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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rebecca Cook

Neighbours fans gutted as British Soap Awards air emotional tribute to axed soap

Neighbours fans were left emotional on Saturday night as the British Soap Awards paid tribute to the axed soap.

The long-running Australian soap was axed earlier this year and is now set for an emotional star-studded final episode this autumn.

With Phillip Schofield hosting, the British Soap Awards saw a tribute to the Ramsay Street soap air early in proceedings.

In a pre-recorded clip, Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, and Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan Kennedy thanked the soap's British fanbase for tuning in for all these years.

She said: "For 37 years, despite being on the other side of the world from one another, you soap fans in the UK have very much been a part of our special community here.

The long-running Australian soap was axed earlier this year (ITV)

"Neighbours has meant the world to me. For 28 years I've come here everyday to do the thing that I love with people who have become family and I hope along the way we have become part of your family too."

The awards ceremony then aired an epic montage clip of the soap's highlight's over the decades, featuring Hollywood minted stars including Margot Robbie and Liam Hemsworth.

Soap fans tuning in were left emotional by the moment and took to Twitter to grieve the loss of the soap.

British Soap Awards saw a tribute to the Ramsay Street soap (ITV)

One wrote: "The Neighbours tribute. Not ready for this", as another described it as the "end of an era".

Another tweeted: "I can't believe Neighbours is ending," as another said: "I can’t believe Neighbours has ended. I haven’t watched it since it moved to c5 but I used to watch it every day at my Nans before she passed 20 years ago! I did like it so it’s a shame it’s ending."

Another wrote: "So glad Neighbours is getting the tribute it deserves."

Kylie Minogue has spoken about appearing in the upcoming finale, saying she had “quite a bit of pressure” put on her to be part of the soap send off after it rocketed her to stardom.

Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan Kennedy thanked the soap's British fanbase (ITV)

Kylie found fame on the Ramsay Street soap as Charlene Robinson alongside Jason Donovan, 54, who played Scott Robinson.

The two stars will be returning for a very special episode to mark the end of the soap after Channel 5 pulled funding for the programme and another broadcaster could not be found.

The singer discussed her early days on set of the Australian soap after she clinched the role in 1986 during an appearance on the Late Night With Seth Meyers.

Kylie Minogue has revealed that she had “quite a bit of pressure” put on her to appear in the upcoming finale episode of Neighbours. (Youtube)

She said: “We’re finishing the show and there was quite a bit of pressure for me to go back, so I shot my scenes back in Australia.”

Kylie credited the show with her enormous success as a musician, saying that its popularity “exploded” while she was involved.

She said: “I was only in the show for two and a half years,but it's when the show exploded. England just went crazy about it, so it’s been with me ever since.”

“You’re in people’s households, the show was played twice a day,” she recalled. “People would bunk off school, change their office hours, because who ever knew how to set the VHS.”

"I hope along the way we have become part of your family too." (ITV)

Kylie also mentioned that fellow Neighbours alum Guy Pearce, who landed his breakout role on the show in 1986 as troubled high-schooler Mike Young, was similarly returning for the finale.

She said: “Another friend you may have had on this show, Guy Pearce, he's in the same show, so he's just filmed his little return as well. We’re all going to cry.”

Hollywood star Guy, 54, who played Mike Young, was seen smiling and laughing while straddling a motorbike, and wearing a leather jacket.

The final episode of Neighbours will air on August 1.

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