Amazon’s ad-supported streaming service Freevee has rescued Aussie soap Neighbours just months after it apparently came to an end.
The show’s apparent demise was the result of UK broadcaster Channel 5 dropping out as a production partner.
In what was intended to be the final episode, viewers saw former stars Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie return for a bittersweet goodbye to the series which helped launch their careers.
News of the show’s ending saw fans launch a host of petitions and campaigns to find a new home for it. Now, in an early Christmas present, Amazon Freevee and series producers Fremantle have announced that filming will commence on new episodes next year.
Series stars Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney, and Jackie Woodburne are all confirmed to be returning while Jason Herbison, Neighbours’ executive producer since 2013, will maintain his position on the revival, with Andrew Thompson returning as producer.
The new episodes will premiere exclusively on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US, with the service also gaining streaming rights to thousands of episodes from the previous seasons.
The series will also stream on Prime Video in New Zealand and Canada while in Australia it will be available on Prime Video following a broadcast debut on Network 10.
“Neighbours has captivated its audience for nearly 40 years, building a dedicated and loyal following for the lives and stories of the characters on Ramsay Street,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD original content and programming, Amazon Studios.
“With the power of streaming, we’re able to offer a catalogue of thousands of Neighbours episodes for new audiences to discover this legendary series and current fans to relive their favorite moments. We look forward to immersing the audience in new Ramsay Street experiences when we relaunch the show next year for Amazon Freevee and Prime Video customers.”