Last week, Neighbours celebrated its 37th birthday in style, with a film that included several of the show’s cast members.
Takaya Honda, Charlotte Chimes, and Richie Morris – who play David Tanaka, Nicolette Stone, and Levi Canning, respectively – were included in the short clip, which was uploaded on the Australian soap’s social media pages.
Melanie Pearson’s Lucina Cowen and Kiri Hua Durant’s Gemma Bird Matheson were among those who wished the classic drama a Happy Birthday.
Ian Smith, who played Harold Bishop in the special video, was the last person to appear in it.
Yes, it’s true.
Ian said, ‘Happy birthday, Neighbours.’ ‘Happy 37th birthday!’
You’re sobbing, not laughing!
Ian, who portrayed Harold on the show for several seasons, is expected to return for the final episodes.
Neighbours will end after 37 years on the air, it was announced earlier this month.
‘After this summer, Neighbours will no longer air on Channel 5,’ a spokeswoman confirmed to Metro.co.uk in a statement.
‘For more than a decade, it’s been a much-loved part of our schedule, and we’d want to thank the cast, Fremantle, and the entire production crew for their wonderful work on this iconic series.’
‘Of course, we’d like to thank the fans for their unwavering support of Neighbours over the years.’
‘We understand that this decision will cause sadness, but our present focus is on boosting our investment in original UK drama, which has a great appeal for our viewers.’
Channel 5 executives reportedly met with Fremantle Australia executives for weeks in an attempt to keep Neighbours on the air, but no agreement was reached.
The last episodes of the show are set to premiere in August.
Neighbours airs on Channel 5 weekdays at 1:45 p.m. and 6 p.m.
