<Tr> <Td> USA </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> Eric Braeden </Td> <Td> Victor Newman </Td> <Td> The Young and the Restless </Td> <Td> 1980--</Td> <Td> 38 years </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> USA </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Bill Hayes </Td> <Td> Doug Williams </Td> <Td> Days of Our Lives </Td> <Td> 1970--1984, 1986--1987, 1993--1996, 1999--</Td> <Td> 37 years </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Soap Opera </Th> <Th> Years </Th> <Th> Duration </Th> <Th> Reference </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ray Meagher </Td> <Td> Alf Stewart </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1988--</Td> <Td> 30 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lynne McGranger </Td> <Td> Irene Roberts </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1993--</Td> <Td> 25 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Alan Fletcher </Td> <Td> Karl Kennedy </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1994--</Td> <Td> 24 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jackie Woodburne </Td> <Td> Susan Kennedy </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1994--</Td> <Td> 24 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tom Oliver </Td> <Td> Lou Carpenter </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1988, 1992--2016 </Td> <Td> 24 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ryan Moloney </Td> <Td> Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1995, 1996--</Td> <Td> 22 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stefan Dennis </Td> <Td> Paul Robinson </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1985--1992, 1993, 2004--</Td> <Td> 21 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kate Ritchie </Td> <Td> Sally Fletcher </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1988--2008, 2013 </Td> <Td> 20 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ada Nicodemou </Td> <Td> Leah Patterson </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 2000--2012, 2013--</Td> <Td> 17 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ian Smith </Td> <Td> Harold Bishop </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1987--1991, 1996--2009, 2011, 2015 </Td> <Td> 17 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Norman Coburn </Td> <Td> Donald Fisher </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1988--2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 </Td> <Td> 15 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Emily Symons </Td> <Td> Marilyn Chambers </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1989--1992, 1995--1999, 2001, 2010--2015, 2016--</Td> <Td> 14 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Carla Bonner </Td> <Td> Stephanie Scully </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1999--2010, 2013, 2015--</Td> <Td> 14 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kym Valentine </Td> <Td> Libby Kennedy </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1994--2004, 2005, 2007--2011, 2014 </Td> <Td> 14 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lyn Collingwood </Td> <Td> Colleen Smart </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1988, 1989, 1997, 1999--2013 </Td> <Td> 14 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> John Wood </Td> <Td> Tom Croydon </Td> <Td> Blue Heelers </Td> <Td> 1993--2006 </Td> <Td> 13 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Julie Nihill </Td> <Td> Chris Riley </Td> <Td> Blue Heelers </Td> <Td> 1993--2006 </Td> <Td> 13 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Martin Sacks </Td> <Td> PJ Hasham </Td> <Td> Blue Heelers </Td> <Td> 1993--2006 </Td> <Td> 13 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Judy Nunn </Td> <Td> Ailsa Stewart </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1988--2000, 2002, 2003 </Td> <Td> 12 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Anne Haddy </Td> <Td> Helen Daniels </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1985--1997 </Td> <Td> 12 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Brian Wenzel </Td> <Td> Frank Gilroy </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1981--1993 </Td> <Td> 12 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Shane Porteous </Td> <Td> Terence Elliott </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1981--1993 </Td> <Td> 12 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Joyce Jacobs </Td> <Td> Esme Watson </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1981--1993 </Td> <Td> 12 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Anne Charleston </Td> <Td> Madge Bishop </Td> <Td> Neighbours </Td> <Td> 1986--1992, 1996--2001, 2015 </Td> <Td> 11 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Judith McGrath </Td> <Td> Von Ryan </Td> <Td> All Saints </Td> <Td> 1998--2009 </Td> <Td> 11 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lorrae Desmond </Td> <Td> Shirley Dean - Gilroy </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1981--1992 </Td> <Td> 11 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gordon Piper </Td> <Td> Bob Hatfield </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1981--1992 </Td> <Td> 11 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ryan Clark </Td> <Td> Sam Marshall </Td> <Td> Home and Away </Td> <Td> 1991--2001, 2002, 2005 </Td> <Td> 10 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Syd Heylen </Td> <Td> Vernon' Cookie' Locke </Td> <Td> A Country Practice </Td> <Td> 1982--1992 </Td> <Td> 10 years </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Actor </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Soap Opera </Th> <Th> Years </Th> <Th> Duration </Th> <Th> Reference </Th> </Tr>

Who is the longest running character in neighbours