It's a sad day for Irish soap fans, as one of the biggest imports shown on RTÉ Two could be entering its endgame.
The end is nigh for 'Neighbours', as the popular soap faces cancellation as early as this summer. According to reports coming out of Australia, production company Fremantle will be forced to pull the plug on the 37-year-old series unless a new TV channel is found.
Channel 5 currently airs the show in the UK, and also provides the majority of the funding, but the network has now decided it is costing more for them to produce when compared to the revenue they make from the series. The network is planning on concentrating on UK-based drama series from now on.
Should Freemantle fail to get another TV network or service onboard, 'Neighbours' could face a cancellation for good on June 10, 2022. RTÉ, where the soap airs in Ireland, is said to be entering into discussions with Freemantle.
On the air since 1985, the majority of the drama takes place on Ramsay Street in the fictional town of Erinsborough in Melbourne and follows the daily lives of all of the town's residents. Karl and Susan Kennedy (Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne) are two fan-favourites who have been in the soap since the early '90s, while Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) have also been kicking around of late.
Over the years, the soap has launched a number of careers for countless household names, including Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia and, most recently, Margot Robbie.
Jackie Woodburne, who has played Susan for the past 27 years, told an Australian talk show this morning that she's "in shock" and "overwhelmed" with the latest news. She said that she and the rest of her co-stars know just about as much as everyone else at this point, and the cancellation could still be avoided. She's keeping her finger's crossed at the moment as "anything is possible".
'Neighbours' currently airs on RTÉ Two at 6 pm every weekday. The soap can also be watched on the RTÉ Player.
