Neighbours 40th Anniversary

Neighbours 40th Anniversary is a group of four episodes of the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, broadcast on Network 10 each day from 17 to 20 March 2025. The episodes were directed by Harry Lloyd and Eugenie Muggleton. Executive producer Jason Herbison wrote the first two episodes, with Sarah Mayberry and Shane Isheev writing the remaining two. The opening titles were replaced with special title card celebrating 40 years of the show.

Plans for the anniversary began once the show was picked up by Amazon in 2022. Herbison wanted to do something fresh for the 40th and focus on the future, compared to the nostalgic tone of previous anniversaries. Herbison and the production team settled on a celebration of "soapie twists and turns" with contemporary storylines that also honoured the serial's past. The episodes were planned to include elements that viewers loved about Neighbours, including big plots, new regular cast members, and appearances from returning characters. The anniversary uses Nell Rebecchi's (Ayisha Salem-Towner) "Story of Erinsborough" exhibition as a plot device to link past and present storylines. Herbison also wanted the episodes to be a catalyst for future plots that would continue over the coming months. To promote the anniversary, a theatre show titled Neighbours – The 40th Anniversary Tour was staged in the UK during February 2025. Herbison began promotion of the episodes in January 2025 and cast members were interviewed on television shows and by media outlets.

The anniversary begins with the wedding of Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) and Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano), and the return of Chelsea Murphy (Viva Bianca) with her newborn son Thomas Murphy (Charlie Lyon), which causes big ramifications for Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis). A fire at the local garage endangers the lives of five characters with Byron Stone (Xavier Molyneux) having to make an impossible choice, while the week ends with the mysterious death of Sebastian Metcalfe (Rarmian Newton). The anniversary received a mostly positive reaction from critics, with several of them including the episodes in their "Pick of the Day" features. Many critics enjoyed the "nods to the past", Chelsea's return and the revelation about Thomas' paternity, Charleston's arrival as Agnes, and Darcy's return. However, Neighbours' recent cancellation meant the anniversary was also described as "bittersweet" and "overshadowed".