Olympia Valance talks about the end of Neighbours

When the final credits roll on Neighbours tomorrow night, viewers will have witnessed 64 deaths, 39 weddings, 17 births and 35 natural disasters in nearly 9000 episodes throughout the 37-year lifespan of the show.

But there is no counting the number of tears that have been shed by cast, crew and devoted fans of the iconic Australian series since it was announced that the long-running drama was finally coming to an end.

Sadly, unlike the resurrection of characters Harold Bishop and Jim Robinson, there will be no fairytale ending this time around for Neighbours.

Before a wrap was called for the final time, a swag of stars returned to the show to celebrate its incredible legacy, not just to them but to the Australian television industry as a whole.

Olympia Valance, who played feisty Paige Novak for five years from 2014, says she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to return to the show where she began her acting career, even if it was only days before her own real-life fairy tale wedding to retired AFL star Thomas Bellchambers.

“It meant a lot to me to say goodbye to Neighbours because it started my career, and they’ve been like my family for five years of my life. Yes, it was bad timing, but no part of me wasn’t going to make it work,” she says.

“I didn’t think that I would get so emotional. It was like all these memories were flooding back through me, and all the cast and crew were there for it.”

Valance says the loss of the show will impact the future careers of other on and off-screen talent.

“It’s just been such a massive learning ground for some of the biggest Australian actors that we have in the world, and it’s a travesty that we don’t have anything like that anymore,” she says.

“I think it’s incredibly devastating that young Australian actors won’t get to have the experience that for five years was fundamental to who I am today.”

She says it is a testament to the show’s power that other famous faces cut their teeth on Neighbours, including Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan, agreed to reprise their roles one last time.

“I’m just so proud of these people, that really did not need to come back but did anyway out of respect for what the show has done for them and their careers, and the respect for our industry and for the show.”

Long-running cast members Rebekah Elmaloglou and Annie Jones have also bid emotional farewells to the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, but none more so than Stefan Dennis who has called Ramsay Street (also known as Pin Oak Crescent in Vermont South) home for the better part of 35 years.

“It’s funny because I was just telling myself not to get too emotional. That it is just the end to a very long game; it’s just the end of yet another gig,” he says.

“I was putting myself in that mindset, and I was absolutely perfect until the very last day. I just wanted to sort of sneak away without the fanfare.”

When he finished his final scene, Dennis made a swift exit from the studio but was unexpectedly overcome with the significance of the moment.

“I opened the (studio) door, and as the door closed, I just got really emotional. The actual physical act of the door closing was the thing that got me,” he says.

Elmaloglou, who also starred in Home and Away, says she marvels at how lucky she was to have taken on the role of Terese Willis on Neighbours alongside Dennis for more than a decade.

“There are very few actors out there that can say they have worked as a series regular on not one but two of Australia’s favourite dramas. So, I feel very blessed,” she says.

“The most memorable moments I have from working on the show would have to be working with the wonderful Stefan Dennis. The consummate professional and my dear friend. We knew each other so well when we worked together; we almost didn’t have to say anything.”

Jones, who began her career as “Plain Jane Superbrain” on the show in 1986 and was awarded the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress in 1988, returned to the show in 2020 as a regular cast member.

“I’d have to say the most memorable moment for me was getting to be Charlene’s bridesmaid. Who could have predicted that pink taffeta would look so dated!”

“It’s such a shame on so many levels, that the show is ending. It’s an iconic Australian show which has been a training ground for every aspect of television; writers, directors, make-up artists, camera operators, the list goes on, not to mention the many actors who have featured on the show. It’s very sad.”

Neighbours \ final episode airs on July 28 on 10 and 10 Peach at 7.30pm