By Emily Caulkett-
Amazon has announced it is reviving Australian TV soap Neighbours, less than four months after its much-publicised final episode. The show will resume filming next year and will then be available in the UK and US on Amazon Freevee, the company’s free streaming service.
The new series will be on subscription service Amazon Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, while it will be once again broadcast on TV channel Network 10 in Australia. Previous episodes will also be available to stream.
Sharing the news on the official Neighbours Twitter account, Neighbours stars Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) and Ryan Moloney (Toadie Rebecchi) helped to announce the exciting update and confirmed the new episodes will be released in “the second half of next year.”
The new series will start filming in Australia next year, after the production company Fremantle signed a deal with Amazon Freevee. A number of fan favourites are due to return, including Stefan Dennis as Paul Robinson, Alan Fletcher as Karl Kennedy, Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy and Ryan Moloney as Toadie Rebecchi.
“Neighbours is a unique series with a powerful connection with its fans across the world,” said Jennifer Mullin, Fremantle’s CEO. “We cherish the show and all those who have been part of its incredible story over many decades, so we are thrilled that we have found a new home.”
The announcement follows a much-celebrated farewell episode for the show, which saw a number of former stars return to pay homage to the soap that gave them their big break. Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce were among the actors who once again appeared in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough – drawing viewing figures of three million. The audience was the biggest since Channel 5 began screening the show in the UK, 14 years ago.
As well as creating a new series of the soap, Amazon have announced that they will be hosting the show’s back catalogue, giving viewers access to 37 years’ worth of classic episodes.
“Neighbours has captivated its audience for nearly 40 years, building a dedicated and loyal following for the lives and stories of the characters on Ramsay Street,” said Lauren Anderson, Amazon’s head of AVOD programming.
“With the power of streaming, we’re able to offer thousands of Neighbours episodes for new audiences to discover this legendary series – and current fans to relive their favourite moments.”
The characters discuss what streaming platform the soap opera will be appearing on, despite it being unclear how they are aware their lives are being broadcast on television. They also specify that the show will air in “the second half of next year”. “Let me check my diary … ” grumbles Robinson. “All right, I’ll make myself available. Happy?”
Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce returned for what was thought to be the last episode last July in which all the houses on Ramsay Street were up for sale.
But Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) and Ryan Moloney (Toadfish Rebecchi) will be among the cast members returning to the Melbourne street for the new series.
However, actor Takaya Honda, who played David Tanaka, told his social media followers that many former members of the cast had not to have been told about the relaunch.
He posted a picture of Fletcher, Woodburne and Moloney on Instagram, writing: “Apart from these three and Steffan [sic] the rest of the cast are finding out with you. Please give us time to process. We don’t know anything more.”
Reacting to the news, the team behind the tour tweeted: First things first, we are thrilled that Neighbours is coming back.
“As for The Farewell Tour, it will absolutely be going ahead as planned – we just need a new name.”
Neighbours was created by Australian TV executive Reg Watson. Watson got the idea for Neighbours from his time working on Crossroads and watching fellow soap Coronation Street in Britain. He had already created successful Australian made soap operas The Young Doctors, Prisoner and Sons and Daughters.
The first season of Neighbours began airing on 18 March 1985. The first episode introduced the members of the Ramsay and Robinson families as well as bachelor Des Clarke, and his soon-to-be wife and former stripper Daphne Lawrence. Max Ramsay, his wife Maria and their sons, Shane and Danny lived at Number 24.
Neighbours originally underperformed in the Sydney market and was cancelled by channel Seven, four months after it began airing. It was subsequently commissioned by rival Network Ten for a second production season, which began screening on 20 January 1986.
The popular soap opera went on to become the longest-running drama series in Australian television history. In 2005, it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.