https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/iconic-australian-soap-neighbours-to-end-after-37-years-1235102824/

A fixture on Australian and British TV since 1985, Neighbours is ending because its future "became extremely unstable earlier this year after the U.K.’s Channel 5, which it had relied on for funding after its popularity waned in Australia, revealed that it would stop airing it to focus on U.K. dramas," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "A hunt for another channel appears to have been fruitless." Neighbours ran for nearly 9,000 episodes and featured many future stars (https://www.thewrap.com/neighbours-stars-famous-margot-robbie-russell-crowe/), including Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie, Liam Hemsworth, Kylie Minogue and Natalie Imbruglia.

Wow, this is shocking news! Neighbours has been such a staple for so many decades and is an ingrained part of Australian culture! It airs in prime time not during the daytime hours like American soaps, so it had a broader fan base, and it used to be the top rated soap among young people in the UK! :eek:

I don't know why they go on about Russell Crowe being on Neighbours. He literally appeared in maybe 1 or 2 episodes way back in 1987 as a very, very minor character.

Funnily enough this isn't the first time the show's been axed / cancelled. Channel 7 ended the show at the very end of it's first year in 1985 due to poor ratings. Channel 10 picked it up the following year turning the show into a huge ratings bonanza!

Thoughts are with not only the actors, but also all of the behind the scenes crew now out of jobs. :(

Amazon resurrects Aussie soap, Neighbours (https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/neighbours-amazon-freevee-new-season-2023-1235435335/)

Well, that didn’t take long. “Neighbours” is coming back.

The Australian soap has found a new home on Amazon’s AVOD service Freevee, which has picked up the rights from “Neighbours” producer and distributor Fremantle. The show will begin shooting in Oz in 2023 and air in the second half of next year.

The new series will premiere exclusively for free on Amazon Freevee in the U.K. and U.S. and will include streaming rights to thousands of episodes from the previous seasons, whch will be available prior to the new series’ premiere. The series will also stream on SVOD counterpart Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Australia’s Network 10, the home of “Neighbours” for 36 years, will retain first-run rights in the country.

When it comes to soap operas from around the world they are known for becoming a long running staple that follows the same example as American soap operas. With Neighbours I can think of it as the Australian version of Guiding Light and for 37 years it's easy to see why Neighbours became a smash hit in Australia. Plus Neighbours introduced many stars that would go on to do shows and movies such as Natalie Imbruglia Liam Hemsworth Russell Crowe who got his start on Neighbours after being in two episodes and now a success in America. And another star from Neighbours was a teen actress named Delta Goodrem who quit the show to launch a singing career and became a successful singer with her debut album Innocent Eyes at 15 years old and is now the Australian version of Alicia Keys because of her piano playing talent too. It would be wonderful if there was an American remake of Neighbours because if it existed it surely would be a hit
Bestie

Mischa Barton casts on Freevee's Neighbours reboot (https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/neighbours-amazon-freevee-cast-mischa-barton-1235585701/)

Mischa Barton will appear in the new season of “Neighbours” coming to Amazon Freevee.

Barton will guest star in the upcoming season of the long-running Australian soap opera, which was picked up by Freevee back in November. According to her official character description, Barton will play Reece, “an American new to Erinsborough who’s not quite who she appears to be.”

“With ‘Neighbours’ launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”

Mischa Barton casts on Freevee's Neighbours reboot (https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/neighbours-amazon-freevee-cast-mischa-barton-1235585701/)

Mischa Barton will appear in the new season of “Neighbours” coming to Amazon Freevee.

Barton will guest star in the upcoming season of the long-running Australian soap opera, which was picked up by Freevee back in November. According to her official character description, Barton will play Reece, “an American new to Erinsborough who’s not quite who she appears to be.”

“With ‘Neighbours’ launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”