Natalie Imbruglia has shared her sadness at the fact Neighbours has been cancelled after 37 years on the air – as the show launched her own career way back in 1992.
The 47-year-old Australian actress and singer played Beth Brennan on the iconic soap for over two years, featuring in 252 episodes between 1992 and 1994.
She went on to star in other shows including Law of the Land and films including Johnny English and Underdogs – while finding further success as a singer and relating hits including Torn and Wishing I Was There.
Last week, the soap world was left reeling with the news that iconic tea-time drama Neighbours is to come to an end after 37 years after Channel 5 pulled out of funding the series and the show failed to find a new network to pick it up.
And it seems Natalie herself is distraught over the update – as she told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s just so sad – I loved that show.”
Last month, as rumours swirled that the axe was about to fall on the iconic soap, Natalie opened up over whether or not she would return to Ramsay Street as some kind of special tribute.
She told the Mirror: “I’d consider it, yeah.
"I would consider going back, I think it would be lovely to walk through those doors. I mean, I probably won't recognise anyone – not even my [on screen] son.”
Natalie’s character, Beth, had a romance with Brad Willis, played by Scott Michaelson, and they shared a son named Ned, played by Ben Hall.
And speaking of her on-screen son to Heart FM last month, Natalie said she had hopes that another network would help fund the show to keep it on the air after the UK’s Channel 5 pulled out.
She said: “I think at this point we just thought it was gonna go on forever so, you know, people are petitioning. Here's hoping they pull it off.
"There's a character on the show who's my son! I mean, I think it'd be devastating. What's going to happen to my son?"
Sadly, however, the petitions have fallen on deaf ears and last Thursday it was confirmed that the show will end forever later this year.
Fremantle confirmed that the show was coming to an end, writing in a statement: “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.”
Neighbours first began airing in March 1985 and helped to launch the careers of a string of high profile stars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce.
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