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Hi Nostalgiacs! This week's post has something of an Aussie soap theme. Any one 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 a 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 shortly 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

Hi Nostalgiacs! This week's Angel's Slice of the Pie has been inspired by a conversation I had with my friend MJ where we were talking about our collection of vintage cook books (I promise you, our conversations are a lot more rivetting than they sound!) It's no secret that I collect vintage magazines. It is one of my absolute passions and it is through this interest that I met MJ - also an avid collector himself - and a few other people I have become well acquainted with. But what a lot of people don't know is that I also collect vintage cook books and I get very excited when I find one to add to my collection (I do have a life - honest!) I don't know when I made the conscious decision to collect cook books. I was always surrounded by them when I was growing up. In the living room of our very first house in East London, we had book cases which took up almost half the length of our flock-wallpapered through-lounge. You could easily tell which books belonged to whom just by looking at the subject matter: Dad - economics, accounting, literature, religion, language learning books, classic novels, romantic fiction, thrillers, adventure, horror, history, historical fiction, short stories, detective fiction, user manuals and reference guides. Kids - fairy tales, children's novels, children's Bible, early learning books Mum - Cookery books. OK prayer and hymn books too! I love my books! If you come over to mine, you'll find books on a wide array of topics just like my dad had, and also a million and one cook books just like my mum still has! My mum was and still is very much a foodie. She loves to cook, watch television cooking shows, and if ever she goes out and hears a recipe book calling out her name - then it just has to come home with her! But don't worry - she always pays for it first! I do like modern day cook books and have quite a few of those but it's the vintage ones that I'm particularly interested in - anything pre-1990. I pick one up and I'm instantly reminded of the cook books Mum had and I'm transported back to my childhood. I love the simplicity of the recipes; the unfussiness of the ingredients, and the homeliness of the accompanying food photos and sketches. It goes without saying that for a nostalgia nut like me, I am completely in my element! In fact I find it very relaxing after a long day to just flick through one when I want to chill (I swear I have a life!) It's unfortunate that most of my collection is back home in the UK including my ones by Queen Delia, but I have brought a few back with me - not as many as I would have preferred but more than my husband would have liked! And I've also been fortunate to have stumbled over some awesome finds here in the States, including a couple of Good Housekeeping cookbooks, one by Better Homes and Gardens, and surprisingly two Sainsbury's cookbooks from the 1980s. I'm guessing there's another ex-pat around here who's been in the States a lot longer than I have! And of course you can't really call yourself a collector of vintage cookbooks unless you have at least one by Julia Childs - and I do! I have some cookbooks that are absolute favourites. One of them is Good Housekeeping's Hot and Cold Puddings which seems to be very obscure and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of information about it. It used to belong to my mum but now it has pride of place in my own home, and I remember this being on our bookshelves back in the eighties. I'm also delighted to have a copy of Jenny Bristow's Highdays and Holidays as I used to watch her cooking show in the early nineties. Oh, and let's not forget Farmhouse Kitchen! Cookery book collector who grew up watching the show would know that a Farmhouse Kitchen cookbook is esential! I have one but desperately need to collect the others. I also have two revisions of The Cookery Year which has been hailed as the cook's bible and you'll get no argument from me there! It's full of pretty illustrations, gorgeous photos and if you're someone who likes to use seasonal produce or wants to learn how to make classic dishes, this is the book for you. I have very happy memories of poring over the pages of The Cookery Year as a child, learning all about the different types of food and imagining all the dishes I would cook for my fancy dinner parties when I was all grown up! MJ asked if I actually put these cookbooks to good use by actually trying out the recipes. The truth is I haven't put the recipes to use as much as I should have but since my mid-teens, I've definitely tried some of them out. Any recipe that involved making something that was sweet and totally bad for your teeth and waistline was definitely a winner with me! My absolute fave recipe was for an orange foam sauce that you served with puddings. My dad loved hot puddings with loads of custard but that night, I found we'd run out of milk so I needed to find a sauce that didn't need milk. And I found it in The Cookery Year - the first book I looked at. Told you it's fantastic! One of the advantages of living in America (free refills; better steak; a stone's throw from Wahlburgers so I might be able to bump into Mark or Donnie...) is that I'm finding lots of cool vintage cookbooks to add to my collection that I may not have found if I'd still been living in England. It's interesting to pore over the pages and see what was en vogue food-wise back in the day Stateside, and of course I'm learning about all kinds of old-school American classics that we don't have in the UK. And for those of you who think that a 'casserole' in America is the same as a stew in the UK or Europe, think again! Out here it's a carb-laden baked dish which can be sweet like a bread and butter pudding, or savoury and topped with breadcrumbs or cheese. Thanks for clearing that up, American cookbooks! So I will be out at my favourite store tomorrow, seeing what other vintage finds I can add to my ever expanding collection - much to Mr. D's annoyance! All photos by Angel Noire Word cloud logo by 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 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 and 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. No, Ian you are not in with a chance just because Steve's snuffed it! Lisa being a tower of strength to Mel at her husband Steve's funeral 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! Start a fight with Mel and you start a fight with Lisa. You got that, Paul? 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 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! But Sharon and Michelle usually fell out over things that most sisters didn't. 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 now 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. But 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 having been 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 (Gillian Taylforth) was a barmaid at The Queen Vic and best friends with the landlady Angie (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 past was revealed. But that's not to say that the two friends didn't fall out. 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 Kathy 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, and announced 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! Proving that they're Walford's answer to Coyote Ugly 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 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 shocked and shaken into The Vic,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 eradiciate 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 and fun, always up for a laugh - and a party - attracted attention wherever they went - especially male attention - and 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 recognised as one third of pop trio, Milan!) to a house party at the Jacksons' and viewers saw 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 - 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 Mitchell; 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 with Bianca's daughter who was named after her - and is equally as strongwilled and feisty. You'd be distressed too if your best mate was in that puffer jacket and hat combo. And they say the eighties is the decade that style forgot! 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 No this is not a joke - 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 this one's memorable for being so forgettable! 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. 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; hanging out with when there was no one else, or covering up for her so husband Ian didn't find out what she was up to. 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 Tricky Dicky when he was making advances towards Cindy, and even took on David Wicks at the Queen Vic after his affair with Cindy and it's consequences (ie - Cindy hiring a hit man to bump off Ian so she and David could be together) caused Cindy to flee the Square without even saying goodbye to her friend - something that hurt Gita very much. Cindy upon her return, on the other hand, showed concern for Gita when she heard she'd gone missing 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

At Nostalgia Pie, we like to talk about memories that make you all aglow with happiness and make you go skippety-skip down memory lane. But this week's Angel's Slice of the Pie brings back childhood memories of the I'm-so-scared-I need-to-sleep-with-the-light-on-preferably-on-a-little-mattress-in-the-corner-of-my-parents'-room variety - and sadly the subject matter isn't quite so pleasant. But as most of us eighties and nineties kids will know, this show made strangely compelling viewing... Part of the opening credits for the very first episode of Crimewatch UK Last month marked a whopping thirty five years since the now axed Crimewatch UK - as it was then called - aired for the first time on June 7th 1984. As I always say - where have the years gone??? Can it really be thirty five years since we heard that famous and distinctive theme tune that was practically a call, no, a demand to action? Has it really been three and a half decades since we saw that opening intro made up of a montage of clips that wouldn't look out of place in The Bill? (Which incidently also began in 1984!) Even though I was tiny - well tinier than I am now - when Crimewatch started, I still remember all the publicity surrounding the new BBC crime appeal show that was to be presented by two very well known faces on British television - Nick Ross and Sue Cook. Even to my very young mind, I knew that this show was a good idea and I was already familiar with Police 5, so I couldn't wait for Crimewatch UK to start. This in itself was strange as a show like this would most definitely give me cause to cower under the covers (with the light on!) but I just had to watch it. For many years, I always thought I'd watched the very first episode on the night it aired but I hadn't, so I never got to witness that little piece of TV history first hand. It was actually another two years or so before I watched my first Crimewatch episode. I guess by then because I was a little older, I was allowed to stay up a bit later than I normally would but I reckon it was still another couple of years before I could watch an entire episode. The legendary Crimewatch UK presenters Nick Ross and Sue Cook And so began my vocation of being an armchair detective. Though it didn't matter how old I was - I was always a bit nervy after watching Crimewatch - it didn't matter what Nick said! If you've ever seen those videofits and artists impressions of suspects, I'd dare you not to have nightmares! My sister point blank refused to watch Crimewatch at all! And my mum recently revealed that there were a lot of adults who found the show scary. As I got older, I'd tune in regularly to see if there were any wanted faces I recognised. I'd always dreamt that I would one day be able to phone the studio and say "Yes! I know that man. He lives around the corner from me." And I very nearly got my chance... There was one time, when I was in my teens, that I was ninety-nine per cent sure that a man featured in a reconstruction of a serious incident that took place in a town not far from where we lived, was the same man that I'd seen behaving suspiciously just the day before. After watching the update and speaking to my sister, who actually spoke to the man and saw his accomplice who was hidden from my view, it turned out that I was right! Someone else had already beaten me to it by phoning in and revealing that they were seen in my neighbourhood. I've been kicking myself to this day that I missed my chance to contribute to the fight against crime and it makes me wonder how many other viewers who were 'almost sure' didn't phone in because of that slight doubt. From watching past episodes it's amazing how many reconstructions and cases I've remembered. Some have stayed with me over the years, and I always wondered about the victim, their families and friends, and whether or not those cases have been solved. There's no getting away from the fact that Crimewatch did some fantastic work and without the show, a lot of criminals may still be walking the streets. But sadly, there's still a high proportion of cases that have yet to be solved. Let's not lose hope though because it has been known for cases to be solved twenty, thirty, even forty years later - however unlikely that might seem. Even though the show has seen many presenters at the helm throughout the show's thirty three year history, when I think of Crimewatch, I think of the Nick and Sue years. I think they did an excellent job of presenting the show and they worked very well together. I especially liked their voiceovers for the reconstructions in which the delivery was very matter-of-fact and unemotional (in the sense that it was level and steady, not cold and heartless!) but with their softly spoken, gentle voices, it sounded quite soothing! And there was something in their narration that heightened that feeling of suspense and kept you watching until the end; absorbing all the information they were giving you. Of course we cannot talk about Crimewatch without mentioning the late Jill Dando who had taken over from Sue Cook as Nick's partner in the fight against crime. Everyone always talks about what they were doing when they heard Diana had died, but I still vividly remember the exact moment I heard that Jill Dando had been killed twenty years ago. As everyone knows, Jill was murdered on her own doorstep; it was both tragic and horribly ironic and the entire nation was stunned. I discovered the news just as it broke on Ceefax (really showing my age here!) and I read and re-read the headline over and over again not being able to take in the fact that Jill had a) passed away and b) died in a truly horrendous manner. The beautiful Jill Dando, and (right) her final appearance on Crimewatch I don't think that all who were involved in the show could ever for a moment have foreseen that one day they would have to make an appeal for a very dear colleague and friend. I still remember the episode in which an appeal was made on Crimewatch to help catch Jill's killer. Nick Ross opened up the show in what has had to be the darkest and most sombre episode in Crimewatch's history and you couldn't help but feel for him. Nick got through that episode like a pro as he presented Crimewatch without his sidekick, but viewers could sense his very evident sense of loss as well as the sadness of Chief Supt. David Hatcher and DS Jacqui Hames. Watching it again, I couldn't help but feel very emotional so I can only imagine what it must have felt like in the studio that night. The episode ended with a very moving montage of Jill's clips from the show in which it cleverly looked as though she was appealing for people to come forward with information, along with tributes from people who knew her. Sadly and very disappointingly, Jill's murder has been consigned to the compartment of Crimewatch's less successful appeals and no one has ever been brought to justice for her death but we live in hope that one day the killer will be caught. Crimewatch's PC Helen Phelps, Chief Supt. David Hatcher and DS Jacqui Hames The so-called 'vintage' Crimewatch episodes - from 1984 to the late nineties - seem to have attracted something of a cult following if comments are anything to go by. Viewers feel that they are more watchable due to the quality of the reconstructions and there being less distractions in the studio. For years I thought I was the only one who thought that Crimewatch was better in the eighties and nineties and that the show had gone downhill a bit after 2000! I prefer the format of these earlier episodes; the Cook-Ross dynamic; the police presence (David Hatcher, Helen Phelps, and Jacqui Hames) the mini reconstructions featured on Incident Desk, and the quality of the main reconstructions. They were brilliantly made with a short-film feel to it, well narrated by Nick and Sue, and some of the actors played the bad guy so well they made you jump out of your skin! The reconstructions were also quite eerie and some of them really did chill you to the bone. This was all a sharp contrast to the reconstructions of the last ten years or so before the show was cancelled which were just, I'm sorry to say, dire! Yes, I'm well aware that these reconstructions are not there to entertain, but the graphic scenes, silly effects, and dramatic music were really off-putting and gave the impression of a low-budget movie. Not a patch on the previous reconstructions. Furthermore it made me think about the family and friends of the poor victims - would they really need to see how brutal the last few minutes of their loved ones' lives were? I personally found that very disturbing and that's something the older episodes of the show spared us all from. Why do I feel so compelled to watch old school episodes of Crimewatch? Well it's because despite the fact the show deals with some very unpleasant issues, as any child of the eighties and nineties will tell you, it's a significant part of our childhoods. Even if we didn't get to stay up late and watch it, we were aware of Crimewatch UK; we heard people talking about it, and of course it featured high profile cases that were in the news. We understood why our parents were so protective of us, and we felt that sense of shock and alarm when kids just like us went missing and never came home again. Moreover when we watch these episodes, it takes us back to a time we knew. We marvel at just how much society, lifestyle, technology, fashion and culture has changed. And for us kids who grew up in the age of the superhero, we liked seeing the good guys take on the bad guys - and hopefully win! Because Crimewatch was not a Hollywood production, the bad guy wasn't always caught and justice wasn't always served I'm sad to say. But it sent out a message that people were prepared to fight back and weren't going to make it easy for the criminals to hide. It must have given villans quite a few sleepless nights and thats always a good thing! Make 'em sweat! But more importantly, we still live in hope that all those who have literally got away with murder and goodness knows what else will be made to pay for their crimes and that justice will be served for the victims and their families. That's why getting rid of Crimewatch was such a bad move. Bring it back - or we really will have nightmares! Oh and another thing most of us who have watched Crimewatch since the early years have in common... we didn't seem to care much for Aladdin's Cave! What are your memories of Crimewatch UK?

I've been wearing shorts this weekend which is all the evidence you need that it's been a real scorcher here on the East Coast. I swear half of me has melted away! And I hear it's going to be worse later this week - Lord help me! If I could walk around the streets of New England in a string bikini, I would. But unfortunately I can’t (especially not with this bod!) so I’ve had to think of other ways to beat the heat and I’ve been downing, chomping or slurping anything that’s icy cold. Thoughts have turned to all the ice-creams we used to devour as kids and boy did we love our ice-cream! When we were growing up, ice-cream was an occasional treat. There’d always be tubs of Cornish vanilla or neopolitan ice-creams at family parties and gatherings; the ice-cream man wasn’t safe when we heard the van approaching our road, and ice-cream cones always featured when my family and I hit the local park. Unsurprisingly, Mum refused to stock up on ice-cream during the winter months, so ice-cream is most definitely synonymous with summer. Today ice-cream is all about Ben and Jerry’s, Haagen-Dazs, Carte D’or and flavours that never existed when I was a kid: salted caramel, lemon meringue pie, espresso, and toffee apple... I once asked my EFL class what their favourite ice-cream flavours were and ‘pistachio,’ 'black cherry,' and ‘green tea' featured in the answers. And me? Well funnily enough my favourite ice-creams are three which are very hard to find in England: I love butter pecan (USA) crème caramel/flan (Spain) and brown bread ice-cream (Ireland.) I must be the only person who needs to hop on a plane every time they fancy an ice-cream cone! This is all good but it’s dawned on me that many of the ice-cream flavours from my childhood have either totally disappeared or they’re very hard to come by. Ice-creams in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s weren’t necessary high-end or ultra-sophisticated. In fact when I think about it, there was a very limited range of flavours - generally chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla - and packaging was more fun than glam. Brands were typically Wall’s, Lyon’s Maid, supermarket's own… and not much else! But it was fun, delicious and it kept you cool. I absolutely love ice-cream today: there’s a never-ending variety of flavours, including savoury flavours (avocado chilli or black pepper anyone?) the quality has vastly improved, and it’s that much more creamier and flavourful. But I can’t help but get all nostalgic when I think about what ice-cream looked like back in the day and those retro flavours. So as an ode to summers gone by and staying cool, here’s a list of the ice-cream flavours that were around when I was growing up in the eighties. Some of them are still around; some are hard to find, and some seem to have melted away… 1. VANILLA Vanilla ice-cream needs absolutely no introduction! Vanilla ice-cream might be considered a bit, well, vanilla, but back in the eighties, in a world with limited ice-cream flavours, if anyone had a tub of ice-cream in their freezer, you could bet your life it would probably be vanilla. It was very popular in our house although Mum tended to buy it in block form rather than a tub. I suppose one reason it was so popular was because it was – and still is – so versatile: you could pop it in a soda float; add any flavour topping to it; layer it up in a sundae, or serve it as an accompaniment to a pudding... However most of the people I knew used to serve it with jelly or tinned fruit salad – a real treat back then for us kids (tinned fruit was the only fruit I’d eat as a child.) It might not sound very sophisticated but if someone served that up for me now I’d still scoff the lot! Today, vanilla has to work hard to maintain its popularity with all these weird and wonderful ice-cream flavours around that are tempting us away from this good, old-fashioned flavour. Vanilla is still tops due to its versatility but we’re much more fussy when it comes to the quality and won’t settle for any old vanilla ice-cream. It has to be super smooth and creamy, with an intense vanilla flavour – and if it happens to be vanilla bean ice-cream, so much the better! 2. CORNISH VANILLA Now this was the ice-cream flavour that Mum was most likely to buy and it was always the Wall’s brand that was in our freezer. Cornish vanilla ice-cream had a much deeper cream-come-yellow colour that regular vanilla ice-cream didn’t have, and what I remember most was that deliciously buttery flavour. Even as a child I felt that Cornish vanilla ice-cream didn’t really need any sauces or toppings thanks to that unique flavour; I preferred to have it ‘plain’. Over the years I gradually stopped devouring Cornish vanilla. I’m not sure if it’s because I ate bucket-loads as a child or because I was tempted away by other flavours – or maybe both! But when I’m hit by nostalgia – as I so often am – I do treat myself to some Cornish vanilla ice-cream. However, I can’t help feeling a little underwhelmed by it because that intense, buttery flavour that I remember doesn’t seem the same – no matter which brand I buy. But I live in hope of rediscovering it. 3. CHOCOLATE I didn’t know a kid back then who didn’t like chocolate ice-cream – and I still don’t! It’s still very much a firm favourite today with children and adults alike. When I was growing up, chocolate ice-cream was just, um, chocolate ice-cream. Now chocolate ice-cream has more varieties than Heinz: white chocolate, chocolate brownie, chocolate fudge; chocolate cookie dough; chocolate mud pie; triple chocolate; chocolate-til-it’s-coming-out-of-your-ears etc. At secondary school, we were fortunate enough to have an ice-cream van arrive in the school yard every lunch time and home time, where after school, I would sometimes treat myself to a chocolate cone. I wonder what Mr. Oliver would make of that! And you don’t need me to tell you, it’s still one of the most popular ice-cream flavours all over the world. But then with all those chocolate variations it would have to be. 4. STRAWBERRY My memories of strawberry ice-cream – a flavour both my parents loved back then – was that it was always an eye-catching shade of pink; anything from a pretty pastel shade to a very deep pink. However one thing I’m wondering about is whether any of the strawberry ice-creams I devoured throughout my childhood contained a scrap of real strawberry at all. I suspect most of them didn’t and were simply strawberry-flavoured but even if we knew that back then, I doubt we would have minded very much. Of course today there is a real distinction between the brightly coloured strawberry flavoured ice-cream, and the frozen, creamy delicacy that’s made with the real deal and contains yummy chunks of frozen strawberries – and I definitely know which one I prefer! And as with chocolate, there are many variations today of the humble strawberry ice-cream: strawberry cheesecake; strawberry shortcake; strawberries and cream; roasted strawberry mint; strawberries and champagne… oh it was all so much simpler in my day! 5. MINT CHOC-CHIP A childhood fave for me, as I loved anything that was mint flavoured (as a matter of fact I still do!) And contrary to popular belief, mint ice-cream tastes nothing like toothpaste. When I was around seven, I went through a phase where I would only ever eat ice-cream if it was mint choc-chip. I loved the cool, refreshing, minty taste combined with the soft, creamy texture. And those dark chocolate chips were a very welcome addition. Mint and chocolate – a winning combo if ever I heard one. And of course I loved the minty green colour too. Mint choc chip is still readily available and although it's not really my first choice of flavour these days (I definitely overindulged when I was a child and can never finish a whole tub now) I still wouldn't say no to a mint choc-chip cone. 6. BANANA This is an ice-cream flavour I loved back then and still do. Banana ice-cream wasn’t overly common when I was growing up – it still isn’t – but I remember that some restaurants offered it along with the usual three flavours. I really liked banana ice-cream partly because I love the sweet, creamy taste of bananas but also because it made a change from vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. I’ve since discovered that banana ice-cream isn’t popular with a lot of people even now although I can’t understand why after all most people like a banana split and the flavours aren’t too dissimilar. Never mind – I’ll guzzle the lot single-handedly! What were your favourite ice-cream flavours as a child? Photos: Pixabay Wordcloud: Angel Noire

So another member of the famous Donovan dynasty made her debut in Neighbours this week. After much press attention, Jemma Donovan, daughter of that other famous JD - the legendary Jason Donovan - made her first appearance as Harlow Robinson. As with her dad's character, Scott, Harlow is a member of the iconic Robinson clan, and when it was first announced that Jemma would be joining the long-running Australian soap, fans were trying to figure out exactly how Harlow would fit into the Robinson family tree. Just before Jemma's first episode aired, it was revealed that Harlow is the granddaughter of Paul Robinson and Gail Lewis, and therefore Scott Robinson's great-niece! While viewers cannot wait to see what's in store for the latest Robinson, it's interesting to note that there have now been three generations of Donovans to appear in Neighbours - Jemma's granddad, Terence Donovan, played the lovable Doug Willis on and off from the early nineties until his character was killed off in 2016. And let's not forget that Jason's sister, Stephanie McIntosh also appeared as Harold Bishop's granddaughter, Skye. It's so not fair - all that talent and great looks in one family! Jemma following in the footsteps of her father, grandfather, and aunt. But funnily enough during the show's thirty-four year history, it hasn't been that unusual - unlike a lot of other soaps - for a relative to follow in the acting footsteps of an equally talented family member and make an appearance on Ramsay Street. Over the years, the Valance sisters, Holly and then Olympia (Flick Scully and Paige Smith) have both appeared in Neighbours, and Harley Bonner who played Josh Willis is the real-life son of Carla Bonner (Steph Scully.) The villainous Julie Quill who was responsible for the Lassiter's explosion that killed two members of the Willis family, was played by Stefan Dennis's (Paul Robinson) real-life wife, Gail Easdale. And Kate Gorman, who plays the loathsome Sue Parker has appeared in Neighbours on and off since the early days, while her parents, Reg Gorman and Judith Roberts have also had guest roles in the soap, as has her sister Charmaine who played Clive Gibbons niece, Vicki, back in the eighties. Talk about giving that Donovan clan a run for their money! We take a look at other Neighbours' characters who were played by actors who proved that talent really does run in the family. 1. SUE JONES and KYLIE MINOGUE (aunt and niece) Everyone knows that Terence Donovan who played Doug Willis is Jason Donovan's father and it's believed that the actress who played Doug's wife Pam, Sue Jones, is the real-life sister of Kylie Minogue's mum, Carol, so therefore she's Aunty Sue to Kylie... Or is she??? This intriguing snippet of information about the Minogue family was given a brief mention in teen and TV mags during the early nineties, and Jason also hinted that the two were related in his autobiography Between The Lines but it's not for certain that he was talking about that Sue Jones. Sue has been working steadily since leaving Neighbours, and there's no need to mention Kylie's post-Neighbours career! But neither mentions the other in interviews, and in more recent times there's not much info which confirms that the two former Neighbours' actresses are actually related although there is some evidence to suggest that they are. Kylie, care to comment? 2. ANNE HADDY and JAMES CONDON (Husband and wife) Despite their extensive careers in entertainment, real-life husband and wife James Condon and Anne Haddy have only acted together twice - and both times were in Neighbours! James had two guest roles in the soap in which he played different characters at different times: the first was con artist Douglas Blake in the eighties, before going on to play Reuban White in 1995. Both characters became romantically involved with everyone's favourite gran, Helen Daniels with Reuban actually going on to marry Helen... who just happened to be played by James's real-life wife Anne! Sadly James and Anne are no longer with us but their talent and the roles they played will always be remembered by those who admired their work. Here's a quote by James taken from an interview with Perfect Blend in which he describes working with Anne when he played Reuban; it sums up everything about their relationship and has you going "Aw, that's so sweet!" "...our being married again on camera was very special - no acting required - just living and loving it." 3. BETH BUCHANAN and SIMONE BUCHANAN (Sisters) Beth's character Gemma Ramsay was only in Ramsay Street for about a year back in the early nineties. Her off-screen marriage to Doug and Pam's son Adam created a union for two of the show's most iconic families: the Ramsays and the Willises. Beth's return to Neighbours this year as she reprised her role as Gemma briefly in order to bring her daughter Roxy to Erinsborough created a lot of excitement among long-time fans of the show. Beth's sister Simone is an instantly recognisable face in Australia thanks to an acting career that goes back to the late seventies and appearances in top shows such as Blue Heelers, Flying Doctors, A Country Practice, and The Sullivans to name just a few. But Simone will be familiar to British audiences as Neighbours' lawyer Samantha Fitzgerald, Dan Fitzgerald's first wife. The Buchanan sisters aren't just famous for their acting abilities but for their amazing genes which mean they don't look a day older than when they first appeared on screen. We're so jealous! 4. KRISTIAN SCHMID and KRISTA VENDY (cousins) Aah, Todd Landers, an absolute sweetie with a good head on his shoulders, a slightly rebellious streak, and was never short of attention from the girls. Kristian Schmid did such an excellent job of playing Beverly Marshall's teenage nephew that twenty seven years after Todd was tragically killed off, he is still one of the most memorable of Neighbours' characters. Kristian has gone on to star in a whole host of shows since he left the soap including a role in Home and Away as Mick Jenner - a character as far removed as Todd Landers as you can get - but it's his role in Neighbours which we will forever remember him for. Eleven years after Kristian first appeared in Neighbours, his cousin Krista joined the cast as Tess Bell, one of the most glamorous teachers ever to work at Erinsborough High, although she had originally auditioned to play Sarah Beaumont - a role that eventually went to Nicola Charles. So Krista narrowly missed out on playing the first woman to wreak havoc in the Kennedy's marriage! A neat freak who didn't have the best of luck when it came to men, Tess left Erinsborough after jilting the dastardly Darcy at the alter. With the return of Tess's best friend, Dee Bliss, is there any chance that Krista might reprise her role as Ms. Bell and come back to Ramsay Street too? 5. SIMONE ROBERTSON and AIMEE ROBERTSON (Sisters) Simone captured the hearts of Neighbours fans with her portrayal of teenage mum, Phoebe Bright (later Gottlieb) which wasn't bad for someone whose character was only supposed to be in the show for a few episodes. And Simone definitely packed a lot in during her time on the show: Phoebe went from being an outcast at school to getting caught up in a love triangle with Josh Anderson and Todd Landers; becoming pregnant with Todd's baby, and then watching him die after a road accident. She then went on to give birth to Todd's daughter Hope just before marrying Stephen Gottlieb and leaving Erinsborough to open up a record store. As there seems to be something of a resurgence of past characters coming back to Ramsay Street, it would be awesome if we saw Phoebe return with a grown up Hope! However as Simone is now living in America, working in IT and appears to have given up acting, it's unlikely that that will ever happen. Hold on - the Blakeney Twins are also living in America, have also given up acting and have just filmed Caroline and Christina Alessis' return. So anything is possible! Simone's younger sister, Aimee, who had starred in children's TV series, Pugwall, playing a character called Melissa, had a guest role in Neighbours after Simone had left the show. She played another Melissa, Melissa Drenth, Billy Kennedy's girlfriend (before Anne Wilkinson came along.) Billy and Melissa had an on-off relationship which ended for good once Billy started dating Anne - and Melissa was unfortunatley written out of the show. It is not known if Aimee is still acting. Special shout out to Suzy and Sandra for their efforts in helping with research for this post. Photos from YouTube.

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 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 Massachusetts. 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 a comeback 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 on the Street again, especially as the actresses who played Caroline and Christina, Gayle Blakeney and Gillian Blakeney, appeared to have given up acting and had 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 (yes I know surprises are all unexpected but I did say completely!) 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 the 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!

Hi Nostalgiacs! As some of you will have noticed, I have been a little naughty this month by not posting regularly. The reason is... I'm back in England! Yep I'm back in the motherland catching up with family, friends and just loving being home. It's funny because since moving to the States, I hadn't returned to London for more than two years. And now I'm back for the second time in six months. I hope it won't be so long until my next visit. I'll be back in the States in a few days time so get ready for some non-stop posting! For most of my life, like most people, I thought there was only ever one Elizabeth Taylor (and no, I'm not talking about my old dinner lady!) But then I discovered another Elizabeth Taylor who was a writer and famous for her short stories. One of her shorts, The Flypaper was adapted for the small screen in what has to be the most chilling, blood-curdling episode I've ever seen on Tales Of The Unexpected. I grew up on a diet of horror flicks, and The Flypaper did to me what The Shining, The Omen, and The Exorcist didn't do to my childhood self by forcing me to sleep with the light on - and I was a thirty-something year old, married woman! I figured that someone who gave me nightmares of such epic proportions had to be super talented so I've been trying to catch up on as much of the late Ms. Taylor's work as I can (funnily enough she's known as 'the other Elizabeth Taylor!) So when I stumbled across another screen adaptation based on her work A Dedicated Man, I just had to check it out. Featuring a cast of fine British actors, I wasn't disappointed. Check out the upcoming post for A Dedicated Man. Long Time fans of Neighbours were in for a treat this month when Gemma Willis (was Ramsay) returned to Erinsborough to ask former sister-in-law, Therese, for help with her wayward daughter, Roxy. What was really awesome was that Gemma was played by Beth Buchanan, who originally played the role of Madge Bishop's niece back in the early nineties - where you risked being ostracized at school if you missed the previous night's episode of Neighbours! What I'd like to know is, how does Beth still look like she did when she left the soap almost thirty years ago? But then seeing as her sister, Simone played a character who was supposed to be in her late twenties (Samantha Fitzgerald) when the actress was almost forty, it's clear that amazing genes run in that family! The purpose of Gemma's return was to introduce the character of Roxy Willis to the show. I have no idea what lies ahead for Roxy but I do wish Gemma's visit was a lot longer. Maybe next time she can bring Adam back with her!

So after months of nagging the fella, we finally, FINALLY, got around to watching Bohemian Rhapsody - and my leg has almost fallen off below the knee from where I've been kicking myself so much for having waited so long to watch it! And when the fella announced that our local movie theatre (goodness, I've come over all American!) OK, when the fella announced that our local cinema (that's better!) had had a sing-along night when showing Bohemian Rhapsody, I almost kicked him for not telling me! I have always liked Queen and thought of Freddie Mercury as the ultimate showman but my admiration for the band has grown even more - as it has with most people. It's not hard to see why in the year 2019, Queen have die-hard fans who were born long after Freddie passed away. Bohemian Rhapsody has been criticised for being factually incorrect - but come on, are all music bios a hundred per cent accurate? To the best of my understanding, I think the film has done it's best to capture the essence of what the band were about - and seeing as I've never been so affected by a film about people I don't even know personally, I think it's done an outstanding job in doing so. And of course another key theme of the movie was Live Aid and that iconic performance. My memories of Live Aid are very vague. I just remember this super long concert that was on TV all day that my Mum and my aunts got very excited about; I sadly don't remember any of the actual performances. And of course back then, I didn't know the story behind Queen being a late addition to the line-up. But the story together with the performance is the stuff legends are made of. The first thing Mr. D and I did after we finished watching the film was check out Queen's Live Aid performance. I don't have the adjectives to describe how awesome it was - and for an English teacher, that's bad! And why did I wait so long to check it out again???? Cue much more kicking! One thing the film told me was that even though I liked Queen, I had kind of taken them for granted over the years. They are one of the biggest rock bands in the world whose music was always 'there'. It was a case of hearing the music without really listening. But all that's changed now and my appreciation of Queen has grown enormously. Not a case of bandwagon jumping because of a top movie but realising how formidable that something that's always been there really is. So if there's anyone who still hasn't seen Bohemian Rhapsody and wants to know what all the fuss is about, check it out NOW! The cast were fab. Everyone's raving about Oscar winner Rami Malek's portrayal of Freddie Mercury and rightly so, but all the cast gave stellar performances and really acted their socks off which was indeed a contributing factor to the film's success. But seriously - was I the only one who kept looking at Roger Taylor and thinking, "That's Peter Beale!" RIP Freddie Mercury. The legend lives on... Photos from YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

Neighbours' fans have just witnessed the tragic death of Sonya Rebecchi, ending one of the strongest and best-loved romantic unions on Ramsay Street (seriously Neighbours - what were you thinking???) What will poor Toadie do now? No doubt a new love interest will soon be lined up for him, but Toadie and Sonya had a once in a lifetime kind of love, and whoever Toadie is next romantically linked to, the late Mrs. Rebecchi will be a very tough act to follow. Through it's history, Neighbours have introduced couples whose relationships unsurprisingly dissolved faster than a stock cube in boiling water, and those who belonged in the how-on-earth-did-those-two-get-together category included Joe Mangel and Melanie Pearson; Gary and Therese; Paul and Jane, and now the newlywed Mark and Elly. But there have also been couples who have stayed in the hearts of viewers and will be remembered for a long time to come. Let's take a look at some of our favourite Neighbours' couples. 1. SCOTT ROBINSON AND CHARLENE MITCHELL Even though this list is in no particular order, it would have to be Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) at the top spot, wouldn't it! Scott and Charlene aren't just the hottest Neighbours couple; they're probably the most popular soap couple of all time, and their screen romance led to the actors who played them to become international stars. Their soap wedding, that was screened in the eighties, is still the most talked about TV wedding to this day. Scott and Charlene met as teenagers, when Charlene greeted him with a punch in the face after Scott mistook her for a burglar. Despite the unlikeliest of starts, they soon started going out and became seriously loved-up although their relationship suffered a lot of ups and downs - which didn't end even after Charlene became Mrs. Robinson. Their families didn't expect their marriage to last due to them having married so young, but Scott and Charlene proved them wrong. The day sadly came when the Robinsons packed up and left Erinsborough for a new life in Brisbane where they are mum and dad to Daniel and Maddie and are still living in happily married bliss. As every Kylie and Jason fan knows, Ms. Minogue and Mr. Donovan got together off-screen in a romance that delighted Neighbours viewers. It didn't last but the two are still on good terms. 2. MIKE YOUNG AND JANE HARRIS Mike (Guy Pearce) and Jane (Annie Jones) made a fantastic couple but they were often overshadowed by their best friends Scott and Charlene. But nonetheless, their romance kept Neighbours' fans hooked. And as with the actors who played Scott and Charlene, fans hoped that Guy Pearce and Annie Jones would also become a real-life couple. It never happened but it seems as though they're still good friends in real-life which is pretty awesome too! Dubbed 'Plain Jane Superbrain' by her less than friendly classmates, shy and awkward, Jane was desperate to fit in but didn't have any luck in making friends - until she was befriended by Scott, Charlene and Mike after an initially frosty start. Mike asked Jane to be his date to the school dance - and that episode where Mike's jaw hit the floor after Jane had had her makeover was unforgettable. Mike - like the rest of us - saw just how stunning Jane really was. They started dating but had their share of problems, from Mrs. Mangel standing in the way of their relationship to Mike's ex-girlfriend Nikki returning to Erinsborough. Then Mike did the unthinkable and cheated on Jane while on a trip to Canberra and the two broke up although they later became friends. After some time apart Mike soon saw sense and won Jane back who by now was the Lassiter's Girl. This time round they seemed more rock solid than ever before. Then just when we thought that Mike and Jane had a real chance to be happy together, Jane fell for Mike's closest friend and father figure, Des Clarke, which wrecked their relationship once and for all. Eventually Mike and Jane each left Ramsay Street to care for sick relatives without getting back together again. Even after Jane got with Des, fans hoped that Mike and Jane would get back together again but sadly it never happened. No one knows what the writers were thinking in getting Des and Jane together because they just weren't suited - they didn't have the same chemistry that Mike and Jane had. Whereas Scott and Charlene had their happily ever after, it would have been great if Mike and Jane had sailed off into the sunset together but it was not to be... 3. PAUL AND GAIL ROBINSON Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) is undoubtedly the Ian Beale of Ramsay Street. How did such an unpleasant man end up with so many wives and girlfriends? And this is clearly a man who likes wedding cake because despite so many failed marriages, he still insists on proposing! However, it's his second wife Gail (Fiona Corke) who probably comes the closest to being Paul's perfect woman - and quite possibly the only woman that Paul ever truly loved. It's ironic that their marriage was only supposed to be a business arrangement but the truth was that they both loved each other - they were just too afraid to admit it. It took Gail accepting a job in New York for Paul to come clean about his feelings for her - and their passionate embrace was witnessed by a delighted Scott and Charlene. It still wasn't all plain sailing though. Gail desperately wanted to start a family but the couple had problems conceiving. It was while she was undergoing fertility treatment that she and Paul learned that he had a child (Amy) with an ex-partner; a revelation that devastated Gail. So fans were thrilled when Gail finally got pregnant with triplets. It seemed to be a new beginning for Paul and Gail. And new beginning it was - just not in the way that fans had hoped. Fed up with Paul's workaholic ways and feeling anger towards him for the accident that killed her father, Rob, Gail had had enough of Paul's lack of support and left him while she was pregnant to start a new life in Tasmania. Paul was heartbroken and wanted to be there for Gail and the babies - but she was having none of it. When Paul realised that Gail wanted nothing more to do with him, he was forced to move on. And move on he did - to wife number three, Christina, and after Paul and Gail,this was a bit of a lacklustre union; they lacked the fire that Paul and Gail had had. It was no surprise when Paul and Christina eventually split and Paul started getting measured for a new tux in his search for wife number four! Would Paul have turned into Mr. Nasty if he'd still been married to Gail? Who knows! But Paul and Gail definitely had a special bond - as did the actors who played them, with Stefan Dennis, quoted as saying that he'd love for Fiona Corke who played Gail to return. She appeared for two guest appearances but we'd love to see her return as a regular cast member. 4. HENRY RAMSAY AND BRONWYN DAVIES Joker Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) fell in love with Bronwyn Davies (Rachel Friend) as soon as he laid eyes on her. But the pretty blonde couldn't take Henry seriously, and started going out with Henry's friend and neighbour Mike Young instead. However Bronwyn's relationship with Mike didn't last and she soon realised that Henry was the man for her - much to his delight. Henry had gone out with Melanie Pearson in the past, and had suffered the experience of unrequited love with Des Clarke's sister, Sally. But it looked as though he might have found the right woman in caring, strong willed, country girl Bronwyn. But surprise, surprise - as with all Ramsay Street couples, Henry and Bronwyn encountered problems which saw them split up on a couple of occasions, but the bond between them was too strong and they would always find their way back to each other. Their biggest test came just before their wedding, when Bronwyn's father, not convinced that Henry was the right man for his daughter, persuaded Bronwyn to postpone the wedding. And she did just that - on the morning of the day that she was supposed to marry Henry alongside their friends Joe and Kerry in a double wedding ceremony. Both Henry and Bronwyn were heartbroken and even though this incident could have split them up again, it didn't. And both of them were determined that next time, they'd make it to the alter without any hitches. The next test came when Henry landed a radio job in New Zealand, and had to leave without Bronwyn who was unable to get a job transfer. Having to endure a long-distance relationship, Bronwyn felt lonely and miserable without Henry. But luckily for her, the opportunity to work at a veterinary surgery in New Zealand came up. So Bronnie bid farewell to everyone in Ramsay Street and was once again reunited with her beloved Henry. The two married off screen and are still believed to be happily married - with a family - in New Zealand. The on-screen chemistry between Henry and Bronwyn spilled over into real-life as Craig McLachlan and Rachel Friend started dating and eventually married much to the delight of the show's fans - although they sadly later divorced. 5. JOE MANGEL AND KERRY BISHOP Stereotypical Aussie bloke Joe Mangel (Mark Little) and free-spirited hippy Kerry Bishop (Linda Hartley) seemed like a very unlikely pairing. But the two were drawn together - and they soon found that opposites did in fact attract. Over a period of time, Kerry's hard-edged, stubborn streak subsided and viewers found her to be a very loving and caring woman who still had her own unique way of doing things. This softer side came about as the result of her relationship with Joe, proving that the two really were a good match. But of course there were issues that had to be resolved especially as the two had very different ways of living and doing things but they managed to make compromises. The biggest hurdle they faced occurred when Kerry found herself attracted to Clive Gibbons, who had recently returned to Ramsay Street, just before her wedding to Joe. Thankfully Kerry soon saw sense and realised that Joe was the man for her. Joe and Kerry were planning to marry at around the same time as their friends Des and Jane, and Henry and Bronwyn - but Joe and Kerry were the only ones who made it to the alter that time. Further problems arose after their marriage with Joe's ex-wife getting custody of their son Toby, and the father of Kerry's toddler daughter Skye returning: two things which threatened the tranquillity of their perfectly blended family. However, Joe and Kerry got through these episodes - including comforting a very traumatized Toby after his mum died - and were delighted to discover that Kerry was pregnant with their first child. The stage was set for a happy ending. But alas it was not to be as Kerry was accidentally shot while on a protest in front of a distraught Joe and later died in hospital. Who were your favourite Neighbours' couples?

Neighbours' fans are still reeling from the death of Sonya Rebecchi. The character had been a firm favourite with viewers for nearly ten years and fans were led to believe that the actress who played Sonya, Eve Morey, wanted to leave the show to devote more time to her young family. But since that heart-wrenching episode aired, Morey revealed that although she had suggested that Sonya be killed off, it wasn't actually her decision to leave in the first place. Neighbours - you take away Sonya Rebecchi and give us Finn Kelly instead!!! How could you???? Over the years, Ramsay Street has had to say a final farewell to many of it's residents including Josh Willis and his grandfather Doug, Kate Ramsay, and Matt Turner. Let's take a look at some of the other Neighbour's characters we've loved... and lost way too soon. Incidentally did anyone else think that Sonya's final scene where she died on the beach in Toadie's arms was reminiscent of Meg Bowman and Blake Dean in Home and Away back in the nineties? 1. Daphne Clarke (1988) The very first death of a Ramsay Street regular occurred back in 1988 when we lost Daphne Clarke who was the Sonya Rebecchi of the 1980s: strong and smart with a heart of pure gold, and a much-loved member of the community. So it comes as no surprise that Daphne's death was every bit as heart-wrenching as Sonya's. Wife of Des Clarke, mother of Jamie, and owner of the coffee shop when it was called er, Daphne's and not Harold's, Daphne was on her way to the funeral of her father - who she had only been reunited with just a few months before - when she was involved in a car accident along with her son Jamie and friend, Gail Robinson. While Jamie escaped unscathed and Gail sustained minor injuries, poor Daphne bore the brunt of it and ended up in a coma. She regained consciousness just long enough to tell her beloved Des that she loved him (that unforgettable line "I love you, Clarkey") before taking her last breath and leaving Des devastated. When Elaine Smith - the actress who played Daphne - wanted to leave Neighbours, Daphne was sent to care for her dying father as the writers didn't want to kill off such a popular and much-loved character (didn't stop them with Sonya!) However viewers felt that this storyline was left hanging and hated the idea that Des and Daphne would inevitably break up so Elaine Smith returned to finish off Daphne's storyline, with Daphne being killed off at Smith's request. 2. Kerry Bishop (1990) During the short time Kerry Bishop spent on Ramsay Street, she reconciled with her father Harold; got to know her stepmother Madge; made friends, and met the love of her life, Joe Mangel. Kerry settled into a happy family life with Joe, her daughter Skye and Joe's son Toby. The icing on the cake was when Joe and Kerry discovered that they had a little one on the way... But in true soap style, tragedy was just around the corner, when a pregnant Kerry was shot and killed while out on a protest against duck hunters. Joe was distraught and didn't know how he was going to go on without his beloved Kerry. But just as Des Clarke had done, he pulled himself together for the sake of the kids as he tried to come to terms with a future without Kerry. Joe eventually left Ramsay Street about a year later after marrying whacky Melanie Pearson. But it was on Skye's return to Erinsborough years later when she was a teenager that viewers learned that Joe and Melanie had split up just a few years into their marriage. Kerry Bishop was clearly a tough act to follow. Linda Hartley-Clarke (though she was then known as Linda Hartley) had played the role of Kerry Bishop for less than two years, and even though she enjoyed playing the character and working on Neighbours, she grew tired of the long hours. So when her contract came up for renewal, Hartley-Clarke decided to leave. The decision to kill Kerry off wasn't hers, but she did agree that it was the only logical way that the charcter could leave, as Kerry wouldn't just walk out on Joe and their kids - just as Morey had said that Sonya would never leave Toadie and their kids through choice. 3. Todd Landers (1992) Todd Landers became part of the Robinson clan via his aunt, Dr. Beverly Marshall's marriage to Jim Robinson. And even after Jim and Beverly's marriage ended, Todd stayed on in Erinsborough and continued living in the Robinson house. After failed romances with Emma, Melissa, and Cody, Todd eventually found love with Phoebe Bright - his first serious relationship. So serious in fact that Phoebe soon became pregnant which left the young couple stunned. After much indecision, Todd and Phoebe finally made the decision to terminate the pregnancy - even though deep down, neither of them really wanted that. Realising that he couldn't let her go through with the abortion, Todd made a dash to the clinic to stop Phoebe from going ahead with it but was hit by a van and rushed to hospital. Todd came round after a seemingly successful operation and was talking about the future with Phoebe when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest and died in front of a devastated Phoebe. Todd later appeared to Phoebe after his death to tell her that he would always be there for her... and their daughter. Phoebe eventually gave birth to a baby girl she named Hope. Kristian Schmidt who played Todd suggested that the character ought to be killed off when he decided he wanted to leave the show. He wanted a big, dramatic exit - and that was exactly what he got, ensuring that the character of Todd Landers would never be forgotten. In fact Todd was the first Neighbours character to have a montage of scenes play out during the closing credits as a moving tribute. 4. Jim Robinson (1993) An original character from day one, Jim Robinson was the stalwart of Ramsay Street and a devoted family man. Those of us who have watched Neighbours since the beginning could never have imagined a time when Jim's presence would no longer be on the street. And it was the first time in soap history that a fruit bowl had such a prominent role in a character's death! And it would be another thirteen years before 'fruit bowl' would play such a starring role in another soap death on the other side of the world - look out, Pauline Fowler! Jim was generally a very sensible and wise man but sadly he didn't exercise much common sense or caution when it came to ruthless Fiona Hartman, Annalise's mother, and he embarked on a relationship with her despite warnings from family and friends. Jim had had problems with his heart and all the feuding with his family, in particular with his daughter Julie, proved to be bad with his health when Jim suffered another heart attack and died in front of a horrified Fiona... who soon turned the situation to her advantage by transferring Jim's money into her account before setting the scene for Jim's body to be discovered by his sister-in-law, Rosemary. Vile woman! Fiona, not Rosemary! It was recently announced that Jim Robinson was axed from Neighbours due to actor Alan Dale's row with producers over pay which led to the decision to kill off Jim Robinson which probably seems a bit petty now to those involved. However it now seems to be water under the bridge as Alan Dale has made a return to Neighbours twice in the last two months... as a ghost! 5. Julie Martin How on earth could Julie Martin be related to wise Helen Daniels, kind-hearted Jim Robinson, and married to the gentle Phillip Martin? The woman was positively awful! Overbearing, bossy, rude, and interfering... at any given time you could be sure that Julie was feuding with at least one of the neighbours. But Julie, sister to Paul, Scott and Lucy, wasn't all bad. Family was everything to her, and despite frequently rowing with her husband Phillip, she adored him and their kids, including her stepchildren Debbie and Michael, despite the fact that Michael absolutely loathed Julie and blamed her for his mother's death. It would appear - sometimes at least - that Julie's heart was in the right place. Too bad her mouth wasn't! Julie and Phillip's marriage had always been stormy but now it looked as though they were on the verge of a divorce - something that Julie took quite badly. When most of the Ramsay Street residents went away for a murder mystery weekend, Julie decided to follow Phillip there in a bid to sort things out but her attempts at reconciliation ended in an argument...and the next morning, a real-life murder mystery situation was under way when Julie's body was discovered by Cheryl Stark. At one point Phillip was suspected of Julie's murder - until Debbie had a flashback and realised she had blocked the memory of seeing a drunken and hysterical Julie fall from a tower onto the lawn in a tragic accident. When Julie Mullins - the second actress to play Julie - decided to leave the soap after two years, producers decided to inject some excitement into the show by killing off the character. Mullins agreed with this move as she felt that it was the only way she'd be able to shake off Julie Martin for good. Originally Julie's death was supposed to have been suicide but writers changed the plot just a couple of days before filming. Which character's death had you reaching for the tissues? Photos from YouTube

As one original EastEnder leaves, another two return - though only for a little while. Who would have thought that one day we'd see Lofty Holloway and Mary Smith back in Walford again? Even though the passing of the legendary Dr. Legg was very sad, it was great to see the return of two characters who reminded those of us who had watched EastEnders from the very beginning, of the good ol' days of Albert Square. The only disappointment was that it wasn't long enough. It's got fans thinking about who they would like to see making a welcome return to the soap. New characters are great but there's something about a familiar face that gets us feeling all nostalgic. In more recent times, EastEnders have brought back a few of the old faces: Mel Owen, Ruby Allen, and soon we'll see the return of Sean Slater. But as for the Michelle Fowler debacle, yeah, let's not go there! So EastEnders, if you still want to bring some past characters back to Walford, this lot would be great for starters! 1. GRANT MITCHELL Walford was never a dull place when Grant Mitchell was around. If he wasn't the cause of all the drama, he was in the middle of it. Walford could be a scary place with Grant around but it could also be a safer place with people running to Grant whenever someone needed 'sorting' - a lot like they do now with his brother Phil. Walford is still standing but it has never been the same since hard-man Grant left for a new life in Portugal with his daughter, Courtney. During his time on the Square, the mechanic turned Queen Vic landlord attacked Eddie Royal; married Sharon Watts; torched the Vic with Sharon inside; divorced Sharon; had a one-night stand with her best friend Michelle; fathered a child with Michelle; had a one-night stand with Tiffany Raymond; fathered a child with Tiffany; married Tiffany; had an affair with Lorraine Wicks; got back together again with Tiffany; had an affair with mum-in-law Louise; watched Tiffany get knocked over by Frank Butcher; had an affair with sister-in-law Kathy; rescued Ian Beale's sons after they had been kidnapped by Cindy; had an affair with Jane Beale; helped put Chrissie Watts behind bars; had an affair with... Goodness Grant, you have been busy! If Ross Kemp hadn't had left when he did, no other character would ever have had any storylines! And of course one of Grant's biggest storylines can be summed up in one word - Sharongate! There's always a possibility that Grant Mitchell could find himself back in Walford, to lock horns with Phil, get all misty-eyed over Sharon... and EastEnders' fans would always be happy to welcome Grant back to the Square - though hopefully it'll be for longer than a brief guest appearance. 2. KELVIN CARPENTER Gonna Make Something Outta Nothing... There are plenty of youngsters running around the Square today but back when EastEnders first started, the original group of young 'uns were Sharon, Michelle, Ian and Kelvin. Sharon and Ian are still living in Albert Square and still the best of friends. Michelle made her infamous visit two years ago. But viewers haven't seen Kelvin since he quietly slipped out of Walford without saying goodbye to anyone, missing his own leaving party to head off to university. Hardworking, studious, showing that he could give Ian Beale a run for his money in the entrepreneurship stakes, Kelvin also showed his musical abilities in the (shortlived) group he set up with Sharon, Simon and Ian - and a couple of others - called The Banned. The song the group wrote Something Outta Nothing actually became a real-life Top Forty hit! Kelvin had flings with both Sharon and Michelle (the dawg!) as well as a relationship with older woman, health visitor, Carmel Roberts, which naturally caused quite a stir in Albert Square. On two occasions in more recent times, viewers thought Kelvin might be heading back to Walford to catch up with his old mates - but both times hopes were dashed. Who knows if Kelvin will ever make a return, but it's time he was reunited with his best mate, Ian. Kelvin might be the only person who can sort out that Mr. Beale. 3. THE SLATER GIRLS "You can't tell me what to do. You ain't my muvver." "YES, I AM!!!" OK, this is three characters instead of one, but despite the shouting, temper tantrums, and non-stop fallouts, the Slater girls have always been a pretty tight unit so they could count as one. Kat might be living with Stacey, Hailey, Jean and Mo but it's probably time she had her sisters Lynne, Little Mo, and Zoe back again. With the exception of Kat, none of the Slater sisters have ever returned to the Square since leaving, and seeing as there was always plenty of drama with those girls, is it any wonder that fans want them back? The revelation that Kat was Zoe's real mother was one of EastEnders' biggest storylines, and viewers saw plenty of ups and downs in their relationship - and judging by references made to Zoe, it would appear that years later, nothing's changed between mother and daughter. A possible return by Zoe wouldn't just cause drama between her and Kat, but it would also stir up a lot of unresolved tension between her and Sharon due to Zoe's role in the murder of Sharon's dad, Den, and Zoe's relationship with Sharon's late husband Dennis. And now that Honey and Billy Mitchell have split up, perhaps there's a second chance for Billy and the first Mrs. Mitchell, Little Mo? Also as the most sensible of the Slater sisters, Lynne needs to be around to keep her younger sisters in order. Yeah, no one fancies her chances but she can try! 4. CHRISSIE WATTS If Sharon Mitchell thinks she's got issues caught up in a Phil-Sharon-Keanu-Louise love square, with Karen Taylor baying for her blood, then what would she do if her former stepmother Chrissie Watts was ever to set foot back in Walford? When it was announced that back-from-the dead Den Watts was going to be joined by his new wife, no one thought they would ever take to the second Mrs. Watts. Den's marriage to Angie was never a bed of roses, but their tumultuous partnership kept viewers enthralled. Could anyone ever step into Angela Watts's stilettos? But then along came feisty, big-hearted, curly-haired Chrissie, who made firm friends with most of the Square, doted on Den's kids, and put Den in his place far better than Angie ever could. Unfortunately that place turned out to be a hole in the floor of the Vic's cellar! Yep, Chrissie was the woman who finally finished off Dirty Den for good which is why she's now on a daily diet of porridge! Chrissie was basically a nice lady who did a terrible thing because she had the misfortune to fall in love with the wrong man. If ever she should be released early from prison (And why not? Janine was!) there's probably a million places other than Walford where Chrissie would rather be, but we hope that she does make it back to the Square to ruffle a few feathers and give Sharon's lips something to really quiver about! 5. ANTHONY TRUEMAN When was the last time that Dr. Trueman came back to Walford to pay his old dad, Patrick, a visit? Kind, good-natured, with a strong set of morals, Anthony was the complete opposite of his wayward brother, Paul. In fact the naughtiest thing Anthony ever did was defy his mother, Audrey, by taking up with loud, brash Kat Slater. Actually that's not quite true. Anthony did have relationships with both Kat and Zoe, flitting between mother and daughter which led to the two women coming to blows on more than one occasion. So the good doctor wasn't quite so squeaky clean after all! But still a lot better behaved than most of Walford's inhabitants. And now that Kat has returned, and Alfie has left, could the spark between Dr. Trueman and Kat still be there? Who would you like to see back in Walford? Photos from YouTube Word cloud by Angel Noire

Hands up who loved 'Mary the Punk' and Lofty's return to Walford last week? Nostalgia came to EastEnders when Lofty and Mary - complete with her daughter, not-so-baby Annie - returned to the Square for Dr. Legg's funeral. I was surprised when I heard that the two eighties' characters were coming back, and even more surprised when I found out they were going to be played by the original actors, Tom Watt and Linda Davidson, especially as Davidson was said to have retired from acting. I couldn't wait to see them back on screen... but I couldn't help but feel a little skeptical. In recent years Eastenders have tried to play the nostalgia card by bringing back old characters, and even though these comebacks have been highly anticipated, when it actually happens I can't help but feel underwhelmed. Mel Owen is hard-faced and unlikeable; I sometimes forget the resurrected Kathy Beale has been resurrected; I'm really not sure I understand what the point of Ruby Allen is, and let's not talk about the debacle that was Michelle Fowler. The once iconic character will now forever be associated with one of the most disastrous soap comebacks of all time. Let's hope we can expect more from Sean Slater's return. For those of us who have watched EastEnders since the early days, we know how popular the characters Lofty Holloway and Mary Smith were. They had some pretty intense and in Mary's case, gritty, storylines and were often at the forefront of all the drama. So it would be a huge disappointment for the fans if their long-awaited comebacks were just one huge flop. But thankfully - in my opinion at least- it proved to be anything but. It was fantastic to see them back in the square, reminiscing with Sharon, Dot, and Kathy. Incidentally I had actually stumbled across old EastEnders video clips featuring some of Lofty and Mary's scenes which depicted the exact events that they were talking about in The Vic with their old mates. And not wanting to give too much away for those who have yet to see this episode but it was lovely to see that things have worked out well for two of the most downtrodden characters in Albert Square. Though why Lofty would still be pining after his ex-wife, miserable Michelle, I don't know! The only complaints I have about Lofty and Mary's visit are that it wasn't long enough, and that Ian Beale was missing from the group. Could you just imagine his face when he discovers that Lofty is a bigger success story than him - and much, much nicer! Well done, EastEnders! This is how you do it! Check out our post, Five Eastenders Characters Who Should Make A Comeback. Who do you think should make a return? Photos from YouTube

Fans of British sit-com Birds Of A Feather will be saddened by the recent news that the show has been axed by ITV - nearly thirty years after it was first broadcast on BBC1. I loved watching Birds back in the nineties when I was a kid. I didn't know many people who didn't enjoy keeping up with the antics of sisters and prisoners' wives Sharon, Tracey, and their man-mad neighbour Dorien. But fifteen years after the BBC had cancelled Birds Of A Feather, it was announced that the show was back and would have a new home at ITV. On the one hand, it was great news - like being reunited with a long-lost friend. But on the other, I wasn't so sure I was completely sold on the idea... Could the new-look Birds be anywhere as good as it was all those years ago? The new Birds Of A Feather was pleasant... funny... definitely watchable... but not a patch on the original. Sorry! Perhaps if I'd never watched the BBC version, I would have loved the ITV one. And that's my problem right there - I have never been a fan of reboots. Every child of the nineties is familiar with the phrase 'this is the remix." In the last ten years or so it's been more a case of 'this is the reboot" with so many films and TV series being remade. I can definitely see the advantage of doing this as it means bringing the film/show to a whole new generation of viewers who have never watched it before, and for those of us 'oldies' who remember it the first time round, we get that delicious taste of nostalgia. But the problem is that us oldies, who not only remember the show the first time round but remember it well (in some cases too well!) we often feel that the show has changed so much that it may as well be a different program. We understand that times and things will have changed since the show was last on so that has to be reflected. We try to accept the new look series for what it is. We try to find positive things about it in order to keep watching because we really do want to keep watching. But quite often the show has a new team behind it who, it seems, don't have an understanding of the characters, their situation and circumstances. Or maybe the new team of writers, producers, directors etc. just want to put their own spin on it. What sadly happens is that one-time fans of the show inevitably end up switching off. It's a bit like biting into a chocolate bar that you last scoffed when you were a kid. The packaging is similar; the bar looks the same, and it still tastes sweet and yummy. But no matter how many years have gone by, you know it's not the same formula and the taste is different to how you remember it. Once that wave of nostalgia has washed over you, you can't help feeling just a little bit disappointed. I remember when my mum and her sisters heard that there was going to be a TV movie based on Peyton Place, an American soap opera they used to watch during their teen years. So they excitedly settled down to watch it - and let's just say they weren't so excited by the time the movie finished! So me personally, I don't go crazy over reboots. I'd much rather watch old episodes of the show so it's exactly as I remember it. What's your view of reboots? Are there any you've liked? Are there any you feel are way better than the original? Photos from YouTube Blog graphics: Angel Noire

So why wasn't the awesome Face The Music more successful? Where do we begin! The New Kids were one of the biggest names in the biz, and Face The Music was a quality album. The two together should have been enough to make a winning combination. But it wasn't as simple as that... If You Go Away... But perhaps one of the reasons why the album didn't do as well as it should have done had a lot to do with the band's long absence. New Kids On The Block were the pioneers for boy bands as we know them today, and part of the problem was that when they left, a whole plethora of boy bands suddenly emerged ready to take the boy band crown, and many Blockheads switched allegiance to other groups, which in the UK were Take That, East 17 and Boyzone. Not 'real' music Even when the New Kids were at the height of their fame, there were haters who saw them as 'uncool' and a group for thirteen year old teenyboppers. Despite the fact that the New Kids sang, danced, played instruments and were getting into writing and producing, they were still not considered 'serious' musicians, and many people who were once fans caught on to this way of thinking and started taking their New Kids posters off the wall. The music scene had changed a lot since the New Kids were on their break, and most Blockheads grew up and moved on to other musical genres. Grunge was pretty huge and all the cool kids were looking up to Kurt, Courtney, Layne et al. In Britain, Britpop was fast emerging, and most people would rather live like Common People than Hang Tough. No one likes change Even though NKOTB still had a pretty large fan base, much was said about the band's change in direction in terms of music and image. Even before fans had the chance to listen to the album, and judge for themselves, there was a lot of talk about how the New Kids had ditched their teeny-bopper sound, becoming more hip-hop - 'hardcore rap' even! One magazine stated that the band had traded in 'cheesy grins for gold-toothed sneers!' Er, not exactly true although admittedly the boys did smile a lot less. Let's face it - most people don't like change, and the perception of NKOTB at the time was that they had morphed into a completely different band; a band that the fans didn't recognize and couldn't relate to. True, Face The Music showed a harder more mature sound than their other albums. And the change of image from the 'bubblegum pop' days was purely because they'd grown up from teenagers to young men so that was bound to happen. For the Blockheads who were already fans of urban music, the change in musical genre wasn't too much of a pressing concern - in fact it was welcomed. As Joe McIntyre said during the Clive Warren interview: "We haven't strayed too far from our old stuff... it's just better." But it seemed that too many fans listened way too much to what was being said about the band and didn't give them a chance. The media weren't their bezzie mate! There's no denying that although some of the media were rooting for the New Kids, there was probably an even greater part that wanted to see them fail. It's true - the media can build you up when they want to, and knock you down if they see fit. And that's exactly what happened with the New Kids. Much of the hysteria that surrounded them was gone, and it seemed as though they were faced with a barrage of criticism. And when Dirty Dawg was released, the press really went to town, with cries of 'misogynistic,' 'anti-women,' 'hating on women,'... quite funny really considering the large, overwhelming proportion of their fan base are... women! And maybe because of this, accusations of misogyny may well have hurt the boys' chances of success a second time around. Sadly there was just too much against the album and NKOTB, and not enough support which is why Face The Music didn't do as well as it could have. But there were a couple of surprises. At the time of its release, many urban music stations started playing tracks from Face The Music when previously many of them wouldn't touch New Kids' stuff with a barge pole. Not just because it wasn't the right genre, but because the New Kids just weren't cool enough! But it was great to see NKOTB get some much-needed support albeit from an unlikely source. The second big surprise is that Face The Music started shifting more copies around the time of the boys' 2008 comeback! There's no denying that Face The Music was very different to their earlier offerings, but still equally as amazing (It's New Kids - come on!) Sure they'd had an image overhaul; their sound was a little bit rougher, their lyrics a tad bit nastier, their videos a touch freakier, but their sound was very much real. A very grown up album, with harder beats and not-so-sugary lyrics (well not always) die-hard Blockheads were naturally going to love this because it was the boys. Those who loved RnB were going to give this a listen. Those who just liked good music regardless of genre or who it was by, was going to give this a chance. Despite not being a smash hit back in 1994, Face The Music has somehow endured with Blockheads - past and present - appreciating the awesomeness of this album. And twenty five years later, it still sounds just as good. Photos and word cloud by Angel Noire GIF: Wix