lou died in 1989, Ethel and Dot stayed firm friends, and their friendship created much of the shows more lighthearted moments. Who can forget the time Ethel was trying to comfort Dot after hearing that Dot's husband Charlie had died, and then very dramatically walked into The Vic, shocked and shaken, and made it all about her , announcing that Charlie had been "found decreased by the M25?" They may have been chalk and cheese and forever winding each other up but they had an incredibly strong bond, reinforced by a mutual love of gossip and reminiscing about the past. But there's no denying that both ladies had genuine hearts of gold and were always willing to help anyone in trouble. The two-hander featuring Dot and Ethel revealed the underlying sadness that was in their lives and the tragedy and trauma that they had endured, showing another side to the comedic double-act. In one of EastEnders most controversial storylines, Ethel, discovering that she was terminally ill, asked Dot to help her die - something committed Christian Dot was against. But when the time came, Dot gave her the pills, telling Ethel, "I only want you to be happy," with Ethel declaring that Dot was the best friend she ever had. And then in what had to be one of the most moving death scenes on the show, Ethel peacefully slipped away. But even death couldn't eradicate the bond that the two women had, and Dot made sure she visited Ethel's grave before heading to the church to become Mrs. Jim Branning, placing a rose from her bouquet on her best friend's grave. Dot is one of the most popular and well-loved of residents on the Square and over the years she has forged friendships with Lilly Mattock, Pauline Fowler, and Yolande Trueman, but nothing compares to her friendship with Ethel. 4. Tiffany Raymond and Bianca Jackson A mid-nineties version of Sharon and Michelle - although neither of them got off with each other's dads or ex-husbands (though Tiffany did find Bianca's dad David attractive but then... who didn't?) and in a decade that was all about girl power, Tiffany and Bianca personified this perfectly and breathed life into the Square. The girls were feisty, fun, always up for a laugh - and a party - and always attracted attention wherever they went - especially male attention! The girls definitely lived up to the 'girls just wanna have fun' tagline. Tiff and B were no pushovers and you didn't want to get on the wrong side of either of them - especially Bianca. Just ask Ricky! But they both had good hearts and looked out for those they cared about. That of course included each other. They may have disagreed and argued but they were never angry with each other for long. Bianca had previously been best friends with Natalie Price - until she found out that Natalie had been having a fling with her boyfriend Ricky and was hellbent on splitting them up. Then Bianca brought her childhood friend Tiffany (who most of us recognized as one third of pop trio, Milan!) to a house party at the Jacksons' and viewers were introduced to a new, iconic character - not to mention the beginning of a new, iconic friendship.... Being headstrong and fiery, arguments were inevitable - Bianca obviously wasn't happy when Tiffany struck up a friendship with Ricky's ex-wife, Sam Mitchell (who incidentally would go on to become Tiffany's sister-in-law following Tiff's marriage to Grant Mitchell) but the girls were always there for each other and supported each other with whatever crisis the other was facing. This included Tiffany becoming pregnant and caught in a love triangle with Tony Hills and Grant; problems in her marriage to Grant, and Bianca's relationship issues with Ricky. Bianca was devastated when Tiffany decided to leave Walford for Spain in order to get away from Grant. But what Bianca didn't know was that real heartbreak was around the corner as just moments after saying their goodbyes, Tiffany was run over and killed as she argued with Grant in the Square. One of the strongest examples of female friendship came to an end that day but Tiffany's legacy lives on in Albert Square through Bianca's daughter who was named after her - and is equally as strong-willed and feisty. Unfortunately there is no chance of Tiffany ever gracing the Square with her presence but fans will be delighted that Patsy Palmer who played Bianca will be (briefly) reprising her role later this year. 5. GITA KAPOOR AND CINDY BEALE Yep, Gita and Cindy's friendship really did make the list! When we said that this was a list of five memorable female friendships in Walford, we didn't say that they were all memorable for all the right reasons! In fact as memorable as this was, it was barely a friendship! Everybody knew that when Cindy Williams-Beale-wanna-be-Wicks was around, you had to lock up your husbands, boyfriends, brothers, fathers, Old Father Time; you name it... if it was the male of the species, there was a strong possibility that Cindy was eyeing it up! Needless to say this was hardly the type of person that the women of Walford were going to warm to, let alone knock back cocktails with. So it was lucky for not-so-lovely Cindy when she met Gita Kapoor - who, at the time, was quite easily the most irritating woman in Walford! Gossiping, prying, interfering, always putting her foot in it, it's no wonder she didn't have many friends herself although she did get on very well with Ruth Fowler and Bianca Jackson. But Gita's heart, if not her mouth, was usually in the right place, and she clearly saw something good in Cindy that the rest of the Square didn't - something that remains an unsolved mystery to this day! Cindy did what she did best and found someone she could make use of and so began one of the most one-sided friendships in Walford. It's not that Cindy didn't care about Gita, but Cindy being Cindy, she tended to put herself first and found Gita came in handy when it came to looking after the kids; having someone to hang out with when there was no one else, or covering up for her so husband Ian didn't find out what she was really getting up to - or with whom! Gita, on the other hand, saw herself as a bit of a protector and was very loyal to Cindy and often stuck up for her. She tried to warn off her husband Sanjay's old friend, market inspector Richard 'Tricky Dicky' Cole, when he was making advances towards Cindy. Gita even publicly took on David Wicks in the Queen Vic after his affair with Cindy and it's consequences (i.e. - Cindy hiring a hit man to bump off Ian so she could run off with David) caused Cindy to flee the Square without even saying goodbye to her friend - something that hurt Gita very much. Cindy upon her return, however, and hearing that Gita had gone missing, showed concern for her bezzie mate for all of five seconds and then her 'friend' was never mentioned again. Gita and Sanjay left the Square after the true paternity of Gita's son was revealed - how ironic for someone who was always prodding and poking about in other people's business - and Cindy died after giving birth to her daughter while in prison. But it's safe to say that had Cindy lived, it's highly unlikely that these two would even have been Facebook friends let alone besties! Which EastEnders' female friendships stands out for you and why? Photos from YouTube Word cloud logo designed by Angel Noire

Hi Nostalgiacs! I flew back home to America last week and I'm already missing London loads. Hardly a surprise as I am a die-hard Londoner! I really enjoyed catching up with family and friends, and just having a good old wonder around town - which included visits to soho; Freddie Mercury's former Kensington home and a night out at Bill Wyman's restaurant, Sticky Fingers. Mr. D and I also celebrated us having been a couple for ten years with a wander around Hyde Park and a peddle-boat ride... something we used to do in the old days! I didn't get to see everyone or do all the things I had planned to do - funnily enough a month isn't long enough for all that even though it deceivingly seems so! Never mind - it's a good excuse to head back to London at some point soon. But just in case you're wondering, I am happy to be back in America, in my own home, getting back to my projects and my work, as well as enjoying a quieter, gentler pace of life that exists out here in rural New England. As most people who have moved to another country will say, you're never happy - when you're in one country, you suddenly find yourself wanting to be in the other. In an ideal world, I'd do six months in the UK and six months in the US. Mr. D. says that the only way that can happen is if we have a very big lottery win, and seeing as neither of us ever buys a ticket, even a small win isn't on the cards! Oh well - it's a nice thought! Other than seeing family, friends and tucking into decent fish n' chips, one highlight of the trip was the amazingly huge stack of magazines I received courtesy of a lovely young man, MJ, who like me collects vintage magazines and is a complete nostalgia nut! I meet a lot of interesting, kind-hearted people in the most random and bizarre ways and MJ is no exception. Around three years ago, I bought a bunch of magazines from, you guessed it, MJ. I thought that would be the last I heard from him when a few months later, he left a comment on my then blog for a post about vintage magazines. I think we both realised then what a small world it really was! Since then we've kept in touch, swapping notes on our magazine collection among other things. When MJ heard I was going to be in London, he very kindly offered to give me the copies of the magazines that he had doubles of. I was only expecting a handful of mags but I got much, much more than that. What was astounding is that MJ refused to accept a penny for them which is surprising considering he could have sold the lot. He really is a sweetheart and I'm very lucky to have gotten to know him - and not because of the freebie magazines! It's always lovely to meet someone who restores your faith in humanity. MJ - thank you for your very big-hearted gesture. You rock! x I had been back in America for only a few hours when I got the shock of my life! Well, a shock anyway. I cannot believe that the Alessi Twins are making their way back to Ramsay Street! WHAT??? NO WAY!!! It has been almost thirty years since Caroline Alessi and Christina Robinson left Erinsborough for new lives in Italy and Hawaii respectively. Fans felt that it was unlikely that the twins would ever set foot in Ramsay Street again, especially as the actresses who played Caroline and Christina, Gayle Blakeney and Gillian Blakeney, appeared to have given up acting and have since relocated to California where they've been living for more than twenty years. It goes without saying that Neighbours fans who remember the soap in its heyday will be delighted by this completely unexpected surprise (OK, true - all surprises are unexpected!) It's not known what their storyline will be or when their return will air but we cannot wait! No doubt they will be locking horns with Paul (who doesn't?) and be making a real impact on Ramsay street just as they did all those years ago. And as nostalgic as it is for Neighbours fans to have the Alessi Twins return, it must no doubt be equally nostalgic for the Blakeneys to be back on set, reunited with Stefan Dennis who plays Paul Robinson - Christina's ex-husband - and the crew of Neighbours, some of whom would have worked on the show when they were on it. I'm sure it'll be a short stint which is disappointing but it'll be great to see Caroline and Christina back again. As I said, we can't wait!

Nostalgia: A yearning for the past in an often idealized form; the state of being homesick; a wistful longing to return to a past period or irrecoverable condition… the dictionary definitions of nostalgia don’t sound very appealing: who wants to be some wishy washy person who lives in the past? And quite often a wishy washy person who lives in a past which never really existed except in the imaginations of certain writers... and people we know! And OK - ourselves too! We all remember rolling our eyes at stories told by our parents and grandparents of a time when “you could leave your doors and windows open when you went to work and came home to find a banquet waiting for you.” Of course if you tried that today you’d be lucky to still find a carton of milk in your refrigerator - providing they hadn’t made off with your refrigerator in the first place! I like to think of myself as a thoroughly modern missy who moves with the times and rolls with the changes but come on - who doesn’t get a little sentimental and wistful at times? Who doesn’t come over all warm and fuzzy when they catch a re-run of a TV show they used to watch with their mum after school? Who doesn’t feel gooey when they bite into a cookie that tastes just like the ones Grandma used to make?   I know I bubble over with excitement when I flick through a magazine or switch on the TV and come across one of my (many) teen crushes, whose posters used to adorn my walls. And my friends and I are always laughing about stories from our school days - which admittedly are a lot more in the distant past than we’d like to admit (weren't the Nineties just ten years ago???) Anything that reminds us of our childhood, teenage years and early adulthood immediately transports us to a time when things were simpler; less stressful, and way more fun - or so we like to think anyway! But whatever the past may or may not have been, anything that makes you happy and lighthearted cannot be a bad thing. That’s why I don’t regard nostalgia as sentimental hogwash but yummy and warming comfort food to enliven an often tired, weary and jaded soul. And when you think that the word is derived from the Greek nostos meaning to return home, you realize how apt it is. Especially for me; a Brit chick who now lives the States, I have a yearning not just for times gone by, but for all things British that remind me of the place in which I grew up and still refer to as 'home.' Don’t get me wrong - I like the here and now; I like where I am at this stage in my life, and I'm grateful for the advancements in technology and medicine that we have now. But if there was a time machine which could transport you back to a simpler time for an hour or so (OK, maybe more like a month or so) then I'm so in that thing! The past is great but the best in life is yet to come… Have fun reminiscing! Photos:YouTube, Pixabay and Angel's own Word cloud by Angel Noire

Well I got back from London town some time ago - but I'm still recovering! I always tell people that when you go home, it's never a holiday. So I need a holiday to get over the 'holiday.' It's not that I didn't enjoy myself but every time I go back to London, I'm so busy trying to fit in seeing all of my family and friends; visit the places I really want to go to, and do copious amounts of shopping, hauling back all of the things that are hard/impossible to find, or too expensive to buy in the States. And as always, I suffered from major burnout well before we even reached the end of our stay! But there were definitely some highlights to this trip. I got to meet the newest addition to my sister's household - little kitten Rocky as named by her kids. Everyone told them that Rocky was more a name for a dog but they didn't care so Rocky it was! Growing up, we never had pets in our house due to allergies; illnesses, and Mum refusing to add another thing to her list of responsibilities ("You're the ones asking for a pet but I'll be the one who has to look after it!") I never felt as though I was missing out on anything by not having pets - well you can't miss what you never had. Also back then, I'm not sure how much of an 'animal' person I really was. As a tween, then teen, then young adult, it was all about hanging out with my friends, having fun and spending as little time at home as possible - a far cry from my life now! And while we still don't have any official pets at our home now in America, we consider the myriad of wildlife creatures who visit our home - the turkeys, rabbits, gophers, squirrels, chipmunks, and huge variety of birds - our pets, always making sure they're fed, watered and have everything they need. The fact that they keep coming back means that they feel happy, comfortable and safe here. So we're doing something right! But anyway back to Rocky who is just the cutest little kitty I've ever seen. He's the first actual pet that anyone in my immediate family has ever owned so he's already very special. I so wanted to stick him in my suitcase and sneak him back home with us! I did tell my sister that he always has a holiday home with us. We also got to visit my old neighbourhood in East London to visit my aunts and uncles and as always we had a great time hanging out and catching up on everyone's news. Another highlight was taking our niece and nephew to the Air Festival in Bournemouth. It was their first time going to the coastal town and they loved it. For The Mister and I, it was also special being back in Bournemouth because it was our first time visiting again in well over a decade. We had lived there briefly after getting married and it was supposed to have been our forever home, but while we feel a little sad that it didn't work out, we're not sorry as life had something else in store for us which was just as good so we can't complain. But we do miss the beautiful beaches and gardens, as well as our good friend Robert who we lost touch with over the years. Oh not forgetting the chip shop that did the most amazing fishcakes! And funnily enough that's where my foray into blogging really took off with some of my earliest blog posts (for the old Nostalgia Pie site) having been written while we were living in Bournemouth. Our time there may have been brief, but it was a crazy time with some very interesting stories to tell. I'm glad we were able to give our niece and nephew a peak into our old life - which occurred only a short time before they were born. Bournemouth we missed you! Hopefully it won't be another twelve years until we're back... We also threw a surprise birthday dinner for my mum. It was a surprise because her birthday wasn't for another month! But as her next birthday is a milestone one and we won't be there to celebrate with her, we thought we'd have a little birthday get-together while we were all in the same city. So we did! My mum's face was an absolute picture when she saw her cake coming out and we all started singing happy birthday. Until then she thought it was a farewell dinner for me and The Mister! But she thoroughly enjoyed her night and everyone had fun. It was also a bit of a celebration for my dad too as this year, he finally realized his dream of becoming a published author - something he'd wanted for pretty much his whole life. When I was a child, Dad would always be working away on one novel or another - as well as running his business full-time - while Mum, a typist by trade, would be bashing away at the keys on the typewriter (yep, it was typewriters back then, kids!) And we would always have publishers, agents and other literary types over at our house for dinner or tea. As children we struck up quite a bond with some of them, although we're no longer in touch. What can I say, it was the eighties and people didn't keep in touch the same way we do now. We didn't have all those apps, sites and free minutes for a start! It was a very memorable time in all our lives and I'm glad that even though it took a long time, Dad finally achieved his goal. We're also very honoured that we got to take our niece for her first day at secondary school. She was very nervous to be starting not just a new school but a new stage of her life. And being the big girl that she is now, she didn't want her new schoolmates to see her being walked to school by her uncle, aunt and grandma, and wanted us to disappear as we were approaching the school gates - but my mum was having none of it ("Look - It's the first day. All the other kids are being taken to school by their families!") Everyone always says that school days are the best days of your life. Unfortunately for me, where secondary school is concerned, I'd say I had far better days rebooting an old computer! But there were of course some good things to come out of it. I met people who I am friends with to this day, and got to know teachers who inspired and me and played their part in shaping me into the teacher that I am today (I also encountered teachers who taught me how not to be but the less said about them, the better!) So I hope that for my niece and all those other kids who have also started this new journey, that their days at secondary school will be a lot more of a positive experience for them than it was for me, and that they will go on to do really great things. Good luck, kids! Of course I brought back half my weight in chocolate, biscuits and all kinds of goodies. Unfortunately I think I left my two Soreen loaves at my parents' house. Never mind - I'll just have to buy double the amount next time. I also had three boxes shipped out here full of nostalgic items that I've kept for eons without even realizing it. It's almost as though my past self knew I was going to be a nostalgia blogger!

OK, we’re back in the nineties and we’re back at school. A lot of the kids in class are excitedly chatting away because they’ve got tickets to the New Kids concert in London as part of their Magic Summer Tour to promote their new studio album, Step By Step . I’m one of the kids who unfortunately won’t be going, so for me it’s anything but magic! As per usual, I’ll have to make do with seeing Jordan, Donnie, Jon, Danny and Joe via the poster-covered walls of my room, and playing the Step By Step album until it annoys my parents (It doesn’t usually take long for that to happen!)   Now fast forward to 2024, and here I am with a slightly better hairstyle; a bit taller (only a bit!) and I’m a fully-fledged adult (who still finds ‘adulting’ - not a word back in my day - mega hard!) But one of the few things that hasn’t changed, despite me no longer being a teenybopper, is my devotion to New Kids on the Block. Or New Kids. Or NKOTB. Though one other considerable difference is that instead of annoying my parents, it’s now my husband who gets fed up of hearing New Kids’ tracks being blasted out ("I thought I was marrying a rock chick. I can’t believe you’re actually a Blockhead!") So there’s no chance of him getting on the floor and doing the New Kids dance! But when the New Kids announced their Magic Summer Tour for 2024 - 34 years after they first promised us a Magic Summer, well - there was no way I was missing out for a second time! The Magic Summer 2024 Tour was to promote their latest album Still Kids , but it still promised to be a nostalgia-fest and a trip back to the late eighties/early nineties, from the #wearneon hashtag to the announcement of Paul Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff as support acts. Massive perms, frosted eyeshadow and iridescent lip gloss were optional! It promised to be a nostalgia-packed journey back to the days of scrunchies; LA Gear trainers, and questionable dance moves. As a life-long Blockhead, I couldn’t wait to finally attend a Magic Summer concert (albeit a slightly different one!) relive my tween dreams, and break out those old-school dance moves!  Step One: We Can Have Lots of Fun! We initially wanted to go to the Boston gig seeing as Boston was the home of the New Kids and it was the venue that was closest to us. But due to schedule conflicts, we ended up going to the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut which ended up being a lot further away than we initially thought but still worth the effort (I would say that - I wasn’t driving!) On arrival - and getting into free parking (yes, thank you!) we could see that the place was heaving with excited fans (who said New Kids’ days were over???)  many of whom looked as though they’d been transported through time from the late twentieth century to the early twenty-first century - and OK they got a little older on the way over! Everybody was ready to party as though it was 1989; the atmosphere was buzzing, and the air was heavily fragranced with the sweet scent of nostalgia. Or maybe it was The  Body Shop’s Dewberry perfume courtesy of eBay! But whatever it was - we were all ready to get busy!  Even before we’d got to the entrance, there was no denying we were in the right place - the mix of neon and New Kids on the Block t-shirts kind of gave it away! Back in the day, the predominant group of fans you’d find at a New Kids concert would have been tween-teen girls. But now New Kids fans are a mix of ages, from the band’s ‘day one’ fans (like me!) to the younger crowd who grew to like the New Kids since their 2008 reunion. And not forgetting the actual kids who hear NKOTB played a lot at home, courtesy of their mums, and who were probably bemused at their mothers shrieking ‘Jordan, I love you,’ every two minutes! Oh and let's not forget the husbands and boyfriends of those 'day one' fans who were very easy to spot - they were the guys who looked as they they were wishing they could be anywhere other than at a New Kids concert (The Fella was one of them!) Forever Your Girl The New Kids often collaborate with other big name artists for their tours. In the past, they’ve toured with En Vogue, Naughty By Nature, Rick Astley, and Boyz II Men to name just a few. This time they were supported by DJ Jazzy Jeff (Hey - where’s Will?) and Paula Abdul. Paula opened the show with a beautifully choreographed, story-based half-hour dance routine to some of her hits which included flamboyant costume changes and where she generously allowed her dancers to take centre-stage. NKOTB may have been the headline act but it was clear that Paula did indeed have a lot of fans out in the crowd. She may been known these days for having been a judge on American Idol , but many of us remember Paula Abdul for her string of hits back in the eighties and nineties when she was a very popular recording artist, and I was reminded of just how awesome she was - and still is! Don’t You Know That The Time Has Arrived! Oh goodness, the moment we’d all been waiting for! If the atmosphere was buzzing before we’d even entered the venue, it was positively crackling now. The screaming started as soon as the lights dimmed. Then we saw five silhouettes rising from the floor of the stage - cue mass hysteria. Then the lights shone brightly and there stood Donnie, Jordan, Joey, Danny, and Jonathan right in front of us. A venue full of born-again fourteen year olds absolutely lost their $#!+ - and who could blame them! The New Kids kicked off the show with  Magic - the tour’s official anthem. There were slick dance moves, smooth vocals, and Donnie and Jordan flashed their abs more than a Magic Mike dancer (eat your heart out, Channing Tatum!)  Well, you’ve got to give the fans what they came to see! I Can Remember When Back in the day, all the cool kids got tickets to New Kids’ concerts.  I clearly wasn’t a cool kid (nor am I now!) Cinderella may have wanted to go to the ball and meet Prince Charming, but I wanted to go to a Magic Summer Concert and see the five bad brothers from the Beantown land perform! Back then my family weren't exactly rolling in it, so there wasn't much money left over for luxuries such as concert tickets for the hottest pop act du jour. Furthermore my parents didn't really get the infatuation us kids had with certain pop artists (seriously Mum - you had David Cassidy and the Bay City Rollers!) So while Cinderella got her wish, I wasn't so lucky so had to live vicariously through my classmates who were fortunate enough to go. I was of course disappointed that I wasn't lucky enough to see my future husband Jordan, Donnie and co. in the flesh... But if someone had told me back then that I would finally get my wish and bag a ticket to a Magic Summer gig and I'd only have to wait around three decades, maybe I'd have cheered up a lot sooner! I mean what’s three decades, right? Got a Funny Feeling… Seeing the band perform on stage was a case of goosebumps galore, and my mind was cast back to a time when life was all about the New Kids - and nothing else! I would buy anything and everything that had their faces on it. I would watch every show I knew they’d be appearing on. My best friend went one better and hung around the BBC studios near her home (she was lucky enough to have her big sister take her) when the New Kids were there (I think they were appearing on Wogan !) In short, I was a typical Blockhead (but without the concert tickets!) And like millions of other girls, I was convinced that I was going to marry Jordan Knight! Because of the New Kids on the Block, I developed a real fascination with New England. I read up about it as much as I could because I was certain that once I became Mrs. Knight, I’d be setting up home in New England. Well a good couple of decades later, I did get married and I did move to New England. But I’m not Mrs. Jordan Knight and that’s totally fine with me, which I’m sure will be music to the ears of the real Mrs. Knight - and of course my husband!  I wonder what my tween self would have made of all that! Get Down Haha! OK, this is where I have to admit to something I really didn't want to but seeing as The Fella has been telling everyone who'll listen, I kind of don't have a choice! Haha! So the guys were on stage performing an extended version of Tonight - extended because this was the part of the show where the boys were mingling with the crowd. The Fella and I were seated in the third level of the amphitheater - where we were right at the front of our section - but naturally I was very envious of all those who were in the standing pit who got to hi-five the New Kids. Donnie Wahlberg - the reason for my downfall I could see on the big screen that the New Kids were practically being mauled by all those die-hard fans. But when I peered over the barriers and looked into the standing area, I couldn't see the boy anywhere. I suspected that they were more towards the back and out of sight. Next thing I knew a big group of people rushed down the walkway right in front of me. I just assumed they were on the hunt for the bathroom or desperate to buy a drink. But then amongst the crowd, I spotted the emergence of a sparkly cap. "Oh that looks like the cap Donnie was wearing," I thought. And then the realization dawned on me... "Oh my gosh, i-i-is that Donnie?" I asked the man. "Yeah, that's him," The Fella replied, flatly. Oh my goodness! Donnie was only a few feet away from us and that was the closest I've ever been to one of my idols. As we were right at the front of our section, I knew he would see us. While hyperventilating, I whipped of my glasses like a secretary in a budget movie, and started to smooth down my hair and look somewhat presentable for the arrival of Donnie Wahlberg. And then it happened... I got weak in the knees, my legs turned to jelly and I collapsed! That's right I collapsed, with The Fella catching me just before I hit the ground. Goodness only knows what the people around me thought. Donnie, totally oblivious to the chaos that was occurring just a few feet away and that he had just put my marriage in jeopardy, turned around and headed back to the stage. Didn’t I Blow Your Mind This Time? Oh they absolutely did! I waited thirty four years for a Magic Summer and it goes without saying that it was worth the wait. From the moment the guys rose up on stage until the time they took their final bow, it wasn’t like Magic - it was Magic! It’s difficult to say which was the stand out moment for me because everything was amazing. I sang my little heart out as though I was a New Kid myself, and tried to do the New Kids’ dance as best as you can while you’re in the stands - you don’t want to kick anyone! A teacher from Connecticut got up on stage with the guys and rapped along to Summertime (Will Smith’s version, funnily enough, not the New Kids’ one!) and there was even a proposal up on stage, where a guy asked his Blockhead girlfriend to marry him. Luckily for him she accepted. That was a brave thing for him to do considering they were surrounded by his fiancee's teen idols! “Why couldn’t you have done something like that?” I asked The Fella. “Because you’d have been too busy gawping at Jordan while I’m trying to get the words out,” he replied.   He may have a point! The main purpose of this tour was to promote their latest musical offering Still Kids which is absolutely brilliant. But you can’t be a New Kid, put on a show, and not perform the hits that made you the legends that you are. So there was a great mix of old and new hits to make long-time and new Blockheads very happy. I did get a little emotional though when Donnie talked about how good it was to be home and how a short trip down I-90 takes him back to where they all started. I realized then that one of my little tween dreams did come true - I had made it to New Kids Land and I get to call it home. How many people get to have a dream like that come true? It was all the more poignant because moving out here - even though it had been a long-held ambition of mine - wasn’t easy and I was homesick like you wouldn’t believe. But the last few years have got a little better and I know how lucky I am to be here.   I’ll Be Loving You Forever As the final notes of Hangin’ Tough  echoed through the arena, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Sure, my feet were killing me, and no doubt I was going to pay for that two-hour dance marathon the next day, but it was worth every second. The New Kids may have a few more years on them (don’t we all!) but they’ve still Got It (The Right Stuff) -  and so do we Blockheads! I tried to capture the moment as best I could with my phone (something that wouldn’t have happened at Magic Summer 1990) but it’s hard to get great shots on a frankly, rubbish phone, while you’re jigging around and trying to snap the guys mid spin. It would have been even harder if they were still break dancing like they were back in the day! But my out-of-focus snaps still serve as a reminder of a great night out - and a dream come true.  Leaving the concert, I couldn’t help but think about how music has this incredible ability to transport us back to simpler times. I’m already thinking about the next NKOTB concert - and I can’t wait! I’ve been on a nostalgia high ever since, playing NKOTB practically on repeat (not exactly something new!) The Fella is not so amused by this but then - he knew what he was getting into when he married a Blockhead!  My journey as an NKOTB fan continues... To steal a fellow Blockhead's quote, I definitely chose the right boy band to love.

It has been announced that Tim Robards who plays Neighbours ' Pierce Grayson has quit the top Aussie soap due to family commitments. Although the character was due to be leaving Ramsay Street in the foreseeable future when his contract was up anyway, they've decided to call in a new actor, Don Hany, to take over the role and complete Pierce's storyline, rather than write out the character immediately. Goodbye Tim! It's not the first time that Neighbours - or other soaps for that matter - have had to recast a main character. But while it's quite normal for child actors to be recast as the character they portray gets older, it's not as common to recast adult members of the main cast. Sometimes it's worked to great effect - while at other times it's been a complete disaster. The bottom line is that no one knows how audiences are going to react to a character with a new head until it actually happens! And hello Don! Viewers are concerned as to whether or not the new actor will play the role in the same way as their predecessor; if the character will undergo a massive personality transformation, and the big question... will their screen family notice that a member of their family now has a new face, new accent and is six inches taller???? Despite all those concerns, it's odd to believe that on the whole, recasts usually do work. Initial reservations aside, viewers eventually forget that the character was originally played by a different actor, and in some cases the actor who has taken over the role has proved to be so successful that audiences are glad that the old actor moved on to other things! For our list of five recasts that worked out well, we were struggling to limit it to just five, so it's proof that sometimes a change can be a good thing. We take a look at some of the more successful recasts in soap history. 1. Pippa Fletcher (Home and Away) Played by: Vanessa Downing (1988-90) Debra Lawrance (1990-2009) Vanessa Downing and Debra Lawrance as Home and Away 's Pippa When Home and Away first began, the role of Summer Bay supermum Pippa Fletcher was played by blonde, curly-haired Vanessa Downing. So imagine our surprise when we tuned into watch Home and Away as per usual, and in the opening credits stood an auburn haired lady near the rose bushes where Pippa normally appeared. Well this lady was Pippa - the new Pippa played by Debra Lawrance. Most UK viewers were unaware that Vanessa Downing had left Home and Away and the part of Pippa had been recast. Once the shock had worn off, viewers saw that Debra did an excellent job of playing Pippa and effortlessly seemed to pick up where Vanessa had left off which isn't something that a lot of actors are able to do. So viewers felt that it was the same character - but with a brand new face! There was perhaps only a slight difference in the way the two Pippas were portrayed: Downing's Pippa was a little more trendy and fun-loving, whereas Lawrance's was more earth mother. But both actresses got the compassionate, sensitive and loving side of Summer Bay's favourite foster mum just right. Although viewers were sorry to see Vanessa go, in many ways it seemed to make sense because although she had great chemistry with Roger Oakley who played her screen husband Tom, it would have been hard to imagine her with new on-screen husband, Michael Ross, played by Dennis Coard. Dennis and Debra had a fabulous connection and played Mr. and Mrs. Ross incredibly well. So well in fact, that the actors who played them actually got hitched in real life and are still happily married today with two children. Both Debra and Vanessa did such an excellent job of playing Pippa that we couldn't possibly say who played the role better, and the recasting of this character is a great example of how recasts can be a complete success. 2. Peggy Mitchell (EastEnders) Played by: Jo Warne (1991) Barbara Windsor (1994-2010, 2013-2016) Jo Warne and Barbara Windsor as EastEnders ' Peggy Mitchell The late actress Jo Warne had originally played the role of Phil and Grant's mum Peggy for around ten episodes in the early nineties. When they decided to bring back the character three years later on a more permanent basis, the role was given to Barbara Windsor. Although Barbara was a very well established actress, more often than not, people thought of her purely as the girl from the Carry On films. But EastEnders changed all that, with Windsor helping to make Peggy Mitchell one of the most iconic characters on the Square - and she really gave Angie Watts a run for her money in the best-loved landlady stakes! When Jo Warne played Peggy, the character had a toughness to her (well, she was a Mitchell!) but you could see that her life revolved around her boys and she was quite mumsy: she never really spent much time or money on herself. But when Barbara Windsor took on the role, she didn't want Peggy to be a downtrodden, frumpy mum in cheap clothing who was always running around after her wayward sons. And it was on her suggestion that Peggy became the polished, coiffed queen of The Vic that viewers grew to know and love. Oh and she was feisty - nobody got the better of Peggy and those slaps she used to dish out were legendary! Peggy may have been tiny but she was the only person who could put the fear of God into those two big, burley Mitchell brothers. Who played Peggy best? Jo Warne did a very good job in her brief portrayal of Peggy Mitchell in the early days, but Barbara Windsor was born to play the role of the Mitchell matriarch and she did so to perfection. Now get outta my pub! 3. Scott Robinson (Neighbours) Played by: Darius Perkins (1985) Jason Donovan (1986-1989) Darius Perkins and Jason Donovan as Scott Robinson in Neighbours If ever there was an example of a successful-beyond-belief recast, then this would be it! This recast was so successful, it gave legendary status both to the character Scott Robinson, and also to Jason Donovan who was the second actor to play him. When Neighbours first began in 1985, the role of Jim Robinson's youngest son was played by the late Darius Perkins. Then the following year, viewers saw this kid with a blond mullet lounging around the Robinson's home who was apparently the new Scott Robinson. "They could have at least picked an actor who looked a lot like the last one," most of us thought, and believed this recast was going to be highly unsuccessful. Ooh, how wrong we were! The new actor, Jason Donovan, although quite well known in Australia, was not familiar to British audiences, but his stunning good looks soon caught everyone's attention... and it wasn't long before the name Jason Donovan was on everyone's lips. Not only did Jason make the role his own, propelling Scott Robinson into the realm of soap legends, but Mr. Donovan became something of an icon and a teen heart-throb himself. Was there a kid in eighties' and nineties' Britain and Australia who didn't know who Jason Donovan was? Scott's chemistry with his on-screen wife, Charlene played by Kylie Minogue (which famously spilled over into real-life) was off the scale! No one else could have played Ramsay Street's iconic couple quite like Jason and Kylie did, and even today they are one of the most well-remembered of all the couples in the Aussie soap - even among viewers who were born long-after Scott and Charlene had left Erinsborough. The reason why the role of Scott Robinson was recast is unclear although it was speculated that issues had arisen between Perkins and Neighbours bosses. And there's no doubt that Darius Perkins did a great job in playing Scott - hence why it took the audience a while to warm to the new Scott - but it was Donovan who took the character to another level and made Scott Robinson the iconic character that he is. 4. Steven Carrington (Dynasty) Played by: Al Corely (1980, 1991) Jack Coleman (1984-1990) Al Corley and Jack Coleman as Steven Carrington in Dynasty Ah, Steven Carrington... The only one of Blake's children to give him as little headache as possible. Well, after his youngest child Kristina anyway! Dynasty's Steven Carrington was a character well ahead of his time as he was one of the few openly gay TV characters at a time when TV generally steered clear of introducing gay characters, especially as part of the main cast. And furthermore during the latter part of the twentieth century, actors who were gay in real-life were usually forced to keep quiet about their sexuality. It tells you everything you need to know about the attitudes of those times (we admit it guys, not everything was good about the good ol' days!) Gay characters had of course featured on TV soaps and dramas before, but the role of Steven Carrington was still something of a breakthrough. When the soap first began, Blake Carrington's younger son Steven was played by Al Corely for two seasons. Then Al decided to leave because he wasn't happy with the direction the character was going in, so Steven was written out in a storyline which saw him go missing in a helicopter crash. When he was eventually found two years later in a hospital after having reconstructive facial surgery, he was played by Jack Coleman, who continued to play Steven until the soap was axed in 1990. However the role of Steven Carrington went back to being played by Al Corley during Dynasty: The Reunion in 1991 when Coleman was unavailable due to working on other projects. How fitting, we think, that Steven's journey should end with the actor who first played him. Fans of the soap opera set in Colorado, may have a 'favourite' Steven but we think both actors did a great job in playing the conflicted Carrington. 5. Sam Mitchell (EastEnders) Played by: Danniella Westbrook (1990-1993, 1995-96, 2009-2010, 2016) Kim Medcalf (2003-2005) Dannielle Westbrook and Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell in EastEnders Whenever people think of actress Danniella Westbrook, they often think of her EastEnders character Sam Mitchell, and the Mitchell's baby sister had been played by Westbrook since the character appeared on the Square back in 1990. Westbrook had made guest appearances since leaving the cast as a regular character, but when bosses decided to bring back Sam in 2002 as part of the main cast again, they shocked fans by not only recasting the character but by having her played by a relatively unknown actress, Kim Medcalf. Because most viewers were unfamiliar with Medcalf, they didn't know quite what she would be like in the role of Sam. Furthermore nobody could imagine Sam Mitchell being played by anyone other than Danniella Westbrook. Surely this was a recipe for disaster! Well actually it wasn't! Medcalf could easily have copied Westbrook's representation of princessy, spoilt, whiney Sam. And even though the new Sam was still a devious man-eating minx, she was more sophisticated seductress to Westbrook's teenage temptress. Medcalf's portrayal was a little edgier and more mature. This Sam was more determined and eager to prove that she was as tough as her older brothers. It was Medcalf who played Sam during the Who Killed Den plot - one of the biggest storylines in the soap's history, and she gave an outstanding performance as the tormented and guilt-ridden Mitchell for her role in the murder of the iconic pub landlord. Kim Medcalf decided to leave the show in 2005 when Sam went on the run. Since then the Mitchell sister has made a few brief returns to Walford where she has always been played by the original actress Danniella Westbrook... although fans still want to see Medcalf return. Both actresses brought something different to the table with regards to playing Sam Mitchell. Danniella Westbrook will always be closely associated with the role that made her a household name in Britain. But nobody could ever fault Kim Medcalf's perfect portrayal of the Mitchell sister. Which soap recast do you think was a complete success? Photos: YouTube Word cloud: Angel Noire

We hope you enjoyed the first part of our post The Day The Music Changed the World where we look at the iconic benefit gig that was Live Aid. Now here's part two! Queen: Royalty that rocked! When the band chose to call themselves Queen, they must have caught a glimpse into the future and knew that one day they would be ruling Britain. They may only have reigned for around twenty minutes but it was enough to consolidate their already established position as rock royalty forever. All hail the new Queen! Queen was a very late addition to the set, so late in fact they barely had time to rehearse. Many thought their performance would be a flop. But it was the complete opposite. By far! If Wembley Stadium had had a roof, forget raising the roof; Queen's electrifying performance would've blitzed it to pieces. Not only was it the highlight of the night, but Queen's performance at Live Aid has gone down as one of the best musical performances in history. Hardly anyone talks about Live Aid without mentioning that iconic performance, which included their hits Bohemian Rhapsody , Hammer to Fall , and ending with We Are The Champions. There are people born long after 1985 who know all about the day Queen rocked Live Aid, and of course this performance features heavily in the film Bohemian Rhapsody . What's the betting that come 2085, people will still be hailing Queen's Live aid set as the best musical performance ever? It'll be all right on the night! Live Aid was in the days before the mighty internet and technology as we know it - and have it - today. To have a live dual-venue, transatlantic concert with a large-scale satellite link-up that was widely televised around the world with the then-existing technology and resources was wildly ambitious. And credit where credit is due - the organizers and crew managed to pull it off successfully for the most part. But technical limitations combined with the fact that it was broadcast live meant that things weren't always all right on the night... Mick Jagger and David Bowie were due to perform a transatlantic duet, with each artist in on either side of the pond. But due to problems with synchronisation which couldn't be fixed, that idea was scrapped and instead Jagger and Bowie filmed a video clip of Dancing in the Street which was shown on screens at both stadiums. Paul McCartney had technical difficulties when his mic failed to work for the first two minutes of his performance of Let It Be . Technical issues and a lack of synchronisation meant that the BBC had to omit the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young performance from their broadcast. MTV provided a separate US feed for cable viewers, broadcast in stereo, and accessible for those with stereo televisions. At the time, before multichannel television sound was enacted nationwide, very few televisions reproduced stereo signals and few television stations were able to broadcast in stereo. The BBC ran the telecast free of commercials but American broadcasts included commercials. This meant that the American viewing public missed out on performances that were going on during the commercial breaks. Duran Duran, who were playing at Philadelphia, gave a very energetic performance that got the crowd jumping... but it was one little off-key note towards the end of View To A Kill , as singer Simon Le Bon attempted a falsetto, that their set is remembered for all these years later. Whole Lotta bother! It wasn't just Queen's performance that was the most memorable that night. Rock giants Led Zeppelin also put on a show in Philadelphia that no one will ever forget. Sadly it was all for the wrong reasons... Zeppelin fans were thrilled when it was revealed that the band would be reuniting after the sad passing of their drummer John Bonham to play Live Aid. Along with session drummer Tony Thompson, Led Zeppelin were also going to be joined by Genesis drummer, Phil Collins who would be flying in from London after his Wembley performance. Two lots of musical heavyweights sharing the stage... what could possible go wrong? Well, a lot actually! Fans were mortified that the performance they'd longed to see was everything that the Queen performance was not. The band appeared under-rehearsed; Robert Plant's vocals sounded rough; Jimmy Page's guitar was out of tune, and he even appeared to be having a fight with a mic stand! It also led to a spat between Page and Collins afterwards as each party blamed the other for the abysmal performance. Page felt that Collins didn't really know the tunes and that his drumming threw everybody off-course. Collins believed that the performance was a train wreck from the start, and that he wanted to walk off but didn't want to be the talk of the tabloids so just grinned and bore it. Furthermore he implied that Page had an issue with him being involved in the performance right from the start, and he felt that while Plant was happy for Collins to be there, Page was not. No worries, Phil - we were glad you were there. And you can take pride in being the only musician to have performed live at both venues! What Live Aid Achieved Live Aid raised a total of $127 million either directly or indirectly for famine relief. Furthermore it created awareness around the world of the plight of certain African nations, and the publicity encouraged western nations to produce enough surplus grain to end the hunger crisis in Africa. There was also a vibe that went back to an earlier time - the sixties: a more carefree time intermingled with a sense of having a social conscience, which was perfectly summed by singer Joan Baez's "This is your Woodstock" statement as she opened up the show in Philadelphia. Live Aid proved to be a surreal yet tender moment of idealism, realism and altruism. Everyone became more aware of what was going on in the world around them, and it made people less selfish and more giving: businesses held collections; schools began fundraising, and people generally developed a sense of compassion and a desire to make the world a better place. And although it had never been the aim, many of the artists - all of whom had performed for free - found that their Live Aid appearance had been great for them on a professional level. That thrilling Live Aid performance had given Queen something of a boost; U2's own performance had also propelled them to another level, and the event also proved to be a big deal for the hip-hop genre. There were many mainstream radio stations in the mid-eighties that were not keen on playing rap and hip-hop. But that day in July, amidst a sea of rock bands, Run DMC took to the stage in Philadelphia with no band or instruments - just DJ Jam Master Jay with his two turntables! And the Queens' rappers did a great job of representing for the hip-hop community. Controversies For all of the great things that Live Aid achieved, there were also sadly some rather controversial issues. One of the complaints that dogged the event was the distinct lack of diversity, and as the date for the event drew nearer there was a mad rush to add more black performers to the list of performers. Concert promoter Bill Graham said that big name black artists had been approached to appear at Live Aid, but many of them, including Diana Ross, Prince, and Michael Jackson declined the request to perform live. However Prince, as well as Kool and the Gang did contribute videos. But other artists, including Dionne Warwick, said they’d never been asked at all! Although there were performances by British and American Black artists such as Sade; The Four Tops; Tina Turner; Run DMC; Teddy Pendergrass; Ashford and Simpson, and Patti LaBelle among others, the amount of black talent involved was considered insufficient. In an interview with the Independent, Midge Ure said: “After the concert, we were lambasted for not having enough Black artists on the bill. It became this anti-colonial diatribe: ‘You whites, telling us poor Black guys what to do.' It was unfair but it happened.” Andy Kershaw, one of the Live Aid hosts also criticized the organisers for failing to understand that for an event that was dedicated to highlighting Africa and African nations, they totally overlooked the idea of including at least one African artist as part of Live Aid's line-up. And Kershaw wasn't the only one who noticed the absence of African performers, and it has been argued over the years that failing to invite any African artists to perform demonstrated something of a Western superiority complex. And there was more to come even after the concert was over. A negative long-lasting impact of Live Aid remains a far greater source of controversy - the question of how the money was used; a debate that has been raging on for years. In 1986, SPIN magazine ran a story claiming that not all the aid money raised had gone to the famine victims as intended. Some of it had been distributed to various aid agencies but a lot of it, the article claimed, had been intercepted by corrupt government officials, and that the country's dictator Mengistu had used the money to buy arms from Russia and to build up the army - a claim Geldof vehemently denies and has always defended Live Aid's use of funds. There was even a widespread belief that a lot of the food hadn't reached those who had needed it most. A great deal had either been left to rot along the docks or Mengistu had used the food to lure people into camps, allowing his regime to use brute force to relocate thousands of Ethiopians. Live Aid Legacy The legacy of Live Aid has been debated since the initiative began all those years ago. On the one hand it highlighted problems in other parts of the world, and called upon the more fortunate in society to lend a helping hand. Live Aid was also the blueprint for the ensuing high-profile musical benefits for various causes throughout the years. Twenty years later in 2005, Geldof staged Live 8, aimed at persuading G8 leaders to cancel the debts of African nations and create fairer trade laws. Live Aid also further developed the notion of 'celeb culture' in getting celebrities to promote and raise funds for worthy causes, and also the 'aid culture' - the concept of developed nations raising and donating funds to more impoverished countries. Both concepts are not without its accomplishments and drawbacks. Whether or not Live Aid was a complete success depends is open to debate and how much the initiative achieved in combating famine in Ethiopia and other African regions. There will be some who believe that the initiative caused further problems than dealt with the ones it was aiming to solve. There will also be the notion that the scheme was not well thought out, not taking into account logistics and issues that could arise from political corruption. But if we view Live Aid solely as a musical concert, then it's success rate is beyond phenomenal. A very ambitious event that was the first of its kind - and in many ways was ahead of its time - that was pulled off with great success (with a few minor hitches!) People of all walks of life coming together with the common goal of helping those in need combined with legendary acts; awesome music, and great times that will leave a lasting and poignant memory in people's minds for at least another thirty five years... Photos: YouTube Word cloud: Angel Noire Banners: Angel Noire

If Charles and Di attended an event together, then you know it was a long time ago! Those famous opening words, spoken thirty five years ago by British broadcaster Richard Skinner, were heard all around the world on 13th July 1985 as the biggest, grandest and most ambitious of benefit concerts in the history of benefit concerts began, with rockers Status Quo being the first act on stage to perform. What was this Live Aid about? Thank you, Christopher for summing it up so perfectly! Tagged as the 'Global Jukebox,' Live Aid was a benefit concert held in the summer of 1985 as part of an ongoing musical fundraising scheme, held in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The concert was the brainchild of Boomtown Rat Sir Bob Geldof and Ultravox's Midge Ure (Ohhhhhhhhhh Viennaaaaaaaaaa!) And they organized that huge-scale event in just ten short weeks. The show's organizers: Bob Geldof and Midge Ure So this wasn't held at the village church hall, then! Last time we checked, Wembley Stadium was no church hall! And actually this event was held on the same day at two locations. And they weren't around the corner either! The European part of Live Aid was held at the world famous Wembley Stadium in London, and was attended by around 72,000 pop and rock fans. Whereas across the Atlantic, that's right the Atlantic , in John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia , US, nearly 90,000 fans were eagerly awaiting performances by their musical idols. And let's not forget that on that same day, many other musical events - inspired by the initiative - were held in other countries across the world: Canada; the Soviet Union; Australia; Japan; Yugoslavia; Austria and West Germany. Clips from these other international musical events were shown on the big screens at Wembley and Philadelphia. At the time, the scale of Live Aid's satellite link-ups and television broadcasts was one of the largest EVER!!! It's believed that an estimated audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 countries, watched the live broadcast. Back then that was almost half the world's population. Woah! So how did the idea for Live Aid come about? Well everyone knows about Sir Bob and Midge Ure being key players and the organizers in the event. But a lot of people don't know that Michael Buerk and Boy George also played pivotal roles in all of this. You mean the news reporter and the bloke from Culture Club? How? Many of us who lived throughout the mid-eighties will remember all those horrific images we saw on TV of the famine in Ethiopia. The BBC News team were among the first to highlight the plight of the people in Ethiopia, and it was Michael Buerk's reports in the autumn of 1984 that broadcasted devastating images of people starving to death in Ethiopia to a horrified nation in the UK, in what Buerk described as 'the closest thing to hell on Earth." Deeply shocked by what they had seen, the British public started to dig deep into their pockets in order to donate to humanitarian aid organizations. The now Sir Bob and his then wife, Paula Yates, had also seen the reports on the Six O' Clock News, with Sir Bob saying that Paula had been in tears. Motivated to do something about the crisis, Sir Bob decided to call upon his old mate Midge Ure with whom he had previously done some charity work. So together they started to organize Live Aid? No! Together they started to organize Band Aid! When Geldof and Ure got together in the autumn of 1984, they quickly co-wrote a song of which the proceeds from sales would go towards the famine relief. Then they contacted their mates in the music industry and asked them to record the single under the group name Band Aid. It's been well-documented that when it came to getting people to sing on the track, Geldof was very persistent and didn't take no for an answer. As Midge Ure explained in the BBC documentary Against All Odds: The Making of Live Aid: "I was the producer, the guy dealing with the music. He was the guy rounding up the crowd." And so began Do They Know It's Christmas? - the song where Bono had the best line and has since been played every Christmas without fail! For us eighties' kids, it was very exciting as we'd never seen a collaboration like this before which was like a who's who of eighties pop: Wham! Bananarama, Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, Kool and the Gang, Culture Club... the list went on. We had got a glimpse of Bob and Midge's phone books - and we were dead jealous! The song became a smash hit and unsurprisingly, was the coveted Christmas Number One that year, staying at the top spot for five weeks. Go, Band Aid!!! But more importantly it raised around nine million pounds, and ultimately paved the way for Live Aid. So after they had a hit single, they decided on a sell-out concert! That's right. And funnily enough the idea to hold a concert to raise more funds for Ethiopia actually came from Culture Club's Boy George, who had been part of Band Aid. After recording Do They Know It's Christmas? Boy George went on tour with Culture Club, and on the final night of the tour in Wembley, fans saw some of the other members of Band Aid join Culture Club onstage to perform Do They Know It's Christmas? Totally moved by the performance, Boy George told Geldof that they should consider organising a one-off fundraiser concert. And so it began... But if Boy George thought Bob was considering a two-hour long gig for an audience of three thousand or so, he was very much mistaken! Bob had in his mind an idea for a dual-venue event, where they would continuously flick to either side of the Atlantic throughout the concert. While it was decided that the European part of the concert would be held at Wembley Stadium, Madison Square Gardens in New York was initially going to be the site that hosted the American event. Eventually, however, they secured John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. And one by one, Bob's music industry mates agreed to perform - mainly because once again, Bob was not giving them the option of saying no! The Highlights Broadcast on BBC2 in Britain, on ABC and MTV in America, and multiple other networks around the world, the fact that people are still talking fondly about the Live Aid gig proves that there were many great moments throughout the show, starting with Status Quo's very energetic opening to performances by musical heavyweights such as The Who, Tina Turner, George Michael, Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney - to name just a few - to that great grand finale on stage where they performed Do They Know It's Christmas? which looked a lot like a fun karaoke night at the local pub with all your mates - but sounded a million times better! How many times have you sang karaoke with David Bowie, Bono, Freddie Mercury, and Elton John? Over seventy five artists took part, not only across the two main venues but at the other international locations too. What was also amazing were Phil Collins' appearances at both the Wembley and Philadelphia venues. That's right - straight after collaborating on stage with Sting, Phil made it across to America via Concord.. and Noel Edmonds' helicopter! How rock n' roll can you get! And let's not forget that Queen performance... Check out the second part of our post The Day The Music Changed The World: 35 Years since Live Aid Photos: YouTube Word Cloud: Angel Noire Banners: Angel Noire

Forget the day the music died. This was the day music changed the world... Well music and mullets seeing as the latter seemed to be the hairstyle du jour back then! My mate Pancakes recently referred to me as a 'music buff'. Well I don't know about that but I do know that I love my music - especially live music; going to gigs and seeing my favourite bands play. That is why I'm so annoyed at having missed out on what many of us consider to be the greatest musical event to have taken place EVER - Live Aid!!! It happened thirty five years ago - and it was all for a good cause.... '35' very much seems to be the magic number for a lot of things this year. Both Neighbours  and EastEnders  have celebrated their thirty-fifth anniversaries; Hollywood megastar, Keira Knightly, who looks as though she drinks from the fountain of eternal youth, turned thirty five this year; the world's first successful artificial heart transplant happened back in 1985... And then there was Live Aid... 1985 was a bloody good year I am grateful that despite the fuzzy memories, I did get to experience this musical extravaganza even if it was only via the box in the corner of the living room. Many people around the world were not able to attend this fantastic event but they were content enough just to watch Live Aid on the telly. Pretty much all day in fact! But of course at the time I was far too young to understand what a big deal this benefit concert was - an event held in order to raise money to help those affected by the famine in Ethiopia. I just thought it was some kind of all day Top of the Pops  with a whole bunch of my fave artists! I didn't realise that via my TV set, I was witnessing musical history in the making, so I really do envy all those people who actually got to be there and experience everything for real. But then having said that - would this heatwave-hating girl have been able to stand out in the hot sun all day in that mammoth crowd? The people who were there have described the intense heat; sitting in traffic for what seemed liked eternity; feeling crushed by the crowd; dodgy bogs that weren't all in working order, and warm cans of extortionately priced coke... I more than likely would have been one of those people who had to be carried out of the crowd - but I'd still like to have been there! The atmosphere must have been absolutely electric. My memories of Live Aid are quite hazy. I just remember it being a Saturday and I was at home with my mum watching pop act after pop act appear on screen. I very much remember Paul Young being there as well as Nik Kershaw (or as my little sister called him - Nik Kassaw!) What I didn't know was that the European part of the event was being held in Wembley - the place we would be moving to less than a decade later. What I also didn't know was that my uncle was just down the road watching the event while feasting on fish and chips as well as kebabs - and didn't think to invite me! Then Dad came home in the evening, and being a pop and rock fan himself, settled down to watch the evening performances. It's too bad that my infant school self was too young to understand or appreciate certain key events at Live Aid. I didn't realise how awesome it was that Phil Collins was the only artist to appear at both the Wembley and  Philadelphia venues; that because of Live Aid, bands who had previously disbanded, reunited once again. I didn't understand the furor over Led Zeppelin's performance - for which a hardworking Phil Collins who made a whole lotta effort was unfairly blamed (I'm a Led Zeppelin fan but seriously - LEAVE PHIL ALONE!!!) And I didn't know anything about Duran Duran's bum-note catastrophe! Another thing I was too young to appreciate was that for just over twenty one minutes, Britain was ruled by a new reigning monarch (wonder what Charles and Di - who were in attendance - made of that!) Wouldn't It Be Good to see Nik Kershaw on stage again? I'm not able to recall that iconic Queen performance. As someone who grew up listening to Queen, why it took the movie Bohemian Rhapsody to bring it to my attention again, I have no idea. Neither The Fella nor I remembered this performance so we checked it out for the first time in years and were totally blown away by it. We didn't know the story behind Queen's appearance at Live Aid: that they hadn't performed together in years; had fallen out, and were a very late addition to the event. So late in fact, that they didn't have much rehearsal time but still managed to steal the show and give a performance that has gone down in music history. We will rock you, indeed! But why no Mercury and Bowie Under Pressure  duet? Hmmm... did the organizers miss a trick there??? But I have to say that a fter watching the broadcast of Live Aid, I never really gave the event much thought after that. I knew what it was; I'd seen it on the telly, and whenever people mentioned it, I felt I had something to add to the conversation but it wasn't until the release of Bohemian Rhapsody - the movie not the track - that I started watching the footage and reading articles about Live Aid and I realized just how many gaps there were in my memory (well I was only little) and that I had been unaware of information and speculation (mostly behind the scenes) that seemed to be common knowledge to a lot of other people. Though what I still don't get is how one of the biggest names in music, Cher, did not know anything about the biggest gig of the year! Why did Cher not get the memo? No one knows! Had she not bumped into Phil Collins on the Concorde flight Phil was using to rush over to Philadelphia, she would never have made it to the concert finale. But seriously - how did Cher not know??? It's been great watching the performances again. Not only did I get to see an event that I had near-forgotten about but I was instantly transported back to the eighties again and my childhood years. Plus I got reacquainted with the music of bands I hadn't listened to in years and I had totally forgotten how good it all was. I say this all the time but the calibre of artists that you got back then just doesn't exist today. Everyone can say what they like about Led Zeppelin's Live Aid performance but Led Zeppelin at their worst was still a thousand times better than a lot of today's artists giving it their all. And no, I will not take that back! George and Elton with Andrew and Kiki won't let the sun go down on them My good friend MJ revealed that he has the Live Aid boxset (why does that not surprise me??? It's a boxset - of course he has it!) But he's suggested that one day we need to get together with snacks and cider and watch it from start to finish. He might have just been messing but I like the idea. In fact I'm going to take it one step further by having Live Aid parties every year where everyone turns up in eighties gear OR as one of the performers and we just celebrate great music and all that was fab about the mid-eighties. People have cheesy Eurovision parties all the time - why not a Live Aid one? And I have to say it's been great chatting to MJ as well as other family and friends about their memories of Live Aid and just life in general at that time. A lot of us look back at the past just a little too fondly (or so I'm told) with nostalgic rose-tinted glasses. But hearing everyone talk about their memories and experiences made me super wistful for the eighties - a decade I'm already madly in love with. It's not even a case of blindly believing what I've been told - I was around in the eighties after all! But listening to them talk about life back in the day and their love of music back then only reminded me of things I had known but had long forgotten. How I would give anything to climb into a time machine and experience it all again... Thanks to all those who shared their memories. So check out our post about the world's greatest 'Musical Jukebox' peppered with memories shared by music fans and what they remembered and liked most about Live Aid. Photos: Youtube Word Cloud: Angel Noire