Production on the iconic Australian soap opera “Neighbours” has officially wrapped for Prime Video, with the cast filming their final scenes at Nunawading studios on Friday. The series, which has entertained audiences for over 40 years, will air its last episodes in December, bringing Amazon’s two-year revival to a close.
The beloved series, which launched the careers of global superstars Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie, has been chronicling the lives and dramas of Melbourne’s fictional Erinsborough residents since its inception. Amazon’s rescue effort added 460 episodes to the show’s legacy of over 9,000 episodes.
“‘Neighbours’ is a special show and it’s been a privilege to make the recent seasons for our loyal viewers around the world,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “We have added 460 episodes to our legacy of over 9,000 episodes, something we all feel proud of. Once again, we will be resting the residents of Ramsay Street on a hopeful note, with some tantalizing possibilities for a future chapter.”
The series experienced consistent Top 10 rankings in the U.K. under Amazon’s stewardship and earned a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series.
For many of the series’ veteran cast members, the wrap marks the end of career-defining runs. Stefan Dennis, who has played Paul Robinson for four decades, reflected on the show’s impact: “I never thought a single show would give me the greatest adventures of my career, spanning 40 years. Without ‘Neighbours’ I would not have meet the people, been to the places and lived the experiences of a lifetime.”
Alan Fletcher, who portrayed Karl Kennedy for over 30 years, described the series as his “happy place,” praising “the creative freedom and enthusiasm amongst the whole team that has allowed us to produce a brilliant show for so long.”
Jackie Woodburne, who played Susan Kennedy for three decades, expressed her gratitude in characteristically warm terms: “It’s impossible to measure the gratitude I feel for the gift of 30 years on ‘Neighbours.’ We are the best version of ‘family’. It has been a wild ride into a happy life. Wouldn’t change it for quids!”
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The emotional impact extended to newer cast members as well. Matt Wilson, who played Aaron Brennan, called the show “a real beacon of hope,” while Ben Jackson, who portrayed Max Ramsay, described his experience as “the greatest gift of my life.”
The current cancellation marks the second time “Neighbours” has faced its end. In 2022, the series was canceled after 37 seasons. It was revived months later, finding a new home on Amazon’s AVOD service Freevee, which picked up the rights from “Neighbours” producer and distributor Fremantle.
This second cancellation concludes a series that has become deeply embedded in the fabric of international television culture, particularly in Australia and the U.K. The show’s final episodes will air in December, marking the end of an era that has spanned four decades of television history.
As cast member Naomi Rukavina, who played Remi Varga-Murphy, put it: “It’s a special thing to be part of a national icon. ‘Neighbours’ is nothing like I had imagined; it has been blessing on blessing for me. Fulfilling, stabilizing, and heart-filling. Long live the icon.”
From Variety US