Neighbours axed for good as production company fails to find replacement for Channel 5
NEIGHBOURS bosses have failed to find a new home for the hit Aussie soap - and it will end this summer after nearly four decades on our screens.
We can exclusively reveal that Fremantle Media, who make the much-loved soap, have finally admitted defeat in their search for a new broadcaster.
They are set to make an announcement on Thursday that despite an “extensive search for alternative funding” the soap will cease production in June.
It is the first time the TV production company has commented on the situation after The Sun broke the news that they were unable to reach a new mega-bucks deal with Channel 5 last month.
The announcement will heap yet more misery on the soap’s army of loyal fans - which pulls in 1.4 million viewers every day on Channel 5 - as they were desperately hoping the show would be saved at the eleventh hour.
More than 60,000 fans have signed a petition to try and save the daytime soap, while many of its stars, past and present, expressed their devastation at the news, all hoping it would find a new home.
But sadly it really is the end of the Ramsay Street soap.
A source said: “Fremantle have not commented on the situation since the news broke about Channel 5.
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“They have been working tirelessly to secure funding from other networks but sadly they’ve been unable to save the soap.
“The announcement will confirm that the soap will end this summer and that they have been overwhelmed by the love and support from the audience since the news broke.”
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Bosses are doing everything they can to make sure the soap goes out on a real high.
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, both 53, who played Charlene and Scott Robinson, have been approached to return.
Neighbours legend Ian Smith, 83, has already agreed to make his emotional comeback as Harold Bishop.
And we can also reveal that Peter O’Brien, 61, who appeared in the soap’s very first episode back in 1985, will reprise his role as Shane Ramsay.
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The source added: “There is a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes to make the final few weeks of Neighbours are truly special.
“They are still waiting to hear back from a number of former stars but Peter has agreed to return and will start filming in May.”
Masked Singer winner Natalie Imbruglia, 47, who rose to fame playing Beth Brennan in the 1990s, has already said she would go back.
She said: “I would consider going back, I think it would be lovely to walk through those doors.”
Neighbours legend Jackie Woodburne, 66, who has played Susan Kennedy since 1994, spoke out about the loss of the show earlier this week.
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Speaking on Australian TV she said: “It’s going to leave a massive gap in the landscape of not just Australian television but internationally and specifically in the UK as well.
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“It's the end of an era, it's the loss of an icon and we will never ever see a show like Neighbours again.”
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5.
