Logie nominees: Neighbours stars caught up in voting controversy

Confused about why this Neighbours actor did so well in the Logies nominations? This sneaky tactic could’ve helped them over the line.

Neighbours stars encouraged fans from overseas to break the Logies voting rules, it has been revealed.

Eve Morey, who plays Sonya Rebecchi on the soap, was announced on the weekend as one of this year’s seven Gold Logie nominees.

Morey has also been nominated for Most Popular Actress, and her Neighbours co-star, Ryan Moloney, picked up a nomination for Most Popular Actor.

Their nominations are partly a result of a social media campaign that implored fans of the long-running show to vote for them during the March 4 to March 31 live voting period.

Voting was only open to Australian residents, but as TV Tonight first reported, Neighbours actress Colette Mann (who plays Sheila Canning) advised overseas fans how they could get around the rule, with one fan describing her advice as “sneaky”.

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Colette Mann.

Logie nominees Eve Morey and Ryan Maloney.

“I am telling all you fabulous people who love Neighbours and who do not live in Australia how to vote for the brilliant Eve Morey and Ryan Moloney for the Logies,” she wrote on Instagram.

“Google whitepages.com.au and pick yourself an Australian address and postcode and Vote Vote Vote and then tell all your friends and family to do the same.

“Neither Eve nor Ryan are on social media and do not blow their own trumpets or ask people to vote for them … so I am doing it for them as I admire their talent, their grace and their attitude to the work above all else.”

The plea worked, and many international Neighbours fan commented on social media they had successfully voted, with one in particular writing: “Felt a bit sneaky voting from the UK but done.”

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One fan felt 'sneaky' after casting a vote outside of Australia.

The fans rejoiced when Morey and Moloney’s Logie nominations were announced on Sunday, but according to TV WEEK editor Thomas Woodgate, the votes from overseas fans weren’t taken into account.

“Look, I did see that certain actors and actresses on the show were encouraging people from overseas (to vote), but I think what people probably don’t know is that Roy Morgan manages the verification of all the votes on behalf of the TV Week Logie Awards,” he told news.com.au.

“What happens is once all the votes come in, a very detailed verification process is put in place, and what that does is eliminate all invalid votes, and that includes any international votes from that final tally. They make absolutely sure that only votes with valid contact information from local voters are valid.”

Mr Woodgate said the list of valid votes was then audited by Ernst and Young.

“We here have full confidence in the process,” he said.

Gold Logie nominees: Tom Gleeson, Sam Mac, Eve Morey, Amanda Keller, Rodger Corser and Costa Georgiadis. Missing is Waleed Aly who has also been nominated.

The Gold Logie Award is for the Most Popular Personality on Australian TV, so how is it possible an actress from Neighbours, which has roughly 150,000 viewers each night (five city metro) on Ten Peach, landed a nomination?

“Nominations don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with ratings,” Mr Woodgate told news.com.au. “Neighbours does very well on catch-up on Ten Peach, so there’s ratings beyond what we’re seeing in the daily results.”

Mr Woodgate said Morey received a boost in votes after her Neighbours character, Sonya, died from cancer in a moving episode that aired in March.

“The timing of the storyline was incredible,” Mr Woodgate told news.com.au. “In week one of voting, Sonya passed away so heartbreakingly on screen.

“Her performance was excellent, she was so emotional in the episode and she deserves the plaudit. She did a fantastic job.”

Sonya died in Toadie's arms on Neighbours.

The Neighbours stars aren’t the only personalities who landed Logie nominations as a result of strong social media campaigns.

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac is also in the running for a Gold Logie after an exhaustive social media and on-air campaign that was assisted by his co-stars.

Kochie and Sam have officially launched @MrSamMac's Gold Logie campaign 🏆

Head to https://t.co/as1KBVb8fn to vote and let's #MacItHappen, Australia! pic.twitter.com/OD2MvU3J7y

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 24, 2019

“You cannot discredit that campaigning can work,” Mr Woodgate told news.com.au.

“Online campaigning is something I encourage. I think artists, network, co-stars and co-hosts should get behind the industry. At the end of the day, we should be making a lot of noise about the wide breadth of talent we have in this country.

“People who look at it as unfair are looking at it from the wrong way. I encourage it, I welcome it, I’d like to see more of it.

“One thing you have to remember, though, is that campaigning does not equate to nominations, it doesn’t. We’ve seen in the past people campaign and then not get nominated. Does it help? It absolutely does. But does it guarantee a nomination, no.”

Live voting for the Most Popular awards, including the Gold Logie, reopens to the public from June 24 and will remain open until the end of the red-carpet telecast on Logies night, June 30. Fans can cast their votes at the TV WEEK website.