IT seems that everybody still needs good Neighbours as the Australian soap opera that rocketed in popularity in the 1980s in the UK turns 35.

35?

Yes, the first episode aired in Australia on March 18, 1985 and took to UK screens for the first time on October 27, 1986 on BBC One.

But it was initially cancelled?

Airing on network Seven in Australia, it struggled to gain viewers and was dropped, before rival network, Ten, picked it up.

It is now the longest-running drama series in Australian TV history.

The Brits went bananas for it?

It initially aired at lunchtime and then was repeated the following morning, until then BBC Controller Michael Grade’s daughter told him to move the repeat to a teatime slot as her friends were missing it because they were at school. The move saw the ratings rise, with 21 million tuning in regularly.

Kylie and Jason?

The soap famously made stars of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who played Charlene Ramsay and Scott Robinson. Their wedding episode drew nearly 20 million viewers in November 1988. At the time, UK viewers were 18 months behind Australia and had a long wait for the nuptials.

Pop?

Minogue moved into music, of course, with early hits including Locomotion and I Should Be So Lucky, before her then real-life boyfriend Donovan followed her into the charts, with his inaugural hit, Too Many Broken Hearts. Dozens of the show’s actors have tried to repeat their pop success, including Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson and Natalie Imbruglia, who played Beth Brennan.

Movie stars in the making?

The most famous former Ramsay Street resident to hit the Hollywood heights is surely Margot Robbie. Now 29, the actress, who played Donna Freedman, starred alongside Brad Pitt in Oscar-nominated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood last year and plays Harley Quinn in this year’s Birds of Prey.

Russell Crowe?

Gladiator star Crowe was not a Ramsay Street regular, but did appear in four episodes before he found fame on the silver screen.

And Guy Pearce?

The actor who played Mike in the early days of the soap is also a Hollywood heavyweight, with roles in Iron Man 3 and LA Confidential.

Dennis is the longest-serving original cast member?

Now 61, he has appeared in the show on and off from its launch. His Scots wife, Gale Easdale, appeared as his on-screen business nemesis in a storyline in 2016. In the series, in true soap opera style, he is now on to his sixth wife.

Neighbours now airs on Five?

It moved to Channel 5 in 2008.

And there are big plans to mark the anniversary?

The celebratory anniversary week of episodes begins today, with a teaser trailer promising death and destruction, including an explosion during a wedding expo. And in addition to the regular 1.45pm and 5.30pm episodes, there will be five stand-alone post-watershed episodes airing at 10pm. Former stars are set to return with producers confirming three deaths will take place.