Great news, Neighbours fans – Channel 5 has announced a new multi-year deal with FremantleMedia to secure the future of the soap in Britain.
What’s more, as well as staying on Channel 5, the soap will run for 52 weeks of the year from 2018. This means for the first time ever, Neighbours will air over the festive period from 2018.
There will also be a number of annual special episodes airing in prime time and the first of these is earmarked for early next year.
The show’s executive producer, Jason Herbision, said: “I’m excited to keep delivering our worldwide viewers with their daily fix of Ramsay Street. We are proud that our show, set in the Aussie suburbs, has touched the lives of viewers the world over.”
He added: “Just as our characters span generations, so do the people that watch Neighbours – we value our global audiences and are delighted to stay on this journey together. Come the end of 2018 we will also make history by becoming the first Australian drama series to screen all year round. The best is yet to come.”
The iconic Australian soap first transmitted in the UK on October 27, 1986 and has aired on Channel 5 since 2008 with more than 7,500 episodes produced to date. Neighbours is watched by millions daily, across many international territories, making it the longest running Australian drama and one of the most successful television exports in history. The much-loved soap has launched the careers of some of the biggest names in show business including; Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Jason Donovan, Holly Valance and many more.