Channel 10 bosses optimistic of Neighbours TV return in future

After the credits rolled on Neighbours Channel 10 bosses have said they’re “optimistic” it won’t be the last time it’s on our screens.

Network Ten bosses have an “optimistic hope” that Neighbours will return to television “in some way” in future.

As the credits rolled on the last-ever episode on Thursday night, ending a 37-year run for the popular Australian soap, Ten executive Beverley McGarvey said the network hasn’t given up on the possibility Neighbours might make a comeback, in some form, down the track.

Whether that means one-off episodes focused on specific characters, or reunion specials, is uncertain.

The final episode might not be the last time we see the Neighbours cast.

McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content Officer, Paramount Australia and New Zealand, told the Herald Sun the Neighbours finale was “spectacular” and left the door open for its return.

“I also wouldn’t rule out that some day Fremantle will be able to create an environment where they can bring it back in some way. It’s happened to shows before,” she said.

“I still cling to the slim, optimistic hope that would be possible because there’s great appetite for content everywhere.”

Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison has described the show as being “rested.”

He told TV Tonight: “Neighbours remains a beloved brand and the response from the viewers has only affirmed that. We’re open to all possibilities for the future, which is why we are considering the show rested. But for the immediate future … the cast will be free to move on to other projects.”

Channel 10 boss Beverley McGarvey said she has “optimistic hope” of a Neighbours return.

Ryan Moloney, who played popular character Toadie Rebecchi on the show, said he’d be open to reunion specials in the future.

“That’d be pretty cool,” he said. “I mean, it is a show that has something like 22 main characters, so it would be an absolute feat to get everyone back.”

Asked what Ten’s research said about soaps in 2022, Ms McGarvey said: “They’re not as popular as they were back in the day, but they’re still an audience for them. They do really well in catch up. There’s a significant core audience.”

Ms McGarvey said Ten is “devastated” to lose Neighbours, but added: “In order to make a show like this — and it’s the same as the others; Home And Away has a UK partner in order to service the level of investment — you need a UK partner.

“For many years, the UK partner has really driven significant investment in all the Australian soaps. There is no way we can make up the gap (of Channel 5 dropping out),” she said. “It’s just not possible.”

Daniel Monaghan, Paramount ANZ’s senior vice president of content and programming, said he was thrilled Neighbours royalty, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, returned to Erinsborough to honour the show’s final bow.

“It’s nice when people who have graduated from the show … recognise it’s the show that changed their lives,” Mr Monaghan said. “It’s really admirable that they would come back. We would have welcomed them back three years ago for a mid-season whatever.”