Homeandawayfan.

I do think the show did lose its comedy element when Des Monaghan took over. It became a much more serious show by the end of 1989 and seemed to stay that way. Neighbours never lost its comedy element.

In 1988, after several months, even Tom and Pippa became sidelined while the supporting characters such as the Macklins, Alison Patterson, Phil Matheson, Gary Samuels and Jeff Samuels were elevated to main character status during their short reigns. Pippa really shined though once Tom died of his heart attack in 1990.

I went for Kat. If it had been all time, it would be either Barnett or Nick Parrish, or Joel Nash.

No wonder Donald Fisher split from Marilyn all those years ago. I think he found her insufferable.

Morag should not have been bought back after her 1993 exit where she was disowned by the family after trying to craftily gain custody of Sam. I remember when Alf lambasted a crying Morag saying she was no longer part of this family. To me that would have been the perfect final exit of evil Morag.

That is why if Don, Celia or Morag were still around, they would probably be extras just sat drinking tea and reminiscing about pupils of Summer Bay High from years gone by, and watching the billionth punch up on the beach, and tutting.

No doubt if she did return, it would be revealed that she was pregnant when she left the Bay with Owen Dalby's child, thus giving Alf his billionth illegitimate grandchild.

I remember her first episode, she would not stop talking as Vinnie picked her up, I am sure that was her first scene. Vinnie told her she is too chatty. She has certainly quietened down a bit now.

Emma Jackson and Karen Dean were good. Shame they never stuck around for that long.

None.

1995 followed by 1988, 1994, 1989 and 2004. Jack Wilson was great, he often was up to no good and used the cover of darkness to get up to his pranks such as when he crept into Don's bedroom thinking it was Angel, and when Aftershave the dog wrecked Alf's shop in the middle of the night and Jack was almost caught trying to retrieve the dog, and he pelted Alf with flour and eggs before running off into the night. At the time Alf did not know who doused him until Jack admitted it later.

I often wonder who lived in Alf's first house, his bungalow, before Alf did, or who lived in Don's 2nd house before 1992/1993 when Don moved in? Some H&A mysteries we may never know though. Out of the 3 shops seen 1988-1996, the 2nd shop was brilliant and should have stayed.

Tug - rebellious youngster to a responsible young man. Fisher - nasty and offensive deputy head at the start who mellowed by the end of the first season but still retained a hard edge.

If it wasn't for the timing, I think H&A would have reached higher figures, such as 18 million or more. 1992-1996 was H&A's biggest success in the UK here, H&A mania was here, like Neighbours mania 1988-1992. So many years have been chosen for best ever year on this thread already.

9 million in 1995? Is that all, the reason why I question it, is just a year or 2 earlier, H&A was getting 14 million and occasionally 15 million in 1993/1994. I wonder if 1995 H&A was getting the same figures as 1994. I looked at old viewing figures for 1993/1994 UK pace and it was staggering. 1992 was a good year for H&A as well. I loved it when Don's washing machine (or dishwasher) overflowed.