Neighbours is the longest-running drama in Australian television history, and a former writer for the soap has claimed that she believes the show was too “white” for the majority of its reign.
Marieke Hardy appeared on Neighbours as an actor in 1995 before transitioning to becoming a writer for the show between 1996 and 2003. As the soap’s final week begins today, Hardy has expressed some misgivings about the featured storylines.
“Neighbours was a very white, heteronormative world for far too long,” she told Sydney Morning Herald. Hardy added: “But I appreciate that, like so much of Australian society, it has done some listening and learning.”
The screenwriter, who has added Packed to the Rafters and Hardy to her resume since wrapping up at Neighbours, explained what she believes is the art of creating a great script.
“You have to actually care about a show and its characters – to invest in the stories and the stakes.” She continued, “The worst pieces of ourselves needed to be shared in the process of creating a story.”
In recent years, Neighbours has become more inclusive with its casting and storylines. In 2018, the soap showed gay couple David and Aaron getting married, marking Australia’s first-ever same-sex wedding scene in a drama. In 2019, Neighbours introduced its first transgender character, Mackenzie, played by Georgie Stone.
Neighbours first aired in 1985, centring on the fictional community of Ramsay Street in Melbourne. Fans were devastated earlier this year when the show’s demise was confirmed as it was dropped by its broadcaster.
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Back in March, the Neighbour’s official Twitter account announced the end of the soap.
“We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June. Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show.
“To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.”
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