According to a former network official, Karl and Susan Kennedy were saved from the chopping block during the show’s redesign.
Dan Bennett, who previously worked in the capacity for Network 10 in Australia, recently took to Twitter to reveal some behind-the-scenes information as the long-running serial nears its conclusion.
In a fascinating thread, Bennett wrote that one of his first jobs was to crush the idea of the Kennedys leaving the show when Neighbours was going through a revamp in 2007.
He wrote on Twitter: “The most difficult challenge I had was persuading the producers to maintain Karl and Susan. The day I came on the job there was a document regarding suggested modifications to Neighbours and the one I had to crush immediately was the Karl & Susan one. That is to say…”
The popular couple initially emerged on our televisions in 1994 and have since remained a consistent presence on Ramsay Street.
Susan actress Jackie Woodburne recently acknowledged that the decision to end the serial has left her “shocked” and “overwhelmed,” characterising her coworkers as “more than a family.”
“These are people that choose to be there, and we work so quickly and care so deeply about the show, and we appreciate the show and the audience,” she explained.
“And we’re having a great time. I mean, I’ve certainly laughed more in the last 27 years than I probably should have, and I’ve gotten compensated for it.”
Channel 5 discontinued its 14-year relationship with the show due to financial constraints. Fans had been signing and sharing a petition, but it was announced last week (March 3) that it would be ending.
On Instagram, Alan Fletcher, who plays Dr. Karl Kennedy, wrote: “This is a very sad day. I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the millions of fans who have supported our iconic drama for the past 37 years.”
