Iconic television drama It has been confirmed that Neighbours will be cancelled after 37 years on the air.
The revelation was verified by the show’s creators in a tweet from the Neighbours Twitter account on Thursday.
“After nearly 37 years and approximately 9000 episodes broadcast, we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,” said the Twitter message.
The UK network Channel 5 had paid for the show’s production costs, but it announced last month that it would no longer air it.
Neighbours acknowledged to viewers on Thursday that it had been unable to find a new network to support the show, and that the final episode would air in September in Australia.
“We have no choice but to put the concert on hold,” the statement read.
“We know this is a big disappointment to our amazing, dedicated fans, as it is to all of us on the team. We appreciate all of your messages and support, and we pledge to end the programme on a positive note. We’ll be commemorating Neighbours from now on.”
The show’s popularity in Australia has been dropping, with only 123,00 viewers nationwide on Wednesday night’s broadcast and only 8000 in Perth.
Home and Away, on the other hand, continues to be Seven’s most-watched drama, with 552,000 viewers nationwide on Wednesday and 85,000 in Perth.
The show is a “staple” of Australian television, according to Network 10, which broadcasts it.
“Network 10 expresses its gratitude to the cast, crew, production team, and the city of Fremantle for providing the right blend of soap and sunshine to audiences in Australia and throughout the world.”
