It’s been just over three years since Channel 5 pulled the plug on Neighbours and here we are again, with the beloved Aussie soap set to conclude once more after just two years on Amazon.
The popular serial, a staple of daytime TV in the UK for four decades, defied the odds two years ago when it was brought back from the dead by Amazon’s ad-supported service Freevee.
News of its comeback came as quite the shock, especially when, at the time of its terrestrial TV demise, it served up the best finale imaginable, with all the stars who got their starts on Ramsay Street staging a comeback to say goodbye.
It proved so good in fact that even die-hard Neighbours fans – who fought tirelessly for its return – were left questioning if bringing it back was the right move, given that bosses would be forced to unwrap the beautifully tied bow that was the conclusion of this story.
But at the end of the day, Neighbours is a soap. Perfect ending or not, the very essence of this form of programming is that there is no ending.
Soaps are meant to reflect real-life and, like real-life, the characters simply move from one challenge to the next. There is sadness after happiness and vice versa and seeing that reflected on-screen is why the genre has ultimately stood the test of time.
And with all the trials and tribulations that life has to offer, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that the world of TV escapism seemed bleaker without the prospect of a daily visit to Ramsay Street.
The revived series, subtitled a ‘new chapter’, recaptured that Erinsborough magic effortlessly. From the joyous opening bars of matriarch and heart of Ramsay Street Susan Kennedy’s monologue, Neighbours came back fighting and fresh storylines, dynamics and compelling newbies made it the perfect blend of old and new.
The flashback week – which filled in the gaps between the previous series and the revived one – was a particularly high point, as was the introduction of Krista Sinclair, who feels every bit as much a part of the fabric of Erinsborough as those that have been there for decades, with star Majella Davis proving a true powerhouse.
The saga of who JJ’s biological father is, and the subsequent introduction of estranged dad Felix, was another standout moment.
With the previous finale having gone down a storm, bosses could have relied entirely on nostalgia when bringing Neighbours back but instead they devised newer characters with their own stories that were as compelling as those of the stalwarts.
In fact, the Varga-Murphys are perhaps the Amazon era’s greatest offering, with the clan – JJ in particular – having been at the centre of some of the best narratives since its return. The Rodwells getting their chance to shine too was reason enough to resuscitate the show, given that they were robbed of such an opportunity first time around.
Wendy and Andrew are not only a great partnership but they are also great characters in their own right.
Holly Hoyland has similarly been a breath of fresh air, with Lucinda Armstrong-Hall capable of going toe-to-toe with Ramsay Street royalty, while Mackenzie Hargreaves getting a happy ending after losing Hendrix was another welcomed story move.
There were a few missteps along the way, such as the way Jane and Mike were forced to separate, but ultimately it has felt like the risk of bringing Neighbours back was worth the reward.
It wasn’t just the additional stories either as Amazon’s intervention ensured that Neighbours reached two key achievements in its 9,000th episode and its 40th anniversary, both of which seemed like an impossibility once upon a time.
And with the 40th anniversary tour earlier this month, the excitement for Neighbours’ big birthday was palpable as fans marked the milestone with the cast at the live shows.
But just days after said tour concluded, the celebrations were halted by news that Neighbours is set to end once again, with news that Amazon has pulled out.
The announcement came just shy of Neighbours’ milestone week and on the very night that fellow soap EastEnders celebrated its 40th anniversary with a lauded live episode that had the nation gripped.
It’s hard not to compare the two. Both soaps have had such an impact on British culture over the past four decades and narratively they’re in good places right now. But while one’s 40th birthday heralds in a new era, the other’s will be marred in sadness as viewers prepare to say goodbye again.
Freevee’s closure a few months ago seemed to spell the end for Neighbours given that it was the free streaming service (more so than Amazon Prime) who predominantly championed its return
Neighbours subsequently moved to Prime, however, and, although no official ratings have been released, it often charts at the number one spot on the entirety of the streaming platform in the UK.
This eerily echoes Channel 5’s pulling of funding three years ago. The decision was made due to the broadcaster’s desire to fund ‘original UK drama’ – not because it wasn’t popular. At the time, Neighbours was still pulling in 1.2 million viewers on average, often winning the afternoon slot.
The appetite was – and evidently still is – very much there for the show, which makes news of its impending end all the more frustrating. Factor in all the job losses, not to mention the prospect of a world without Karl and Susan Kennedy, it’s a downright travesty.
The cancellation also doesn’t bode well for the future of soap. In the time since Neighbours was last laid to rest, the industry has changed significantly for continuing dramas – and unfortunately not for the better.
Doctors has been axed, Hollyoaks has been forced to reduce episodes to just three a week – with a number of cast members cut to facilitate the changes – and Coronation Street and Emmerdale will drop one episode each from January next year.
What’s more, all the soaps stream first now in a bid to combat declining viewership, attempting to capture younger audiences due to the ever-changing ways of watching TV.
Once the bread and butter of UK, soap’s future is now very uncertain, despite the fact that they still have very loyal fanbases.
It’s a sad state of affairs because, although the TV gods might not always see it, the world needs soap. Not only do these programmes inform and raise awareness like no others, reaching millions of viewers and changing perceptions on a daily basis, but they also provide a way into the industry for new actors, writers and directors.
Neighbours in particular has bestowed upon us some of the worlds most successful stars, with Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Jason Donovan and Liam Hemsworth all making a name for themselves while in Erinsborough.
If soaps disappear, how will we discover and nurture the next wave of talent? And what other form of TV is capable of reaching so many viewers and raising awareness on important issues in such a realistic and believable way?
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It doesn’t bear thinking about. The genre must not only survive but thrive. And the sad thing is that Neighbours still has the potential to do both.
When discussing the serial’s fate, Executive Producer Jason Herbison was careful to say ‘rested’ as opposed to ‘ending’ and he remained hopeful that more stories will be told in the future.
The beloved series has defied death a number of times over the years, with this being its third cancellation. If any soap is capable of staging another comeback it’s this one and I for one am living in hope that audiences can one day become good friends with these Neighbours once again.
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Neighbours streams Mondays to Thursdays from 7:30am on Amazon Freevee.
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