2.5m Brits watch Neighbours finale
FInale becomes the show's biggest episode since 2008 and leads to an outpouring from emotional Brits.
- Published by David Knox
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Over 2.5 million Brits tuned in for the one hour Neighbours finale on Channel 5.
According to Digital Spy, it became the show’s highest rated episode since 2008 and its third highest rated episode ever on Channel 5.
On social media there was an outpouring of emotion, especially from those who grew up with the show and linked it to pivotal moments in their own lives.
It’s a Sin and returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies said “Brilliant finale. Beautifully done. Funny and kind and forgiveness for Izzy! And Plain Jane Superbrain becoming more beautiful by putting her glasses ON is absolute scriptwriting genius. So many great actors, I’d kill to work with Jackie Woodburne! We measure our lives by these shows, and that’s a wonderful thing.”
I’ve watched #Neighbours for much of my life. It always reminds me of happier times – when I was a child, staying at my Nanny’s house. To this day, I always think of her when I tune in. 💕
Thank you @NeighboursTV. To quote Rachel Kinksi and Ty Harper, you’re ‘Unforgettable’.
— Stephen Patterson (@mr_sjpatterson) July 29, 2022
MADGE. OH GOD MADGE. I'M A MESS.#NeighboursFinale pic.twitter.com/BNDZlAQpW5
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 29, 2022
The perfect ending. To a show that shouldn’t even be ending in the first place. #Neighbours#NeighboursFinale
— Stephen Patterson (@mr_sjpatterson) July 29, 2022
I feel sorry for all the kids who do not know what it was to sit down in your school uniform and watch Newsround, Blue Peter & then Neighbours every weeknight! #NeighboursFinale
— Beccy Wood (@BeccyWoodTV) July 29, 2022
Possibly shedding a tear at the end of #NeighboursFinale
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) July 29, 2022
A lot of talk lately about all the success stories that came out of #Neighbours but Jackie Woodburne is easily one of the best actresses to come out of Australia. Queen of the cul-de-sac 👑 #NeighboursFinale pic.twitter.com/L3jg6uxcqK
— Joe (@onlyjoekin_) July 29, 2022
Dead end? I think not. A masterclass of a sudsy swan song. https://t.co/Dolwlk3M3w
— Richard Arnold (@RichardAArnold) July 29, 2022
Travellers on the London Underground were even greeted by a poem from staff to Neighbours.
Everybody needs good neighbours and you were simply the best.
Thank you to all of the cast & crew for becoming good friends to us for 37 years and giving us so many wonderful memories.
Love from all of your fans#Neighbours#NeighboursFinale#CelebratingNeighbours @kylieminogue pic.twitter.com/7DGikAH3uJ— All On The Board (@allontheboard) July 29, 2022
Tourism Australia also ran a special ‘Visit Australia’ advertisement produced by Fremantle and CHEP Network.
The end line, ‘Say g’day to Australia’, appears in the same font as the show’s logo.
”For four decades, a little touch of the Australian lifestyle has been appearing in everyone’s living room every day,” Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s regional general manager for the UK and Northern Europe told The Drum.
The Neighbours finale doesn’t air in Ireland until Wednesday.
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12 Responses
Also interesting was how Channel 5 positioned Home and Away during every Neighbours ad break as H&A also embracing family, friends and community clearly in an attempt to get Neighbours fans to give H&A more love. Contrast Channel 5’s attempts with how Seven promotes H&A and they look like completely different shows!
The difference in the edits were minor really – the bigger difference was the music used with Harry Styles and George Ezra in the book and wedding scene in the UK and a shorter credit scene (one less ep) which benefitted from dropping a couple of the less loved version of the theme – although in both cases sticking with the original theme would have been better.
Quite surprised though RTE didn’t make more of the finale in Ireland – they seem to be letting it fizzle out.
The figure of 2.5million is just the overnight total and won’t yet include ‘on demand’ viewing (via the My5 app), so the final rating when published by BARB will be even higher.
An observation on the UK broadcast, the end credits shown on 5 were only 35 seconds, whereas 10’s broadcast had the full 65 second playout.
5’s version didn’t contain Greg Hind’s 1992 theme, and it jumped back and forth to Janine Maunder’s 2002 theme twice 😂
Yes, RTE in Ireland have stuck with the usual 30 minute playout for the final week, hence they wrap up on Wednesday. I assume Fremantle distributed the final batch of episodes in their usual 30 minute presentation. 5 in the UK must have requested a 60 minute edit, unless their in-house team edited two episodes together.
What do you mean the ‘usual 30 minute presentation’ ? The usual episodes are 22 minutes without ads, so the finale was the equivalent length of 3 normal episodes, not 2.
In the UK the finale was 2 eps. Australia was playing catch-up.
Apparently Jason Herbison said they did the UK edit, which is also what Australia would’ve got next week if it played out as normal. But because they added the extra episode to the finale it was one less recap and end credits so they could put in the extra scenes.
The other thing to note is Paramount has the episodes split and unedited so it will be interesting if RTE show the 25 min finale or will have 3 mins edited out.
Jason Herbison has said that the final episode was always planned as a one-hour episode (including ads). Channel 10 decided to air it as a 90-minute special (so essentially, the last two episodes combined).
Even more impressive is the finale was screened at 9pm on a Friday night in the UK – will increase dramatically when they count online & catch up.
what a lovely tribute from Russel T. Davies. I”d love to see Jackie Woodburne turn up in one of his next projects.
And she has already played a time travelling scientistin the audio series Night Terrace written by Aussies.