Neighbours Gets Back on Set—Without the Hug‑and‑Kiss Drama
Melbourne’s favourite long‑running soap has resumed shooting, but this time the actors are wearing invisible masks (and actual masks) while staying a safe distance apart. The serial’s producers say the new guidelines mean fewer intimate moments, no accidental punch‑ups, and a lot more awkward eye contact.
What Changed?
- Social distancing on‑set: The crew runs a daily temperature check, and the studio is colour‑coded so that anyone who’s felt sick can trace who they’ve bumped into.
- Smaller cast lists per scene: “We’ve cut back on the number of characters that can appear together,” says exec producer Jason Herbison.
- Re‑imagined love scenes: A kiss might be shown from a distance, with the camera pulling back as the actors laugh. Think of it as a fancy freeze‑frame.
- DIY hair & makeup: When possible, actors do their own looks; otherwise, kit & tech folks follow strict sanitisation protocols.
- No overt corona reference: The writers keep the plots focused on Neighbours—just sprinkle in a few hand‑washing moments at the café.
Heck, they’re so cautious that even the sizzling flirtations get a subtle “I’m literally five steps away from you” vibe. If you’re used to double‑handed shock‑kisses, you’ll notice the shift whereas everyone’s still cracking jokes.
Behind the Scenes Magic
After a month’s pause, the production team revamped scripts to give actors “the luxury of space.” With lines intelligently re‑spliced in the edit booth, the audience can still feel the drama—just not the physical jostle.
“It’s all about re‑imagining the scene that way,” Herbison explained. “We keep the high‑stakes tension but swap the physical contact for creative camera work.”
What to Expect
Future episodes will see the beloved residents chopping up our favourite meals, hauling groceries, and passing through suburbs while flexing the finger‐pinned sanitiser. That’s the subtle nod we’re hoping viewers will pick up, without the gizmo‑driven pandemic hard‑wired into the story.
In short, Neighbours is back, the sets are squeaky clean, and the heat is on… the soaps are still on! Tune in to see if anything bold but non‑contact will crop up.
