UK network brings Neighbours to an end

Australian TV soap Neighbours comes to an end after UK’s Channel 5 – which provided most of the funds – chooses British programming instead

“Everybody needs good neighbours” – so the theme song goes.

For over 37 years, the Australian TV soap found a home away from home on British TV screens where audiences fell in love with the TV drama from Down Under.

Neighbours has been a mainstay of UK television, after it first aired on BBC One in 1986.

Channel 5 took over in 2008 – and has been providing the bulk of the funds to produce the show since then.

But earlier this year, it announced it was bringing the show to an end.

“We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers.”

Channel 5, uk

In a statement sent earlier, it thanked the cast the production crew and all the loyal fans.

But Channel 5 also wanted to use the funds spent on Neighbours to instead invest in British-made drama.

The final episode will air on Friday, July 29 in the UK – and will air in its home country Australia just a few days later.