Fans of NEIGHBORS are counting down the days before the show, which has been on the air for 37 years, comes to an end.
When a story stated the show had been salvaged – as an April Fool’s joke – viewers were outraged.
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April 1 can be both the funniest and the scariest day of the year, as people all across the world concoct their finest jokes, some of which go a little too far.
After over four decades of heart-stopping storylines and nearly 9,000 episodes, Neighbours was announced to be cancelled in March 2022.
The announcement came after Channel 5 announced in early February that it would no longer be able to carry the renowned series.
While supporters hoped that the Australian show may be preserved, the production team was unable to come up with a viable alternative and was left with no choice but to cancel the event entirely.
However, viewers were shocked to learn, according to a report on the Australian website TV Tonight, that Neighbours had “been thrown a lifeline” and was set to return to Channel 7, where it initially aired in 1985.
“In a spectacular new contract, Seven has scooped on the classic soap to launch a new chapter for the Ramsay Street serial,” according to the story, which promised a thunderous comeback for the show.
It also included quotes from people who appeared to be trustworthy, such as James Warburton, the CEO of Seven West Media.
“Everyone needs excellent Neighbours,” the latter allegedly said, “and 7Plus is the best buddy that the much-loved show has.”
Fans, on the other hand, were dealt additional heartbreak as they scrolled down to the article’s conclusion, which says, “Yup, yearly April Fool’s Day post.”
Viewers of Neighbours are furious, and they’ve taken to Twitter to attack the piece, calling it “the cruellest April Fool’s Day hoax” they’ve ever seen.
“Is this a genuine story or a hoax? It’s not funny if it’s a joke “, one person said.
Another was added: “It’s not even amusing! “I believed it till the end, when I began to question whether it was an April Fool’s joke,” one person said, while another added, “A terrible April 1 for Neighbours fans.””
A fourth protested, “This is the cruellest April Fool’s Day hoax I have ever seen.”
Another wrote: “I’m surprised that TV Tonight would make that an April Fool’s joke. It may be amusing to them, but it is really demeaning to the actors and staff who have worked on this show for years.”
One fan remarked, “This is NOT what you joke about on April Fools,” and the comments kept coming.
In March, the cast and crew gathered for an emotional gathering and final send-off at Terese Willis’ (Rebekah Elmaloglou) on-set home.
Neighbours’ production will wrap up in June 2022, with the final episode airing two months later, in August.
Fans in the United Kingdom and Australia will be able to view the final episode on the same day.
One social media user, in response to the TV Tonight report, presented a last-minute plan to save Neighbours.
“Fans, please consider emailing support@paramountplus.com if that April Fools article about the show, at the expense of cast and staff, p****d you off,” the message reads.
The platform will be available in the UK later this year, over the summer, following being introduced in the United States in 2021, according to the user.
They also stated: “Solicit their help in producing the show for their platform. It’s already been added.”
Meanwhile, Neighbours continues to air on Channel 5 at 1.45 p.m. on weekdays.
