The Neighbours crew were applauded for their efforts in celebrating the milestone and some news outlets believed that the key success of the anniversary was the build-up and climax of Daniel and Amber's wedding.

The Erinsborough festival commences under Mayor Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Naomi Canning's (Morgana O'Reilly) supervision by Lassiter's Lake.

Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem) returns to Erinsborough and keeps a low profile, meeting with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) and Susan, when she reveals that she and Jack Scully (Jay Ryan) have separated.

Tom Ramsay (Gary Files) sees Imogen holding Daniel's present to Amber, a photo of Agnes Robinson.

"[1] He also explained that he wanted to be weary of how each plot was planned out to not interrupt or spoil any storylines for the United Kingdom, which was airing episodes two weeks behind Australia.

[1] Herbison and production staff were hoping to create a "dash of nostalgia" by returning former cast members, however also wanted to bring current storylines to a climax.

[2] Herbison described the anniversary as full of "drama, action, humour, romance, nostalgia and of course a little heartbreak" and teased, "You name it, we have every spectrum of emotion covered for the 30th with a lot of twists and turns with the stories, and many surprises.

[9] To surprise Amber with it, Daniel and Imogen go down a well on the day of the wedding to find a ring that unseen characters Frederick Ramsay and Agnes Robinson threw down.

[12] A subplot of the 30th anniversary celebrations is the Erinsborough bake-off competition, which sees MasterChef Australia host and chef Matt Preston be the judge.

[16] Janelle Timmins (Feeney) returns as part of the bake-off and develops a feud with Sheila and Susan over whose cake is better tasting, which brings out their competitive sides.

[18] A plotline that aired towards the end of the celebrations was the reignition of Nina Tucker's (Goodrem) relationship with Jack Scully, who has separated from her after dating for 10 years, which inspires her to write and sing her new song.

[27] Ultimately, Hilary Robinson (Pendelbury),[28] Harold Bishop (Smith), Madge Bishop (Charleston), Lucas Fitzgerald (Major), Vanessa Villante (Sumarwata), Janelle Timmins (Feeney), Guy Carpenter (Williams), Des Clarke (Keane), Tom Ramsay (Files), Nina Tucker (Goodrem), Lucy Robinson (Bell) and Sky Mangel (McIntosh) were all brought back for the celebrations.

[12] Charleston remarked that the thing that had changed the most amount Neighbours was the fact that cast and crew received free morning tea and lunch.

[37] Returnee Paul Keane, playing original character Des Clarke, compared returning to the serial with sliding into an old pair of slippers and called the experience "weird, but great, different, but the same".

[39][8] On the first day of filming the Erinsborough festival, when Harold drives into a fruit and vegetable stall, an additional cameraman was required for the shooting.

[41] She thought the set looked amazing and realistic, adding that scenes were filmed with the lights turned off, which gave a sense of claustrophobia.

[45] The second trailer featured unseen footage from neither Australia nor the UK, teasing Matt's road accident, Amber's surprise pregnancy and Paul's cancer diagnosis.

[d] Neighbours also released a promotional picture featuring all the regular cast members dressed up in suits with a large "30" centred in the middle of the screen.

[49] Michael Zsolt, the Philatelic Manager for Australia Post explained, "We trust that the public and especially Neighbours enthusiasts will jump at the opportunity to collect the stamp pack.

[52] Rachel Ward of the Irish Independent expressed her anticipation for the anniversary by saying, "Today, the show that gave us Kylie and Jason, Mrs Mangel and Plain Jane Superbrain, celebrates a remarkable 30 years on air.

Derided by some for its focus on 'everyday' concerns (storylines often revolve around dramas such as lost homework, stolen kisses and rows with parents), the soap has nevertheless become a staple of TV, beloved by students, housewives and malingerers.

Neighbours has commemorated its 30th milestone with former cast members returning — including Paul Keane who played the jilted fiancé in the first episode.

The Aussie soap has provided us with nearly 7,000 episodes of drama, laughs and Harold Bishop falling off a clifftop and returning five years later as a bloke called Ted.

"[56] His list included Izzy Hoyland, Annalise Hartman (Kimberley Davies), Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer), Dee Bliss (Madeleine West), Lance Wilkinson (Andrew Bibby) and Elle Robinson (Pippa Black), none of whom made returns.

It's also Australia's longest running drama series, bringing with it an impressively long list of former cast members who have made it big in Hollywood or right here at home.

[67] Kilkelly criticised the fact that Donovan and Minogue did not reprise their roles, calling out that "Daniel and Amber's wedding may have some notable relatives missing – not least Scott and Charlene!

"[7] He also felt that Madge's return storyline initially sounded "like a plot better suited to online spinoff Neighbours vs Zombies."

"[69] The Guardian's Jazz Twemlow said that the anniversary weeks were "typical Erinsborough fare" and the familiarality of the old cast made it "all quite comforting".

"[53] Rosie Waterland of MamaMia criticised the fact that returning viewers were unable to identify most of the newer cast, saying "It's the opening credits and already I recognise no one.

[15] Seeing Paul as the mayor got him immediately "hooked", but he admitted that he required research to familiarise himself with the off-screen "happy ending" of Lucas and Vanessa.