Fans of beloved soap Neighbours are refusing to take its potential axing lying down, with a petition to save the show receiving more than 50,000 signatures.
After news broke that the long-running soap would be pulled off air in the UK, Neighbours viewers have taken to Change.org to save Ramsay Street as filming halts in Australia.
The panic comes after Neighbours‘ biggest investor, UK broadcaster Channel 5, revealed they would not be renewing their contract and continuing to support the show.
As of Tuesday morning, the Change.org petition had amassed 54,000 signatures.
(Image: Ten)As of Tuesday morning, the Change.org petition had amassed 54,000 signatures by fans calling on Channel 5 to “find a way to keep Neighbours on air.”
“Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace [Channel 5],” executive producer Jason Herbison said last week.
“These discussions are ongoing, however, there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show.
“We are so proud of the show, you all and everything that you’ve achieved. But for now, this chapter is closing and we want to work together to give Neighbours the amazing send-off it deserves.”
Former cast member Rob Mills called on the Australian Government to step in.
(Image: Ten)Natalie Imbruglia is one of many former cast members to throw her support behind the campaign to save Neighbours.
“Oh I think it’s really sad!” she said of the situation. “I mean, who wants life without Neighbours? Let’s face it,” she said.
Rob Mills, who played teacher Finn Kelly from 2017 to 2021, suggested the show could be saved with an injection of support from the Australian government.
“We’re looking at thousands of jobs in the arts that have been created through something like Neighbours. I think the government could possibly step in. Screen Victoria could also possibly step in,” he told A Current Affair.
Meanwhile Jackie Woodburne, who has played Susan Kennedy on the soap for 27 years, also hopes the show can continue.
“It’s been a rollercoaster absolutely … the last 24 hours or 36 hours as you can imagine,” she told the panel during an appearance on The Project.
“It’s kind of a lot of information to try and process, but I still feel a bit in shock, a bit overwhelmed,” she admitted.
Production for the soap is currently set to end in June, with a spokesman for Channel 5 confirming that “Neighbours will no longer air on Channel 5 beyond this summer.”
“It’s been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we’d like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series.”
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