Neighbours’ untimely end is almost upon us, with the last ever episode set to air tonight.
We’re not ready.
The long-running serial, which commenced in 1985, is set to end after 37 years on air, after Channel 5 controversially axed it in favour of ‘original UK drama’, which the broadcaster claims has a ‘strong appeal’ for audiences.
We’re still not over it, to be honest.
The finale, which will see several cast members from says gone by return to Ramsay Street one last time, will air Friday (July 29), as the tales of the residents of Erinsborough come to an unmissable end.
Cast members, both past and present, have fondly reminisced about their time on the show ahead of the hour-long outing, as they pay tribute to what the show did for them, all the while teasing what’s in store for the big finale.
Here’s what they had to say.
Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy)
‘I’m very sad, of course, that the journey is over, but I’m also full of gratitude that I got to go on this journey,’ the Karl Kennedy actor told Metro.co.uk.
‘Neighbours has given me so much and brought so much joy to a lot of people over the years, and that’s a very rewarding aspect of my career. I’m a very lucky person that I got to do it.’
We’re not crying, we swear.
Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy)
Jackie, who has played Susan Kennedy since 1994, revealed that she was ‘shocked, very sad, disappointed,’ to learn of Neighbours’ untimely end.
‘I think it took quite a long time for everybody to get their head around the fact of it,’ she said. ‘It was always something that could happen one day. Maybe it will be this year, maybe it will be next year.
‘But for it to actually happen, I don’t know that you can ever kind of be completely prepared for that. It was just a shock initially.’
The soap legend described her job as one ‘not like any other’, adding that it was ‘incredibly humbling’ to see the outpouring of support from fans in the wake of the show’s cancellation.
Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson)
Stefan Dennis told us that he was ‘lost’ on the question of how he was feeling in regards to Neighbours wrapping up, hinting that it would take quite some time for the news of its ending to properly sink in.
‘I think when the penny drops, that’s going to be a different story,’ said the Paul Robinson star. ‘I don’t think anybody wants to be around for a good few hours then!’
Discussing the finale, Stefan said that fans will see some familiar faces from the past, admitting that having actors who used to be on the show back for the big finale was a ‘cathartic’ experience.
‘It’s quite cathartic for us,’ he said. ‘We’re getting to sign off by signing off with people we started with and that’s pretty nice. There have been instances where I haven’t seen people for many years. I was working with one particular person who I haven’t seen for a very long time.’
We can’t wait to see it all come together!
Ian Smith (Harold Bishop)
Harold Bishop actor Ian Smith revealed that ‘sad’ is the word to describe his thoughts on Neighbours coming to an end after all these years.
‘I knew it had to happen one day.,’ he added. ‘Of course, I did, but gosh, so much of my working life was involved with the show, and so much happened in that time and now it’s over. All us oldies, the ones who were together in the show, we’ve all been together.
‘We’ve all declared our sadness about the whole thing. Even though the show is coming to an end, we feel that it should be kept going in some way as a school for young actors. So many stars have come through the ranks of that show. They’ve been around the block a few times by now and they’re some of the biggest names in the business.’
Ian added that he felt very ‘lucky’ to have worked on the show over the years, and said that there are many ways Neighbours could’ve ended, and that he hoped the producers give it ‘what it deserves’.
Ryan Moloney (Toadie)
Toadie legend Ryan Moloney also described the news of Neighbours’ demise as ‘sad’, but made it quite clear that he felt ‘gratitude’ for having had the experience at all.
He also teased the finale, confirming that there is a ‘huge event’.
‘There has to be because we’re going to try to show everybody at it,’ he exclaimed. ‘So yeah, there’ll be one, big, huge event. I’ve always said that I’d really like Toadie to kind of jump on a bomb and save Ramsay Street. So, who knows? That could happen!’
Guy Pearce (Mike Young)
Hollywood star Guy Pearce is set to reprise his role of Mike Young for Neighbours’ big finale, and he said that the experience of being back on set after 33 years was ‘sort of everything’.
‘It’s really lovely to be working again with the likes of Paul Keane, Annie Jones, Stefan of course, Geoff Paine, Peter O’Brien – it’s just remarkable,’ said the Iron Man 3 star.
‘I’m an incredibly nostalgic person anyway so I’ve always wanted step back onto the show at some stage and of course with the sad news that the show is finishing, it seemed like the appropriate time. Thankfully I was planning a trip back home anyway, so it just worked.’
Sounds like fate.
Annie Jones (Jane Harris)
Annie was ‘devastated’ by the cancellation of Neighbours, admitting that the whole thing was ‘hard to fathom’.
‘It was something that was always around,’ she said. ‘We all had a bit of an inkling that it was a possibility, but even so it was a very sad thing for everyone.’
Annie hinted that Jane would reunite with some old friends during the show’s big finale.
‘I believe there are quite a few juicy things in store for Jane,’ she told us. ‘There may be another family member of Jane’s appearing and probably some old friends as well.’
Consider us intrigued.
Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Izzy Hoyland)
Natalie reprised her role as Erinsborough’s resident schemer Izzy a number of weeks ago, and has featured heavily during the show’s final month.
The actress described her return as ‘surreal’, admitting that she ‘loves this character so much’.
‘Neighbours is so iconic,’ she exclaimed. ‘I grew up watching the show and when I landed the role of Izzy, I was overwhelmed but straight away, started learning and honed my craft.
‘The pace of show is incredible, and you learn fast, and become disciplined. Just to work with Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher, Ian Smith, Stefan Dennis and really be shown by legends how to be a better actor and performer.
‘To have the work ethic that I’ve taken away from the experience, it’s pretty special.’
Neighbours: The Finale airs Friday July 29 at 9pm on Channel 5.
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