The Australian soap Neighbours, which launched the international careers of countless local stars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce, has been axed in the UK in a move likely to sound the death knell for the iconic show.
The UK’s Channel 5 announced it would no longer air the program and unless it is picked up by another broadcaster the show will end its record-breaking 36-year run in August.
Australian broadcaster Network Ten says it is determined to save the show but it needs a new backer.
Since 2008 the sun-soaked drama about the residents of the fictional cul-de-sac of Ramsay Street has been largely paid for by the UK broadcaster after it was no longer commercially viable for Ten to fund the Fremantle production alone.
After a speculative story ran in UK tabloid The Sun over the weekend, Channel 5 said “Neighbours will no longer air on Channel 5 beyond this summer”.
“It’s 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,” a spokesperson said.
“We’d also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years.
“We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers.”
Network Ten told the show’s cast and crew on Sunday that filming will be paused on Monday for a meeting and that they were looking for another broadcast partner.
“As outlined in the email to Neighbours cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward,” a Ten spokesperson said.
“Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner. We will provide further updates as they become available.”
The decision came as a surprise as the lives of the Ramsay Street characters still attracts 1.5 million UK viewers a day.
Neighbours was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985 but the network famously axed it before it went on to be a worldwide hit for Ten, which picked it up the following year.
It is the longest-running drama series on Australian television and in 2005 it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
Production company Fremantle has been approached for comment.
