They shot to fame in the 1980s as loved-up couple Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell on iconic Australian soap opera Neighbours. They also enjoyed a romance in real life but, despite not going the distance as a couple, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan still remain close friends to this day.
And the ‘Spinning Around’ singer marked her former on-screen husband’s birthday this week by sharing a series of throwback images documenting their decades-long friendship, from their time on set together, to performing on stage more recently.
“Happy birthday Jason!!! We go back such a long way now,” Kylie wrote on Instagram on Monday evening. “What amazing times! Working with the ‘grown ups’, learning lines, giggling on set with Guy and the team, travelling the world. Etc ETC!!!”
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The 52-year-old pop star shared five images in total, several of which showed them – and their iconic perms – in all their glory as young celebrities in the 1980s. One photo shows them posing in front of the Sydney Opera House, while another shows them in character as Charlene and Scott. While the most recent photo shows the pair performing on stage in London’s Hyde Park in 2018.
Kylie and Jason were both relatively unknown when they landed roles on long-running soap Neighbours, despite Kylie having landed minor roles in the likes of The Henderson Kids and The Sullivans before joining Neighbours in 1986. The duo also starred alongside each other as brother and sister in an episode of Skyways in 1980.
Donovan joined the cast the same year and the couple’s love story captivated audiences around the world, with the show – which debuted on Channel Seven in 1985 – also becoming a huge hit in the United Kingdom. More than two million Aussies tuned in to see them tie the knot in 1987, while the episode attracted more than 20 million viewers when it aired in the UK the following year.
They went on to release love song ‘Especially For You’ together in 1988 which featured on Donovan’s debut album Ten Good Reasons. The song peaked at number two in the Australian pop charts, but reached the top spot in the United Kingdom.
Many fans were delighted and commented on Kylie’s post, wishing Jason a happy birthday. One wrote: “The original IT couple.” Another said: “This is so lovely. You have both brought me so much happiness over the years.”
While another commented: “Two of the best. Love the way that you’ve stayed unwavering ‘Aussie’… even when it wasn’t cool!”