Soap fans are in mourning after the news that Neighbours is being axed for good after nearly 40 years on screen.
Last month, there was much speculation surrounding the future of the long-running Australian soap, with reports that Channel 5, the station it's currently shown on in the UK, were ready to cut ties with the show.
And it's now being claimed by The Sun that Fremantle Media, the production company behind Neighbours, are resigned to the fact that their search to find another channel to pick up has come to a sad end, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.
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A Channel 5 spokesperson confirmed the end of its relationship with the soap last month, despite it till pulling in over 1 million viewers every day, with a spokesperson saying: "Neighbours will no longer air on Channel 5 beyond this summer.
"It has been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series.
"We'd also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years."
For years it aired twice a day on BBC1, with many people tuning into both editions, despite the fact it was the same episode just repeated later on, typically after Newsround had finished on CBBC.
Big Neighbours storylines over the years included the traumatic deaths of the likes of Kerry Bishop, Jim Robinson and Todd Landers, a plane crash which killed several major characters and, more recently the return of Dee, years after she was presumed dead when her and Toadie's car plunged into the sea following their wedding.
The marriage of Kylie and Jason's characters, Scott and Charlene remains one of the memorable and most watched soap weddings in British TV, while other big names to spend time on Ramsey Street include Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem.
Stefan Dennis, the actor who has become famous the world over for playing Paul Robinson, stayed on the show for way longer than some of his fellow co-stars.
The reaction to Neighbour's axing has been huge.
One devastated fan reacted: "Surely that can’t just be it so quickly?!? Have they really even tried?!," with another posting: "End of an era, as #Neighbours axed for good as production company unable to find new home. Have been watching this since I was a teen. Sad to see it go!
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