Following the announcement that the Australian serial may be cancelled later this year, Jason Donovan has begged for a UK distributor to save Neighbours.
The 53-year-old actor and singer rose to popularity in the 1980s as Scott Robinson in the programme, opposing Kylie Minogue as his sweetheart Charlene Mitchell, and the two went on to have successful pop careers after the release of their duet ‘Especially For You’ in 1988.
“@Neighbours transformed the Australian television scene,” Donovan tweeted. Many careers, including mine, have been launched as a result of it over the years. For generations, audiences have been engaged and entertained.
“I’m hoping it’ll find a new home with a UK network and continue to bring opportunity and pleasure.”
Jemma Donovan, Donovan’s daughter, was cast as Harlow Robinson in the soap in 2019.
From the summer, Channel 5 will no longer broadcast Neighbours in the United Kingdom.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, production company Fremantle Media has informed employees that filming would be suspended indefinitely after June 10 due to a lack of financial backing from a broadcast partner.
According to a Channel 5 representative, “After this summer, Channel 5 will no longer broadcast Neighbours.
“We’d like to congratulate the cast, Fremantle, and the entire production crew for their amazing work on this landmark series, which has been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade.
“Of course, we’d like to thank the fans for their unwavering support of Neighbours over the years.”
“We understand that this decision will cause sadness, but our present focus is on boosting our investment in original UK drama, which has a great appeal for our audiences.”
In Australia, the soap is broadcast on Channel Ten, however they need a partner backer to keep it going.
Neighbours premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom in 1985 and ran until 2008, when it was relocated to Channel 5.
Many Australian performers, including Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Liam and Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Spencer, Natalie Imbruglia, and Alan Dale, have benefited from the show.
With plots set in the United Kingdom and guest performers from the United Kingdom, Neighbours has always had a strong connection to its British viewers.
Amanda Holden, a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, was cast in a guest part in an Australian soap opera last year, which was recorded in London in the autumn and will premiere later this year.
Emma Bunton, Denise Van Outen, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ryan Thomas, and Janet Street-Porter are among the other British guest stars.
