Neighbours turns 30: Australian soap celebrates three decades on UK TV

Neighbours is celebrating the milestone of being on British screens for 30 years.

The Australian soap turned 30 last year but it first aired in the UK three decades ago on October 27, 1986.

The show's creators are doing a special show and have included dozens of British symbols in tonight's episode to give a nod to the anniversary.

Unions jacks will be dotted throughout in scenes of today's episode.

The soap launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pierce, Natalie Imbruglia and Margot Robbie, among others.

The show's first episode aired on Australia's Seven Network on March 18, 1985.

The soap is now one of Australia's greatest exports, but it hasn't always been so popular.

The show was cancelled in its first year as the lives of the residents of Ramsay Street in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough failed to interest viewers at first.

Network Ten stepped in to rescue the fledgling series, but the show didn't make its way onto British screens until 18 months later.