What it’s like to work on the set of Australian TV drama Neighbours

WHAT really goes on behind the scenes on a show like Neighbours? An extra lifts the lid on cast cliques, actor stuff-ups and life on the set of a TV show.

I’M not going to lie.

My role as an extra on Australian TV drama Neighbours is fun — but the days are long and it’s absolutely not glamorous.

My job is to act in the background of a scene so I often spend hours waiting around on set.

But with not much to do other than watch and observe, I get a first-hand view of what really goes on.

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People always want to know: Do the actors fight? Do they mess up?

Is Toadie nice? Did the drama stop once the producer called ‘cut’?

Here’s what life is like as an extra on Neighbours.

CAST AND CREW CLIQUES

Don’t get me wrong — everyone is super-friendly.

But like in school (and some workplaces), cliques naturally form between the cast and crew.

During lunch and dinner breaks, it is hard to miss which people are sitting together at the cafeteria tables.

There is a bit of a divide: the younger cast members tend to sit on one table, and the older ‘legends’ of the show on another.

And then there’s the extras — we usually sit apart from those other two groups.

While it may sound like a Mean Girls “you can’t sit with us” type scenario, it’s not at all. Overall everyone seems to get along pretty well.

Nicky Whelan (who played Pepper Steiger) and Ryan Moloney (Toadie) in make-up.

ACTOR STUFF UPS

Do the cast mess up their lines? Yep, all the time.

On off-days a cast member can have ten or more attempts at nailing a scene.

While it can be frustrating, the cast and crew are good at laughing off tongue-tied stumbles and support one another to get it right.

Some cast members nail the scene on the first attempt.

But usually it’s within around three takes and the scene is done and dusted.

Margot Robbie during filming of the 6000th episode.

Even the best actors mess up their lines sometimes. Picture: Alex Coppel.

LONG DAYS

Most days start at 7am, which means I am reaching for my alarm at 5:30am.

I arrive at the studio around 6:30am for wardrobe checks.

While the cast is provided with costumes, as an extra I’m expected to bring a selection of my own clothes to wear and the wardrobe team decide on the best outfit.

This may seem fine in theory, but it often ends up with me carrying a dozen clothing items, including shoes and accessories, in the pitch black of 6am and proceeding to drop them all over the car park. Fun.

Early wake-ups are part of the job and filming definitely does not follow the average 9am-5pm working day.

Filming on set often consists of long hours and days. Picture: Supplied

GLUED TO THE SET

Forget date night or dinner plans — you cannot ditch work early.

All extras MUST stay until filming concludes for the night.

It may be an early 5pm or a late 9pm at night, but it all depends on when the scene ‘wraps.’

I’ve had to cancel catch-ups with friends or reschedule promised family dinners due to being stuck on set.

Violinist Andre Rieu filming a scene at ‘Ramsay Street’.

Ryan Moloney during filming.

DROP EVERYTHING

Imagine being in the supermarket, sitting inside a Toyota car service centre, or on the road to the Mornington Peninsula — and dropping everything to dash back to set.

All three have happened to me.

Often I will receive a request to be on the set of Neighbours ASAP.

Convenient or not, wherever I am — if I haven’t listed myself as “unavailable” I am expected to get myself there in record speed.

There’s a lot of waiting around, but it’s still loads of fun.

While the hype of all the lights, cameras and working with famous faces may seem glamorous, the novelty of it all does wear off.

Working on set is a lot of fun, but don’t be fooled as the days are long and tiring.

Most hours are spent waiting around until you’re required on set — no phones or talking allowed.

Once I waited almost 2 hours to be in just a short 10-minute scene.

The perks? Of course, working alongside the stars of the show, free meals at the studio cafeteria (a definite win) and getting to see first-hand what goes on behind the scenes.

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