THIS ARTICLE REFERENCES THE UNMISSABLE DRAMA THAT OCCURRED DURING THE EPISODE THAT AIRED ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 26TH 2023
The Erinsborough web is spread far and wide across the world with former stars of Neighbours making it big in the world of theatre, television, music and movies with massive names including Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce and Natalie Imbruglia, to name just a few.
In Thursday’s episode we saw a special Easter Egg as a current character acknowledged their own personal link to a Ramsay Street legend. Reece Sinclair, played by Mischa Barton, broke into Paul’s office along with Byron Stone, in the search for more information on the whereabouts of her missing sister, Krista.
Whilst Byron looked through CCTV footage on Paul’s computer, Reece noticed a picture of Paul’s father, Jim Robinson, on his desk.
Intrigued by the picture of the stranger, Reece picked it up for a closer look before returning it to the desk. But, of course, the picture wasn’t of a total stranger. Alan Dale, who played Jim, became one of the breakout stars of Neighbours in the USA, starring in shows such as The X Files, Ugly Betty, Once Upon A Time and Dynasty. From 2003-2005 he played the role of Caleb Nichol on The OC who was the stepfather to Marissa Cooper, played by Mischa Barton. Much like Jim Robinson, Caleb’s time on the OC was cut short by a devastating physical setback, dying of a heart attack.
This nod to The OC connection isn’t the first time that Neighbours has teased with off-screen connections. When Carla Bonner returned to the show in 2015 in the role of Steph Scully she shared a brief scene with Josh Willis, played by Carla’s real-life son Harley Bonner, where he commented that Steph, who he was meeting for the first time, looked familiar.
In 2020 Amanda Harrison was appearing as Erinsborough High parent Angela Lane at the same time as Lucy Durack was playing Toadie’s new assistant and potential love interest, Rose Walker. Harrison and Durack are both well known in the musical theatre world and originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the Australian production of Wicked. Writers crafted a scene where the two characters would meet in Toadie’s office that was filled with in-jokes about their previous work together, including references to a popular nightspot called the “Elpha Bar” and Toadie describing Angela Lane’s strong perfume as wicked.
If Reece is still in Erinsborough at Christmas we wonder if her former step-father will appear to her in a Christmas Bauble?
New episodes of Neighbours drop at 7am, Monday to Thursday on Amazon Freevee and Amazon Prime Video.