Neighbours to return after securing deal with Amazon Freevee and Prime Video

Neighbours stars have revealed their very candid reactions to news the long-running soap was getting a stunning lifeline.

Neighbours legend Jackie Woodburne says it felt like the popular soap was “being robbed” when it was cancelled earlier this year.

“It was heartbreaking, to be honest,” Woodburne, who played Susan Kennedy, said.

“I was really sad and sorry it was ending. We all felt we had so much more energy left, so many more stories ready to tell. We weren’t ready to hang up our hats, not by a long shot. I felt like we were being robbed.”

But, in the finest soap tradition of cliffhangers and plot twists, Neighbours has been brought back from the dead after the show’s producers Fremantle secured a deal with Network 10, Amazon Freevee and Prime Video as their international partner to reboot the show.

Jackie Woodburne and Alan Fletcher in the not so last episode of Neighbours.

It also comes five months after a Neighbours finale, starring alumni Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce, aired in July, ending the show’s 37 year run.

“I sat with it. I didn’t try to push through or distract myself,” Woodburne said. “I was feeling grief.”

Did she try to push on and apply for other acting roles?

“No, it was too raw. I’d done this job for 28 years, You don’t end a 28 year relationship, then get back on the dating circuit. You give yourself time.”

She is stunned by Ramsay Street’s return, and thrilled for those connected to the show.

“On the day we finished, the grief and sadness was around those 200 jobs that were lost, it was for those people who looked forward to that half-hour of entertainment every day,” Woodburne said. “It’s a tough world, and for many people that half-hour meant something, it meant an escape, a simple pleasure, and it was taken away from them.”

Neighbours will start shooting in April.

Ryan Moloney said he was stunned by news of the show’s return. Picture: Amazon

“I hope we continue to do what we’ve done so well, which is to try and tell relevant stories,” Woodburne said. “We’ll look through a lens of what’s current in the world and try to tell those stories.”

Meanwhile, Neighbours favourite Ryan Moloney said he told executive producer Jason Herbison to “f- off” after he relayed the gobsmacking news that the soap was being revived.

“I found out last Friday, Jason came out to the house and he said Neighbours is back up and do you want to come back? I initially told him to f-off and then I was like oh my god, this is just absolutely amazing,’’ Moloney said.

“I was quite happy going along in civil construction and being a dad, mentally it’s quite a turnaround to be putting something to bed that you’ve been doing for most of your life,’’ Moloney explained.

“There’s so many possibilities and let’s be honest, the bringing back of this show is an absolutely phenomenal thing, you’d be crazy not to want to be part of it.”

Donovan, who returned for the finale to film scenes with Minogue, after both got their big breaks as Scott and Charlene, said he was thrilled by the shock news.

“Neighbours has helped shine a light on Australian culture, provided endless opportunities for our industry and kept fans entertained for decades! Thrilled to hear that @neighbours will return to our screens 2023 @AmazonFreevee.”

Returning alongside Moloney so far are Alan Fletcher, Stefan Dennis and Woodburne.

Fletcher said it was a joyous moment.

“Well it’s the biggest news you can imagine,’’ he told his wife Jennifer Hansen on smoothfm.

“This is a show that was axed by Channel 7 back in 1985, picked up by Channel 10 and then axed this year because they ran out of money.

“This is incredible, this is a show that has done 37 years on Australian TV, longest serving Australian drama, everyone thought it was gone. But no, it’s been saved.”

Neighbours to make bombshell return

Neighbours is returning to the small screen in 2023.

Five months after Network 10 farewelled the show, the residents of Ramsay Street will regroup after the show’s Fremantle secured Amazon Freevee and Prime Video as their international partner.

Neighbours favourites including Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher, Stefan Dennis and Ryan Moloney have signed on with the rebooted show.

Network Ten will retain first run broadcast rights in Australia.

US and British audiences can view the series on Amazon Freevee.

Moloney, Woodburne and Fletcher have signed on with the rebooted show. Picture: Supplied

Woodburne, who played Susan Kennedy, said she was “speechless” about the show’s return.

“It’s just the best news, I was stunned,” she told 10 Play.

“It didn’t sink into my brain because it was the last thing I was expecting, I truly was in shock.”

Moloney added: “This is going to be the relaunch of an absolute Australian icon.”

Beverley McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content officer, Paramount Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Neighbours back home to Network 10, and while we loved the finale earlier this year and appreciated the incredible support from the cast, crew and fans, we continued to hold a small glimmer of hope that one day it would be possible to resume the series.

“We are grateful for the tenacity and determination displayed by Fremantle in securing a new production partner so our association could continue.

Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue in the most memorable Aussie TV wedding.

“A much-loved stalwart of our program schedule for over 35 years, we can’t wait to bring back the perfect blend of soap and sunshine to Australian audiences which will also add a fantastic boost to the Victorian and wider production community.”

Fremantle Australia chief executive Greg Wood said: “The love for Neighbours is undeniable and we have been determined to explore every possible avenue to bring it back for loyal fans across the world. We are beyond thrilled to have secured this landmark deal with Amazon Freevee, along with Network 10 in Australia, long-term and passionate supporters of the show.

“We will be going back into the writing room immediately and production for this wonderful series will begin next year.”

Neighbours ran for 37 years and nearly 9000 episodes.

The final episode of Neighbours aired in July on 10, with Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Jason Donovan all returning to the show for its last hurrah.