I SOAP BE SO LUCKY
Pop princess Kylie Minogue on life after Charlene, a return to Neighbours and battling Kylie Jenner
THERE would be no Kylie Minogue, international superstar, were it not for her iconic 1980s appearance as Charlene on Neighbours.
And with her former co-star Annie Jones returning as Plain Jane Super Brain after 29 years away, it has raised speculation over whether Australia’s pop princess could make a TV comeback too.
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In tomorrow’s episode of my podcast — which you can subscribe to now on iTunes and Apple Podcasts — I broke the news to her of the momentous soap event.
A delighted Kylie squealed: “Stop it! This is the best thing I’ve heard in ages. Oh my God! Did anyone else know about this? This is breaking news.”
Kylie didn’t totally shut the door on a return to the former BBC soap, which now screens to a loyal audience on Channel 5, but needs a bit more convincing. She told me: “I don’t think we’re going to get there. I don’t even know how I would be Charlene any more.
“Never say never about anything, but I just think it would be a let-down.
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“I think Charlene lives in that time and lives in people’s memories.
“I mean, it hasn’t stopped me being incredibly excited that Plain Jane Super Brain is about to make a return to Neighbours.
“Anything could happen — but no, it’s not happening at this point.”
Kylie left Neighbours in 1988 — nine years before Kardashian sister Kylie Jenner was even born. But the pair were embroiled in a legal battle over the use of the name Kylie, which the US reality star had attempted to trademark.
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Last year, Kylie won and is now trying to build bridges with the famous family.
She said: “There was some legal back and forth and it was all dealt with really well and as nice as can be. I just don’t know that they really thought about it.
“In America if you say Kylie, of course you’re going to think of Kylie Jenner. Here it’s a totally different story. So we came to an agreement and it’s all fine.”
Kylie makes the point that she was the one to establish the name in popular culture.
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She explained: “I’ve probably only met a couple of people older than me called Kylie so it must have just been pretty new at the time.
“If I knew I was going to be famous, I would not have called myself Kylie Minogue. That’s just a weird bunch of letters in a row — Kylie, Kelly, Julie, Kyle? No. Minoush, Minogle, Min-og-ewe?
“We take it for granted now that you can pronounce my name. But it wasn’t like that when I was a kid.”
There’s only one Kylie for me — and in the podcast tomorrow she opens up about her recent heartbreak over love rat former fiancé Joshua Sasse.
It’s an unmissable and emotional interview.
READ ON FOR MORE OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
It's flaming brilliant to meet Aussie legend Ray
ALF Stewart is a true Aussie legend who’s made the term “You flamin’ galah” one of the greatest put-downs on telly.
And yesterday I finally got to meet Home And Away’s longest-serving cast member Ray Meagher, who has played Alf since the first episode in 1988.
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He stopped by Biz HQ to commemorate my favourite soap’s 30th anniversary – just as his beloved character has been buried alive.
That he survives is not a sure bet, given he revealed he is currently in negotiations with bosses regarding a pay rise – but the 74-year-old insists he is not planning to retire any time soon.
Ray told me: “I’m talking to them about that now. We work 46 weeks of the year with a break at Christmas and two weeks in July.
“On top of that, they’ve let me take three or four weeks out in May as well, breaking up those two halves of the year. I’d continue to do that if I stayed and maybe stretch those gaps a little bit longer.
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“But you know, they’ve got to come back with a half-decent offer and we’ll see what happens.”
Ray’s secret of success is never taking a sick day or turning up late for work once in 30 years – that’s the type of commitment I like to see.
But he is not pals with all his younger co-stars, including Orpheus Pledger. Ray said: “Look, I come into work, I do it and I go home.
“Orpheus is 24 and I’m 74 – we’re not going to hang out together.
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“We’ve probably got different interests, but we don’t throw stones at each other as we walk down the corridor either. It’s a very friendly relationship when we meet.”
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bizmeter: Ray's great Home And Away exports
Chris HemsworthCHRIS (who played Kim Hyde) is such a nice bloke. He worked really hard. I hate w*** expressions, but he worked really hard at his craft. He’s a delightful guy. When you see the good guys do well, it’s just fantastic.
Isla Fisher
SHE was a natural comedienne when she joined us. Isla (playing Shannon Reed) came over from Perth. It’s a long way from home for a kid, and she was just a gorgeous girl. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body.
Judy Nunn
KILLING off Judy (Alf’s on-screen wife Ailsa) was a crazy decision. She was happy to stay at the time. She churns a book out a year. The first book she wrote, she used to write in between takes when we were working.
Melissa George
I DIDN’T have much to do with Melissa (as Angel Brooks). She worked with DIETER BRUMMER (Shane Parrish) a lot and they hated one another, but I saw her a few times after she left and she was always very nice.
Harry role
NEIGHBOURS has produced soap royalty including Kylie Minogue and Margot Robbie during its 33-year history.
But now bosses are hoping to persuade a real royal to appear in the show, and they have their sights set on Prince Harry.
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A source revealed: “Interest in the Royal Family is huge in Australia, so getting a young royal on board is a top priority.
“Harry’s Invictus Games is in Sydney in October so it would be easy for him to visit Melbourne for a role. And if his fiancée Meghan Markle joins him, they would want her too.”
I reckon the pair would love a Ramsay Street barbie . . .
Va-lance all, folks
OLYMPIA Valance says a sad farewell to Neighbours tomorrow after an eventful four-year stint on the Aussie soap.
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Her character Paige Smith was arrested by her fiancé on their wedding day, hit by a car while escaping a kidnapping and had a baby with a priest. But after filming her final scenes on Ramsay Street in December, the cast – including on-screen boyfriend Jack Callahan (Andrew Morley) – gave her a big send-off.
Olympia – half-sister of fellow actor Holly Valance, has moved to LA in a bid to make it in Hollywood.
Ant and Dec dress as Kylie Minogue during her performance on Saturday Night Takeaway
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