After 37 years of broadcasting plenty of soap drama to our screens, Neighbours has revealed it has ceased production and filmed its final scenes. Taking to social media on June 10, the soap shared a picture of the cast on their last day on set with Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne, who play Dr Karl and Susan Kennedy, holding the final clapperboard.
For fans of the hit Australian programme, it's the news they never wanted to hear. Since the announcement was made more than 68k have signed a petition in the hopes of saving the soap, but unfortunately after the plug was pulled earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before filming came to a close.
"We all knew this day was coming but until we were here in this moment when the very last scene was filmed," Executive Producer Jason Herbison said filming the final scenes. "It was hard to express how we would all feel. Of course, it is sad and tears were shed, but we’re also enormously proud. 37 years is an incredible achievement and that should be celebrated.
"We’ve also been incredibly touched by the response from our viewers all over the world. Neighbours is more than a TV show to many people. They see us as part of the family and we feel privileged to have been invited into their homes, and I know the legacy of Neighbours will live on for many years.”
But the question many viewers may be wondering is when is the final episode going to air and how can you watch it? Here are all the details you need to ensure you don't miss it:
When is the final episode of Neighbours airing in the UK?
The finale will be a double episode special and will air on Friday, July 29 in the UK and will be broadcast on Channel 5 from 9pm*. Fans will be able to watch the penultimate episode in the usual time slots of 1:45pm and 6pm on the same day.
Alan Fletcher, who has played the long-running character Dr Karl Kennedy for more than 25 years, teased in a social media video last month that the final episode was going to be "sensational". It has already been revealed that a number of former cast members will be returning to star in the soap's last scenes.
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who made TV history when 22 million Brits watched their character's Scott and Charlene's wedding back in 1988, will be making a comeback. Neighbours' iconic character Harold Bishop played by Ian Smith is also making a return as is Hollywood actor Guy Pearce as Mike Young amongst others.
It's now only eight weeks to go until we wave goodbye to our favourite Ramsay Street characters. Neighbours currently airs weekdays on Channel 5 from 1.45pm and 6pm.
*This article was updated on July 1 with new information on air date.
