Neighbours actors are reportedly "very scared'" they're going to be unemployed amid reports the iconic Australian show is going to be axed.
In news which shocked fans of the series that launched the careers of stars including Kylie Minogue and Margot Robbie, Channel 5 confirmed it would not be airing the soap after the summer.
Fans and stalwarts of the show, including Jason Donovan, who played blonde bombshell Scott Robinson, have all spoken out in the soap's defence.
But now the show's younger stars are said to be concerned about their future.
A source said: "They're scrambling. Some have told their agents to set up meetings with Home and Away 's casting directors.
"It's finally sinking in for them that they're staring down the barrel of unemployment.
"They're all very scared," reports Woman's Day.
The distressed stars were pictured in tears recently after they emerged from crisis chats about the future of the popular Australian show.
The cast, including April Rose Pengilly, Tim Kano, Jackie Woodburne, Jemma Donovan, Tim Kano, Freya Van Dyke, Matt Wilson, were spotted leaving Nunawading Studios in Melbourne.
April, who plays Chloe Brennan, put on sunglasses to hide her face.
She was also holding onto a Neighbours script.
While the younger actors are said to be worried, the older members of the cast are reportedly looking at the news more favourably.
Said to have known the news was coming "for some years", actors including Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne, who play Karl and Susan Kennedy and Ryan Moloney, who plays Toadfish, are said to be "happy to retire".
"They're in the middle of severance negotiations and given what their salaries are now - some are on $15,000 a week and that's not including royalties - they're all happy to retire gracefully," the insider claimed.
The Mirror has contacted Neighbours' reps for comment.
Despite the rumours, according to a report by TV Tonight there is still hope for the show.
"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 spokesperson for Network 10 told the publication.
"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."
After news broke the show was being axed from UK screens a spokesperson for 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.
"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."
