And while UK fans have been gutted by the news – with emotional tributes on fan pages across social media and a petition of more than 60,000 to save the show – Aussies’ care factor for losing the iconic soap appears to be quite low.Neighbours still attracts about 1.4 million viewers a day in the UK, while it gets up to 170,000 metro viewers in Australia. The Australian figures are half of what rival Aussie soap Home and Away attracts.The end of Neighbours came when UK network Channel 5, which foots the majority of the production bill, withdrew its partnership, and Australian production company Fremantle Media failed to find alternative funding.When news.com.au shared the news across its social media pages on Thursday, the majority of commenters declared it was “about time”.“Thank goodness, we’re not in the ‘80s any more,” one woman wrote.“Can I be honest I haven’t watched Neighbours for about 12 or more years. I’m 42 and I watched it as a child and teenager and then I guess I grew out of it,” said another.Many said they were once fans but hadn’t watched the show since the days of Scott Robinson and Charlene Mitchell, played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, who left in 1989 and 1988.Two million Aussies and almost 20 million viewers in Britain tuned in to watch the characters’ wedding episode.“It’s not the ‘90s anymore. We have more than four channels to choose from. Surprised they last(ed) this long,” the most liked comment on Instagram read.About ten years ago, the Ten network moved the show off its main channel and put it on a secondary channel that is now branded 10 Peach.Do you care that Neighbours is ending?Neighbours helped launch the international careers of many big stars, including, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, Jesse Spencer, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem, Guy Pearce, Bob Morley, Alan Dale, Ben Mendelsohn, Eliza Taylor, Caitlin Stasey and Adelaide Kane.It will cease production in June with the final episodes, expecting to feature the return of popular characters, airing in August.Neighbours stars share tributesKylie Minogue, who has gone on to become the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, paid tribute to the show saying she was “forever grateful” for the experience.“We had no idea how big the show would become and how passionately viewers would take it to heart. Pure love!” she wrote on Twitter on Thursday night. “I can still hear Madge calling … CHARLENE!!!!”Current cast members have shared their thanks for supportive messages they have received from dedicated fans.Neighbours veteran Alan Fletcher, who plays Dr Karl Kennedy, said it was a “sad day indeed” but wanted to share his “deepest gratitude to the millions of fans all around the world”.“On a personal level Neighbours has been my creative home for almost 28 years. It has provided me with enormous artistic satisfaction and deep, everlasting friendships that I will treasure forever,” he wrote on social media, asking fans to stick with the show through to the end.Georgie Stone, who joined the show in 2019 as Mackenzie Hargreaves, the first ever transgender character, said she felt blessed for being a part of the Neighbours legacy.“For 37 years not only has Neighbours been a conduit for stories that reflect Australian society of the time, but also an institution in which young actors like me can learn and grow (not just in acting but as a human too.),” the 21-year-old wrote.Benny Turland, 23, who plays Hendrix Grayson, also said the show transformed him as a person and actor, adding it was “sad and upsetting” to see the show end.In a teary video, April Rose Pengilly, who plays Chloe Brennan, said the cast had been “blown away” by the support from fans over the last few weeks since news broke about Channel 5 pulling out.“I’m really sorry we couldn’t do more and save the show. We really tried the last few months,” she said.“I know a lot of people think it’s just like a silly soap but I’m seeing how much it means to so many of you. People are saying it’s actually saved their lives or a huge part of supporting their mental health and I get people saying all the time Chloe’s LGBT storylines have helped them come out to their parents or things like that.”Matt Wilson, who plays Aaron Brennan, said his experience on Neighbours had been “life changing”.“Every week until June 10 (our last shooting day) I’ll share a photo from my photo album and a story to go with it. If not for you, for me to look back and remember the 7yrs I’ve had here,” he wrote in Instagram.Comedian Joel Creasey, who played recurring character Mick Allsop over the last year, said he shot his last scene on Wednesday without realising.“The cast and crew on this show truly could not be more talented, kind and hard working,” he wrote. “They put in some wild hours, are so incredibly passionate and genuinely do it for the fans.”
Powered by WPeMatico
