Fremantle, the production company behind Aussie show, have released the farewell photograph.
The photograph was taken on the set of the Kennedy household, the home previously of the Willis and originally Clarke families. It featured from episode one when Des Clarke held his stag party in the sitting room much to the annoyance, thanks to loud music, of Max Ramsay and the bemusement to Helen Daniels and Jim Robinson.
Executive Producer Jason Herbison:
“We all knew this day was coming but until we were here in this moment when the very last scene was filmed, it was hard to express how we would all feel. Of course, it is sad and tears were shed, but we’re also enormously proud. 37 years is an incredible achievement and that should be celebrated. We’ve also been incredibly touched by the response from our viewers all over the world. Neighbours is more than a TV show to many people. They see us as part of the family and we feel privileged to have been invited into their homes, and I know the legacy of Neighbours will live on for many years.”
Neighbours originally aired on BBC One in the UK between 1986 and 2008, before Channel 5 bought the rights to the show to make an ‘Aussie Soap Hour‘ having previously gained the rights to Seven Network’s Home and Away, in 2000, which had aired on ITV since 1989. It joined the network’s line-up in 2001.
In February Channel 5, the UK broadcaster for the soap announced it would no longer be funding the majority of the production to enable more dramas on the network. Production company Fremantle and broadcaster 10 Peach were unable to secure the funds from another broadcaster or streaming service.
“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,” Channel 5 said in a statement.
“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.”
