Scott and Charlene's wedding, got 20 million UK viewers.
Neighbours first aired in Australia in March 1985 and in the UK in October 1986. After a year of UK airing, Neighbours was rivalling Coronation Street and EastEnders. The wedding of Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell in Episode 523 got 20 million viewers when it aired in the UK in November 1988.
However, the 16-20 million viewers was actually a combination of the afternoon showing and evening repeat of the same episode, usually about 8 to 10 million viewers watched a single episode. But the aggregated figures meant Neighbours often beat Corrie and EastEnders.
BARB even did weekly viewing figures for all 3 soaps.
The shows highest ever figures in the UK was in 1990 when the episode broadcast on the 26th February 1990 (Episode 858) got 21.16 million viewers. The aforementioned episode was originally broadcast in Australia on the 16th November 1988.
List of viewing figures for certain UK airdates
1988
W/e 17th July:
- 3 Neighbours (Wed) BBC1 14.50m
- 3 Neighbours (Thu) BBC1 14.50m
- 5 Neighbours (Tue) BBC1 14.30m
- 6 Neighbours (Mon) BBC1 14.15m
- 7 Neighbours (Fri) BBC1 13.80m
W/e 9th October
- 4 Neighbours (Tue) BBC1 15.65m
- 5 Neighbours (Wed) BBC1 15.50m
- 5 Neighbours (Thu) BBC1 15.50m
- 7 Neighbours (Fri) BBC1 15.20m
- 9 Neighbours (Mon) BBC1 14.55m
W/e 30th October
- 4 Neighbours (Tue) BBC1 17.35m
- 4 Neighbours (Thu) BBC1 17.35m
- 6 Neighbours (Wed) BBC1 17.05m
- 7 Neighbours (Mon) BBC1 16.80m
- 8 Neighbours (Fri) BBC1 16.55m
8 November
- 19.60 million
W/e 11th Dec
- 4 Neighbours (Wed) BBC1 18.85m
- 5 Neighbours (Mon) BBC1 18.50
- 6 Neighbours (Tue) BBC1 18.35m
- 7 Neighbours (Thu) BBC1 17.70m
- 7 Neighbours (Fri) BBC1 17.70m
1989
- 3 January - 20.48 million
W/e 29th January 1989:
- 4 Neighbours (Wed) BBC1 19.37m (7.47m+11.89m)
- 5 Neighbours (Mon) BBC1 18.65m (6.62m+12.03m)
- 6 Neighbours (Fri) BBC1 18.41m (6.72m+11.70m)
- 7 Neighbours (Tue) BBC1 18.36m (6.66m+11.71m)
- 8 Neighbours (Thu) BBC1 18.20m (6.98m+11.21m)
1990
- 26 Feb - 21.16 million
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995