Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce have mourned the news Neighbours has been axed after 37 years.
The long-running Australian soap opera helped to launch the careers of Kylie and Guy, as well as Margot Robbie, Jason Donovan and Liam Hemsworth, but the future of Neighbours was finally confirmed in a sad statement from the show’s producers on Thursday.
Last month, the soap was put at risk when Channel 5 announced it would be dropping Neighbours from schedules, and wouldn’t be renewing their contract to fund production of the show.
And on Thursday, Fremantle Media confirmed Neighbours would be coming to an end this summer, as they failed to find “alternative funding” to continue.
Pop queen Kylie – who played Charlene Mitchell in the Oz soap – shared a message on Twitter replying to the statement the Neighbours account posted this morning.
“We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,” the tweet read.
“Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show.
“To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours. #CelebratingNeighbours,” they added.
Kylie, who played Charlene from 1986 to 1988 - and shot to worldwide superstardom since leaving the show - replied immediately to the post on Twitter, and paid tribute to the soap that made her a star.
“I’ll be forever grateful for the experience & the friends I made on @neighbours‘We had no idea how big the show would become and how passionately viewers would take it to heart. Pure love! I can still hear Madge calling … CHARLENE!!!!” the 53-year-old wrote.
Guy Pearce, who played Mike Young on the soap from 1986 to 1989, also replied to Fremantle’s post, as he thanked the show for helping him launch a successful Hollywood career.
“I'm so sorry to hear Neighbours will end. Aside from being the incredible launch pad it's been no one can deny the effect it's had throughout millions of homes around the world,” he wrote.
“It's bonded all of us in immeasurable ways. A true honour to have been a part of it. Great memories Xx,” Guy added.
Guy, 54, left the soap after three years and went on to star in movies including L.A. COnfidential, Memento, The Hurt Locker, Prometheus, Iron Man 3, and Mary Queen of Scots.
Last month, Jason Donovan - who played Scott Robinson on the Aussie soap - threw his support behind the campaign to save Neighbours on Twitter, as he celebrated his and Kylie’s song Especially For You re-entering the charts.
