‘Neighbours’ Officially Cancelled After Production Fails To Find New UK Home
It turns out, everybody doesn’t need good ‘Neighbours’, as production company Fremantle announces it is officially cancelled after failing to find a new UK home.
After 37 years on air, life in Ramsey Street will end. The soap, which followed the day-to-day lives of residents in the cul-de-sac of the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, has been a fixture of UK television since 1986. Although the show is obviously made and set in Australia, most of the funding for the soap came from their deal with UK broadcaster Channel 5. Back in February, Channel 5 announced it would not be renewing the contract, leaving ‘Neighbours’ with a massive funding problem.
Fremantle, who produce the series, had approached a number of other UK broadcasters in an effort to save the show, but no one was prepared to step in.
“We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in the summer,” they said in a tweet from the official account. “Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show. To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high.”
‘Neighbours’ originally aired twice a day on BBC One in the UK, before moving to Channel 5 in and has been a breeding ground for Australian acting and singing talent. Notable stars who have passed through Ramsey Street include Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie, Jesse Spencer, Alan Dale, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem, Luke Mitchell, Holly Valance, Ben Mendelsohn, and Eliza Taylor, plus many more.
‘Neighbours’ final episodes will air in Summer 2022 on Channel 5.
