‘A huge disappointment’ – long-running Australian soap Neighbors canceled after 37 years

Neighbors has announced it will halt production of the long-running Australian soap in June.

The future of the show was in doubt after Channel 5 confirmed last month that the show would cease airing.

And on Thursday morning, the show’s Twitter account said: “We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes on the air, we have to confirm that Neighbors will end production in June.

“After the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK, and despite an intensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no choice but to cancel the show.

“We know this is a huge disappointment for our amazing, loyal fans, as well as for all of us on the team. We thank you for all of your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible climax. From now on we celebrate neighborhoods.”

The daytime drama about the residents of Ramsay Street has been shown on British television for more than 30 years and launched the careers of stars such as Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie.

Channel 5 said the soap’s dump would allow funding to be redirected to original British dramas.

Neighbors, the longest-running drama series on Australian television, originally started on the country’s channel Seven in 1985, but the channel scrapped it before Ten picked it up the following year and it became an international hit.

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In Australia it has been shown on digital channel 10 Peach since 2011 and relies on the UK broadcaster for funding.

Neighbors was shown on BBC One until 2008 when it moved to Channel 5.

It has featured a number of British guest stars in recent years, including Amanda Holden, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ryan Thomas and Janet Street-Porter.