Neighbours future in limbo as UK confirms it will cease broadcasting
10 keen to keep long running soap going despite UK axe. Cast will meet on Monday.
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Production on iconic soap Neighbours is pausing and the show’s future is in limbo after British broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed it would no longer air the show from mid year due to costs.
Filming will not take place tomorrow as cast are given the details. Producers Fremantle advised cast via email to attend a meeting, after news broke in the UK over the weekend.
A Network 10 spokesperson told TV Tonight, “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. 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.”
In an official statement released to Digital Spy, a Channel 5 spokesperson explained: “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.”
The decision appears to stem from costs surrounding the show, with the UK funding the bulk of the show’s production costs. Channel 10 licensing for the Fremantle show was reduced when the soap moved to a multichannel a decade ago.
Despite grim news the show still rates for Channel 5, drawing around 1.5 million UK viewers every day. In Australia the show draws up to 170,000 metro viewers, last week frequently topping multichannels, and supplies the bulk of 10’s local drama quotas.
Neighbours is currently in its 37th season, as one of the longest running scripted dramas in the world. The show is expected to remain on air in the UK until June.
Fremantle has been contacted for comment.
Updated.
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57 Responses
Please, no!
Surely another UK channel would be interested in keeping it around?
Honestly, I think it’s about time. 37 years is an incredible run and the cast and crew, past and present, can be proud of what they’ve accomplished. They can hopefully go out on a high.
If Neighbours ends then 10 Peach really will be basically Friends and Big Bang Theory in the evenings. For just about all my life Neighbours has been 6.30pm then Home & Away on Channel 7 at 7pm.
Do they have Paramount Plus in the Uk?? Maybe air it on their streaming service in the Uk?? Let the soap fans know it going digital???
No The UK doesn’t have Paramount Plus but I think Viacom CBS Streaming should be thinking about having Paramount Plus in the UK so the fans can watch Neighbors and other good shows on there.
It is due to launch but as C5 and Paramount+ have the same owners it is unlikely to be an option still on the table.
Should be a concern for Home and Away too.
…. I guess those 7 Sydney execs who canned the show thirty-six years ago and let it go to 10 are now saying “told ya it wouldn’t last” !!!
The show had been relegated to a Network 10 multichannel from the main channel and the main source of fame became from the UK afterwards. Then there are all the channels like BBC, ITV etc. and digital multichannels that are ahead of Channel 5 in the UK. Neighbours has had a pretty good and long run through all the challenges. This sort of drama is still a main staple in many countries including America and Latin America etc. so maybe an adaptation or reworking could be an option if they want to consider that.
Gee Neighbours is huge in the UK. What a shame.
Hey Ten, how about you stump up more than just the licence fee to attract a UK broadcaster and keep what is one of Australia’s only training grounds going? Either that or start ramping up your drama production to cover your points quota.
It’s difficult to see another UK broadcaster coming on board at this stage. Even their home made soaps have been doing it tough in recent years.
So sad for all the cast and crew whose jobs are in jeopardy as a result of this
Crap is finally going in the Crapper
Kind of sad really that this show only lives because of the UK.
I hope they continue the show. The story lines lately have been really interesting. The cast and crew do a wonderful job. I’ve been watching since the beginning. I would hope this show goes on and on. I hoped when I read this earlier that it was just a rumor.
I really hope this situation can be resolved by Channel 10. This show (dramatic as it sounds) kept me going through lockdown and a subsequent isolation. I love this show and I really hope it can stay. Anyone know of a petition we can sign?
After the last 12 months who would want to be associated with this show? Sounds like the time is right for this to end. Not a very safe workplace by the looks of it.
Nice try, producers. I know an elaborate hoax to bait Kylie Minogue when I see one. 😉
Well, 10’s current focus seems to be in reducing their investment in Australian drama…although, if this actually does happen, what will 10 Peach become?
10 have really been leaning on Neighbours as their main example of investing in Australian drama over the past few years, now they would have a wasteland of drama across their FTA channels.
A very sad day for Neighbours fans – I have watched the show since it started airing in NZ from episode 1 – since moving to Australia in 2000 I have watched the show each night.
It’s a fantastic training ground for young actors & crew – it’s an Australian institution.
The show has been looking great recently, with the introduction of more location shoots & the storyline’s have been excellent.
I hope Fremantle can find a new home – maybe on Netflix or Amazon Prime?
I really hope they’re able to find a solution, I will be so sad to see Neighbours end like this. I must admit, I had wondered if something was happening behind the scenes when the UK caught up to Aus again and now Aus are behind the UK episodes for the first time ever. But I honestly thought the show was safe for now, with the new outdoor sets and the general feel of the show. It seemed like they were invested in it. Very sad day if it can’t be saved.
On a purely commercial level, leaving sentiment aside, can’t see any Aussie and/or UK networks tipping money in to keep it afloat, given ratings have been on a slow but very steady decline for a long, long time now.
Exactly. And without C5 propping it up it would likely have ended a decade ago.
Sigh.
I hope another UK Network will get the rights, so we can see Neighbours reach the 40 year mark in 3 years tike. Fingers crossed.
I am sure they can find another channel to broadcast Neighbours in the UK.
Unfortunately Channel 5 weren’t just broadcasting Neighbours, they were actively funding the show. It would have been canned years ago if not for their money. I would imagine it will be quite difficult to find another network who is prepared to out so much money into the show.
This makes me sad – I’ve been watching since I was a teenager, (yep, a cynical Gen Xer actually has feelings), but I only said to my partner the other day that I thought it might be coming to an end…
I know many will probably comment that this is long overdue etc etc but this really is worrying news (not just because we’re talking about an iconic show – it’s actually a great show). I sincerely hope that Fremantle can work out a deal with 10 or that another UK broadcaster takes it on.
All things come to an end. Pity it rated so low in Australia. Long term drama shows are a thing of the past unfortunately.