After four decades of melodrama, heartbreak, and street-side cups of tea, Neighbours has wrapped filming on what could be its final chapter, once again.
The cast and crew of the iconic Australian soap opera shot their final scenes on Friday at Melbourne’s Nunawading studios, closing the curtain on its two-year revival under Prime Video. The final episodes are set to air this December, concluding a show that has been a fixture of Australian and British television since 1985.
Executive producer Jason Herbison acknowledged the emotional milestone while hinting at the possibility of yet another comeback down the road.
“Neighbours is a special show and it’s been a privilege to make the recent seasons for our loyal viewers around the world,” he said, adding “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 tantalising possibilities for a future chapter.”
The Amazon-backed revival, which followed the show’s original cancellation in 2022, breathed new life into Ramsay Street, earning the series a Daytime Emmy nomination and strong UK streaming numbers. Yet despite a valiant second wind, the show’s fate was sealed when production company Fremantle Media was unable to strike a new deal with Amazon earlier this year.
For longtime cast members, the final wrap brought waves of nostalgia. Stefan Dennis, the only original cast member from the first episode still active, reflected on his time as Paul Robinson, said, “I never thought a single show would give me the greatest adventures of my career, spanning 40 years. Without Neighbours I would not have met the people, been to the places and lived the experiences of a lifetime. Thank you all.”
Alan Fletcher, who portrayed the ever-reliable Karl Kennedy, described his time on the soap as career-defining, shared, “It’s been my happy place,” he said. “The creative freedom and enthusiasm amongst the whole team… allowed us to produce a brilliant show for so long.”
Jackie Woodburne, who starred as Susan Kennedy for more than 30 years, added her own heartfelt farewell, said, “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!”
While the revival drew in newer cast members, their sentiments echoed those of the veterans. Matt Wilson, who played Aaron Brennan, called the show “a real beacon of hope,” while Ben Jackson, who portrayed Max Ramsay, described the experience as “the greatest gift of my life.” Naomi Rukavina, who played Remi Varga-Murphy, summed up the emotion behind the farewell, said, “It has been blessing on blessing for me. Fulfilling, stabilizing, and heart-filling. Long live the icon.”
Originally axed by Channel 5 in 2022, the show’s first goodbye drew 2.5 million UK viewers, and a star-studded farewell episode. Months later, Amazon swooped in to revive the series for its Freevee platform. When Freevee shut down, the soap transitioned to Prime Video—where it now ends once again.
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