Neighbours has filmed its final ever episode after 37 years on TV.
The Australian soap opera, which has a bigger audience in the UK than Down Under, will disappear from screens this summer. Actor Stefen Dennis, who plays long-running character Paul Robinson, opened up about how emotional he felt after filming his final scene in the soap set in Ramsay Street, in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough.
Speaking on the Australian breakfast programme Studio 10, Dennis said he had had to keep a “very low profile” in order to avoid becoming “an absolute mess”.
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He said: “It’s a melancholy day for me. I sort of closed the studio door behind me on my very last scene, my very last dialogue scene and… I suddenly surprised myself by getting incredibly emotional.
“I just kept to myself and went to my dressing room… so I’m keeping a very low profile today. I think I’ll just be an absolute mess if I sort of hang around too long.”
Neighbours first aired in 1985, originally on the BBC before moving to Channel 5 in 2008. It helped launch the careers of huge stars, including Holywood A-listers Margot Robbie and Russell Crowe. Popstar Kylie Minogue first found fame on the show too, with Jason Donovan, both of whom returned to Ramsay Street to film scenes for the finale.
When is the last episode of Neighbours on TV?
The final episode of Neighbours will be broadcast on Monday August 1. It will be shown on Channel 5.
Which stars are returning for the final episode of Neighbours?
Beloved characters from throughout Neighbour's 37-year run will return for the final episode.
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, who starred as power couple Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson in the 80s, were previously announced as returning to the show.
Joining them will be Peter O’Brien who appeared in the show’s first episode as Shane Ramsay, as well as Ian Smith who played Harold Bishop, Mark Little who played Joe Mangel and Paul Keane who played Des Clarke.
Among those returning from the 00s era are Chris Milligan who played Kyle Canning, Morgan Baker as Callum Rebecchi, Natalie Bassingthwaighte who played Izzy Hoyland and James Mason as Chris Pappas.
Pippa Black who played Elle Robinson and her on-screen brother Jordan Patrick Smith who played Andrew Robinson will also return.
Olympia Valance who starred as Paige Smith in the latest era of the show will also return, alongside Jodi Anasta as Elly Conway, Zoe Cramond who played Amy Williams and Kate Kendall as Lauren Turner.
Ben Hall as Ned Willis, Olivia Junkeer who played Yashvi Rebecchi and Zima Anderson as Roxy Willis were also announced as returning.
Why is Neighbours ending?
Channel 5 pulled funding for Neighbours. As the UK is Neighbour's biggest audience, the decision means the show is not financially feasible anymore for production company Freemantle. There was hope a new channel could be secured, but that has not happened. As it stands, Neighbours will bow out forever.
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