Largs - Memories of Neighbours stars Kylie Minogue and Elaine Smith

Kylie Minogue, who is making her much anticipated return to Ramsay Street in tonight's show as Charlene, visited Largs in 1998 as she appeared in BBC1 Scotland's 'McCoist and McAulay' interview show.

Kylie visited Barrfields Theatre where she was interviewed by ex-footballer Ally McCoist and comedian Fred MacAulay.

"I had just broken my leg at the time," said Fred, "and Kylie had signed the plaster cast. I don't think anyone else can quite say that. I still have it in the loft somewhere!"

"Having Kylie on the show was just incredible - it was one of those amazing things where everything just converged at the same time.

"It was perhaps the one and only time where we fell out with the producer as we used to have these pre-production meetings, and in our show, we used to have the guests sitting in the audience while not on set.

Kylie, pictured with former Scotland football boss Craig Brown, Fred MacAulay, and Ally McCoist

"Our first question was to be - Kylie, what the f_____ are you doing in Largs? But the producer said you can't swear as it doesn't sit with the branding of the show, but it lessened the comedy effect, so we just had to ask Kylie what brought her to Largs.

"The odd thing about her visit, as many people will remember at the time, is that she had to rush off to Glasgow Airport straight after broadcast as she was heading out to Australia to attend Michael Hutchence's funeral, as she was a former girlfriend of the INXS lead singer."

And a Largs actress who became famous across the globe through a starring role in Aussie soap Neighbours made a surprise return to local shores in 1987.

Elaine Smith became famous across the globe through a starring role in Aussie soap Neighbours made a surprise return to local shores in 1987.

Star attraction - Neighbours actress Elaine Smith returned to her roots in 1987 to visit family

Elaine, who played Daphne Lawrence in the show, was born here and during the height of fame, returned to her roots.
She left Largs as a baby when her parents Archie and Jean Smith emigrated to Rhodesia. Later the family spent some time in South Africa before moving to Australia.

Elaine who was 23 when she visited, said in an exclusive Largs and Millport News interview at hte time: "I had to come to Largs to see where I was born and meet the people who knew my father and mother. I think is a lovely place." 
Elaine trained at drama school in Melbourne, before becoming a professional actress in the daily soap on BBC screens. Her mother, Miss Jean Jack, was also a native of Largs.

Elaine made her Neighbours debut in 1985 as Daphne, and ran the coffee shop before finding romanace with Des Clarke, who was played by Paul Keane.

Daphne and Des had a baby together, a son, much to the thrill of fans. 

The Largs born actress went on to guest star in other TV roles in The Flying Doctors and Home And Away, before leaving the acting profession and went on to become a school teacher in Sydney.