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Neighbours theme song creators' lives – bitter divorce, sad death and song secret

It’s one of the most instantly recognisable soap theme tunes having graced our screens for 37 years.

But the people behind the famous Neighbours track have lived through a series of ups and downs that would rival even some of the soap’s most dramatic storylines.

Written by married couple Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, the pair’s downfall led to a bitter divorce, a nasty legal battle and even seeing Jackie’s ex-husband Tony banned from her funeral after she passed away from cancer.

READ MORE:Neighbours fans devastated as beloved icon is not returning for the finale

As for the song’s famous voice, legendary crooner Barry Crocker is still soaring on the success of his famous track.

As fans bid a fond farewell to the soap, we take a look at the lives of the people behind the song.

Tragic co-star marriage

Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent ended up as bitter enemies
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Despite penning a song about good neighbours and good friends, the co-writers of the hit theme tune, Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, ended up as bitter enemies.

The pair, dubbed Mr and Mrs Music, were married for more than three decades and composed hit tracks for artists including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley Bassey.

Jackie later claimed her ex-husband walked out on her at her 55th birthday party in 1995 after declaring his love for a mutual friend – like a plot from the show.

Jackie claimed her ex-husband walked out on her at her 55th birthday party in 1995
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Trent said: “It was shocking.

“I asked him why he was showing [this woman] so much attention and he said, ‘Well, I have been in love with her ever since I met her’, which was 17 years earlier.

“He said she was the love of his life and that he was leaving me for her.

“He wasn’t just walking out on our marriage, he was walking out on our professional partnership too.”

Legal Battle

Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch become embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over work they did together
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Following their bitter divorce, Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch become embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over work they did together during their 30-year marriage.

Trent wanted to set the record straight and have Hatch acknowledge her as lyricist on four of their songs.

Hatch’s spokesman Jackie Gill added at the time: “Mr Hatch’s solicitors have heard from Jackie Trent’s solicitors and are dealing with the matter accordingly.”

Hatch was accused of not acknowledging her as lyricist on four of their songs
(Image: Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock)

Trent was also unhappy her former husband is set to be welcomed into the US Songwriters’ Hall of Fame while she has been overlooked.

She said: “It’s not about money. This is about getting personal and professional credit for my work.”

Hatch agreed to acknowledge Trent’s part and her name now appears against some of the songs on the Tony Hatch website.

Tragic Death

Tony was banned from Jackie’s funeral when she died aged 74 after a long battle with cancer
(Image: John Minihan/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite a 30-year marriage and becoming one of the most successful creative unions in showbusiness, Tony was banned from Jackie’s funeral when she died aged 74 after a long battle with cancer in 2015.

He was banned by Trent’s second husband, Colin Gregory, who today accuses the composer of breaking his wife’s heart.

Gregory told The Mail on Sunday: “Yes, I banned Hatch from attending Jackie’s cremation.”

Hatch was banned by Trent’s second husband, Colin Gregory
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

The 71-year-old former policeman, who married Trent in 2005, said: “It might seem petty and churlish of me because, whatever anybody says, Hatch and Trent are welded at the hip for all the wonderful work they did together.

“I would never contest that. Jackie never contested that. But her firm words to me were, ‘I hate him for what he did to me and for what he’s still doing to me’.”

Singers Honour

Barry Crocker is the voice behind the theme tune to the Australian soap opera
(Image: Getty Images)

The theme song’s singer Barry Crocker is the voice behind the theme tune to the Australian soap opera and the crooner is showing no signs of slowing down.

He recently hit the number one slot in the UK this past February with his Neighbours theme tune when it bulleted to number one after news of the axing of the Australian soap opera after 37 years.

The song recently hit the number one slot in the UK after news of the axing of the Australian soap opera after 37 years
(Image: DIEGO FEDELE/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The Australian legend says he woke up to the news, writing on Facebook: “Expect the unexpected! I awoke this morning to find that my version of the Neighbours theme had hit No 1 on the UK Charts, Knocking off Adele and Ed Sheeran, who could have thought? x Baz.”

Barry has become a legend in his field over the years and was even honoured with a phrase in the rhyming slang dictionary.

In popular culture during the 1980s the rhyming slang expression “Barry Crocker”, or simply “Barry” or “Baz”, emerged in Australian English to mean a “shocker”, as in “very poor”.

Fans may also remember Crocker appearing as himself in the worldwide record-breaking film Muriel’s Wedding.

He has been happily married to his wife Katy Manning for 32 years and the pair share five children together.

Song Secret

Barry Crocker, 86, has revealed that the track took just one hour to record back in 1985
(Image: Getty Images)

The original singer of the tune, Australian singer Barry Crocker, 86, has revealed that the track took just one hour to record back in 1985.

Barry says he presented the song to the show’s producer Reg Grundy, who liked it so much he used the demo. ‘It happened very quickly and it was a very easy job for me to do.

“It probably took about an hour of my time,’ he told TV Tonight.

The soap’s final scenes will air this week
(Image: Grundy)

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‘If Reg were alive today, he’d be absolutely thrilled that Neighbours was No.1. Absolutely.’

The tune soared to No.1 on music charts in February amid news the soap will be cancelled after 37 years on air.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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