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Neighbours — Episode 234 (Charlene’s Debut)

We dove back into Ramsay Street for a pure hit of Aussie soap nostalgia: Neighbours ep. 234, a.k.a. the first-ever appearance of Charlene (a tiny, feral Kylie Minogue) breaking into a house and into British hearts.

Why this episode slaps

• Iconic entrance: Scott grabs a “burglar” in the window… hat comes off… “Charlene!” Cue destiny, perms, and pop superstardom.
• Peak mullet era: Two mullets before the first ad break. Oxygen levels dangerously low in those singlets.
• Budget telly charm: Cricket in the yard, sprinklers on, a helicopter shot that looks like a camcorder on a fishing line… and yes, a boom mic cameo at 4:42. Chef’s kiss.
• Daphne’s Café drama: Eviction threats, gender-role argy-bargy, and Shane trying to mansplain her out of a job. Meanwhile Paul Robinson is already scheming, smarming, and hair-gelling.
• Max’s feelings summit: The blokiest man in Erinsborough attempts group therapy (“I read it in an American magazine”), gets laughed out of his own lounge. Bless.

Faces you forgot were here

• Guy Pearce looking about twelve and already magnetic.
• Jason Donovan 2.0 (post–mysterious-riverbed recast).
• The Robinson clan (Helen forever), and an army of future chart acts and horror-movie alumni warming up in the background.

Stats & trivia

• Aired (AU): 17 Apr 1986
• Aired (UK): 28 Sep 1987 (we waited 17 months for Kylie and still turned up in our millions)
• Episodes on IMDb: 9,300+ (and somehow all roads still lead back to Daphne’s espresso machine)

Verdict

Still daft, still cozy, still weirdly gripping. The fashion is a hate crime and the production is held together with gaffer tape, but the charisma-to-cost ratio remains undefeated.

Strong recommend. Now hum the theme tune and pretend you didn’t.

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