Kylie Minogue and Craig McLachlan on Neighbours.Credit:Grundy Organisation
“The problemNeighbours has is that most of the other British broadcasters have already got their own soaps,” says Australian TV historian,Andrew Mercado.
“So once that was the case it became dire forNeighbours,it really needed that UK support.”
The end ofNeighbours may have broader ramifications for Network Ten because it uses the program in its local drama content quota. OnceNeighbours departs screens in June,the network would not only be required to fill programming space but would also need to spend more on commissioning new dramas to meet requirements set out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
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From an industry standpoint,the loss of the soap is a major blow,with about 200 people employed on the show,either as freelancers or on rolling contracts.Neighbours has long been considered one of the most important training grounds for talent in the country,both on-screen and off.
“That is the real tragedy,Neighbours is unrivalled as a training ground for young people wanting to break into the business,” Mercado says.
“If you’re a young actor,scriptwriter or producer,Neighbours was a place where there was year-long work for you to learn your craft.”
Neighbours has helped launch the careers of some of Australia’s greatest acting exports with Russell Crowe,Isla Fisher,Margot Robbie,and Ben Mendelsohn among the stars to have appeared on the show.
Following the announcement on Thursday,Alan Fletcher,who has played Dr Karl Kennedy onNeighbours since 1994,posted on social media thanking fans for sticking by the show.
“It’s official,all attempts to#SaveNeighbours have been unsuccessful and Fremantle has confirmed the show will end production in June this year. This is a sad day indeed,” wrote Fletcher.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the millions of fans all around the world who have supported our iconic drama for 37 wonderful years.”
There is the potential for a nostalgia-laden finale and the pressure will be on much-loved former cast members to make their way back to Ramsay Street for one last hurrah.
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“Neighbours isn’t afraid of dipping into its history for inspiration and given the vast number of actors that have returned to the show over the years,there will be some huge opportunities to bring back much-loved characters for the finale.”
Fans will no doubt be hoping to see the return of Kylie Minogue,who played Charlene Robinson on the soap from 1986 to 1988.
“There will be enormous pressure on Kylie,and she’s recently moved back to Melbourne,so no doubt she will be asked to appear in the finale,” says Mercado.
“She is close to Ramsay Street after all.”