Neighbours, The funeral of Helen, 1997

[@martindavis6115]

Remember this episode very well from when it was shown on BBC1. I didn't realise Helen had passed away as I was only a casual viewer at this point so I was really shocked when I turned it on and found out what had happened.

[@najbritcol]

Ironic that Harold was reading the eulogy, given that (1) it was only a year since he himself came back from the dead and (2) he still had some amnesia. Why couldn't Madge, being Helen's best friend, have read it instead?

[@terencestanton1870]

because its neighbours anything is possible unless you are karl susan harrold or toadfish life is enternal.

[@Guitar-qv6gu]

Cos Philip asked Harold to do it.

[@najbritcol]

@@Guitar-qv6gu Yes, but WHY was that the case?

[@Guitar-qv6gu]

@@najbritcol HOW THE HELL DO I KNOW?🙄

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Anymore episodes of this iconic show please

[@leeroynozzaar]

I loved Helen 😌

[@oldskoolraverboy32]

Thanks so much for taking the time to burn & upload this clip, great to see the period of Neighbours again (the late 90s in particular is scarcely available online). It feels as though there's much celebration of the Kylie/Jason period of the late 80s but less appreciation for the wonderful 1992 - 99 period (1995 aside perhaps!). Personal taste is subjective, mind. As sad as it was that Anne Haddy died in real life less than two years after Helen's death was filmed, I was never a Helen fan to be honest (I found the character very snobbish, hypocritical & judgemental, almost colonial in her style; I can't decipher whether that was Haddy's acting style, the script or both of those factors - from what I've read & heard, she was a truly terrifying presence behind-the-scenes). But a wonderful ensemble otherwise in late 1997! Whilst many fans can't seem to appreciate that a) soaps are not filmed in sequence and that b) former actors have personal lives & other commitments when they solely focus on the fact that immediate family don't return for relative's on-screen funerals, I think the Martins plus Rosemary do a wonderful job with their emotions here; there's a real feeling that they're preparing for the inevitable real-life death of Anne. Yes, it would be (for realism if anything) had Paul, Lucy and Scott returned but that's the way the cookie crumbles in soap. I'm sure the same folk would complain if they'd made the funeral off-screen!!! I'd forgotten how much I LOVED early Amy Greenwood - she starts out as a token High School bitch but ! What a raw, earthy talent Marnie Reece-Wilmore was as Debbie. Was so happy when she returned in 96 - only to leave again 18 months later :( Great to see them & many others together on this full episode, thanks again.

[@brigitt1334]

Thanks for your long reaction. I really loved Debbie too. I was sad when she left with Michael.

[@oldskoolraverboy32]

@@brigitt1334 sorry but not sorry if my "long" reaction bored you to death. I only type that much when I enjoy something, so it was complementary to your efforts in uploading. But I'll remove it now. Thanks again for the upload.

[@brigitt1334]

@@oldskoolraverboy32 Oh I think you read it wrong. I loved to read your reaction. Maybe because I’m not an English person.

[@jaggass]

That's some poor editing when Toadie's camera looked feet away from Jacinta and Amy and even though he was higher up the tree and fell off it without hurting himself. In real life he would have at least broke his arm.

[@paulwhite1040]

none of her surviving grandchildren returned for her funeral... weird

[@Hulk2k6]

Paul flew in but was detained (He was still on the run for stitching Phil up, gave himself up, got 7 did 3)

[@brigitt1334]

Yeah

[@brigitt1334]

Yeah

[@oldskoolraverboy32]

Not realistic was it? However, soaps are filmed in a very tight, non-sequential order & former actors who are no longer contracted to appear in a soap (& who have personal commitments) have a right to refuse to return. No doubt that just as many fans would have complained if the funeral occurred off-screen.

[@leejones8582]

Paul was in prison wasnt he

[@AnthZee82]

Good ol sticky buns phil Martin

[@dizzy3342]

😢😢😢 that was a hard watch..

[@anicetune]

That recap tune is horrible. I can't believe they switched from the greatest recap tune they ever had to this. Also... shame about Helen.

[@David-h4z2s]

Phil Martin's hair is going going gone here😮😫🙄