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On Friday, July 11, production on the current iteration of “Neighbours” wrapped in Sydney, Australia. The final episode of the Prime Video reboot of the long-running soap opera series will air in December.

“Today marks the final day of production on our beloved ‘Neighbours,’” read a message on the show’s official Instagram page, which included behind-the-scenes photos of the cast and crew as the final “cut” was called. “It’s with a heavy heart that our incredible cast and crew wrap for the final time. As sad as this day may be, we can’t wait for you to see the amazing storylines that are about to unfold over the coming six months. Together we have been, and always will be, the perfect blend.”

Chrishell Stause

Reuben Moore

“Selling Sunset” and “All My Children” star Chrishell Stause, who appeared on the Australian drama series as Yasmine “Yas” Shields, a glamorous...

Production on the final episode of Amazon’s revival of the long-running Aussie soap Neighbours has wrapped, and the show’s final episode on the streamer will debut in December.

But the show’s Executive Producer, Jason Herbison, has teased the possibility of a second revival for the soap.

“Once again, we will be resting the residents of Ramsay Street on a hopeful note, with some tantalising possibilities for a future chapter,” Herbison said in a statement announcing the end of production.

“Neighbours is a special show and it’s been a privilege to make the recent seasons for our loyal viewers around the world. We have added 460 episodes to our legacy of over 9000 episodes, something we all feel proud of.”

Amazon axed Neighbours in February. The show had originally been canceled in 2022 when UK network Channel 5 decided to stop funding episodes, amid declining ratings. Former Neighbours stars such as Margot Robbie,...

Production on the iconic Australian soap opera “Neighbours” has officially wrapped for Prime Video, with the cast filming their final scenes at Nunawading studios on Friday. The series, which has entertained audiences for over 40 years, will air its last episodes in December, bringing Amazon’s two-year revival to a close.

The beloved series, which launched the careers of global superstars Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie, has been chronicling the lives and dramas of Melbourne’s fictional Erinsborough residents since its inception. Amazon’s rescue effort added 460 episodes to the show’s legacy of over 9,000 episodes.

“‘Neighbours’ is a special show and it’s been a privilege to make the recent seasons for our loyal viewers around the world,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “We have added 460 episodes to our legacy of over 9,000 episodes, something we all feel proud of. Once again, we will be resting the residents of...

Sad news for fans of the Australian soap opera, Neighbours. As per reports, Amazon has canceled the long-running show. The series first ended in 2022, after 37 seasons; however, a year later, Amazon resurrected the soap.

Neighbours once starred Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, and Guy Pearce. During the new installment, Pearce, and O.C. alum Mischa Baron made guest appearances.

In addition, the show snagged a Daytime Emmy nod in the category of Outstanding Daytime Drama in 2024 – Pearce also received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer.

The Show Pulled Out All The Stops

The show not only had Baron and Pearce as guest stars, but also Chrishell Stause in 2024, playing the character of Yaz Shields.

A soap veteran in her own right, Stause has had past runs on All My Children (AMC) as Amanda Dillon, Days of Our Lives (Dool) as Jordan Ridgeway, Young and the Restless (Y&r) as Bethany Bryant, as...

Unfortunately, the Australian soap opera Neighbours is experiencing a dose of deja vu.

Goodbye, Ramsay Street Residents

According to Variety and other outlets, Amazon has canceled Neighbours, the long-running Australian soap that first ended in 2022 after 37 seasons. In 2023, Amazon’s FreeVee platform suddenly resurrected the series that once starred Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe, and Liam Hemsworth.

Neighbours immediately made a splash with Pearce and The O.C. alum Mischa Baron making appearances. In fact, in 2024, it received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Drama. It also received an Outstanding Guest Performer nod for Pearce, who briefly carried his Mike Young role over to the new production.

In late 2024, the show tried another guest starring stunt when producers cast Selling Sunset and American soap vet Chrishell Stause. She played the slightly unstable Yaz Shields. Her lighting director targeted one of the show’s fan favorites, Holly Hoyland,...

The Neighbours have been sent packing, again.

The Australian soap opera has been cancelled at Amazon, nearly three years after it was “saved” by the streamer’s Freevee hub, TVLine has learned.

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“We are sad to announce that...

Amazon has pulled the plug on its revival series of Australian soap Neighbours after two seasons, leaving many questioning whether this was the most pointless series rescue ever. Having been on screens for almost 40 years, the long-running soap was originally axed in 2022, and saw out the final episode with a huge number of cameo appearances by many of the familiar faces who have been given their big break on the show over the years. Soon after that, Amazon Freevee agreed to pick up the series and bring it back to screens less than a year after its cancelation, making the huge celebratory series ending redundant. Now, it looks like fans have been disappointed once again.

The high-profile finale in 2022 included appearances by pop star Kylie Minogue and actors Guy Pearce and Margot Robbie, among others, and the viewership of that episode rocketed to a height the show had not seen for many years.

Australian soap Neighbours has been canceled — again.

Nearly three years after the the daily drama was first axed, Amazon has confirmed it is being “rested” again from December this year.

News of the cancellation first emerged yesterday, and the Neighbours X account today confirmed the news. New episodes from the 40th anniversary season will continue on Prime Video four times a week until the end of the year.

Existing eps will remain on the service and it will continue to play on Network 10 in Australia until its end. Producer Fremantle Australia has advised Network 10 that production will end in July.

The show had originally been canceled in 2022 when UK network Channel 5 decided to stop funding episodes, amid declining ratings. Former Neighbours stars such as Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce returned for an emotional finale.

Amazon’s Freevee then rescued the show, striking a deal with program maker Fremantle.

The long-running Australian soap opera “Neighbours” is set to end its run once again, with the final episode scheduled to air in December. The announcement comes barely two years after Amazon rescued the series from cancellation, marking a bittersweet end to the show’s 40-year legacy.

The beloved series, which launched the careers of global superstars Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie, has been chronicling the lives and dramas of Melbourne’s fictional Erinsborough residents since its inception.

Executive producer Jason Herbison acknowledged the show’s recent successes under Amazon’s stewardship, including consistent Top 10 rankings in the U.K. and a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series. “Audiences all around the world have loved and embraced ‘Neighbours’ for four decades,” Herbison said.

Despite the cancellation, Herbison remained optimistic about future possibilities for the residents of Ramsay Street. “We believe there are more stories of the residents of...

Neighbours is coming to an end once again.

It was just revealed that the long-running Australian soap opera will not continue past 2025, after three years on Prime Video.

Back in late 2022, Amazon Freevee (which has since folded into Prime Video) saved the show from cancelation after UK broadcasting company Channel 5 backed out of a partnership, causing it to have funding issues.

The Neighbours‘ official social media shared the news the show was ending with a lengthy statement.

Keep reading to find out more…

“We are sad to announce that Neighbours will be resting from December 2025. New episodes from the 40th anniversary season will continue to air on Prime Video and Ten four times a week until the end of the year, with all the big soapie twists and turns that our viewers love,” the statement reads.

They also shared a statement from executive producer Jason Herbison.

“Audiences all around...

After a two-year run on Amazon Freevee/Prime Video in the U.S. and the UK, among other territories, “Neighbours” will conclude its run in December, it was announced on Thursday.

According to a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), the show is “resting” with all remaining new episodes from the show’s current 40th anniversary season continuing to air on Prime Video around the world and Australia’s Network Ten four times a week until the end of the year.

The show promises it will continue providing all the “big soapie twists and turns that our viewers love” at its conclusion.

“Audiences all around the world have loved and embraced ‘Neighbours’ for four decades and we are very proud of the huge success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show’s first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination for...

Ian Smith is revealing a terminal cancer diagnosis.

The 85-year-old Australian soap legend, best known for playing Neighbours’ Harold Bishop on and off for five decades since 1987, has revealed he has a rare form of lung cancer.

In an interview with Australia’s 10 News First, the actor shared he has now filmed his final scenes for the soap due to the diagnosis.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I found out a few months back that I have cancer. I have a very aggressive, non-fixable cancer. They expect me to die,” he said after being diagnosed with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.

“It isn’t just my last day in Neighbours, it’s my last day of work,” he added in an interview filmed on his final day on the set.

In the footage, the actor told his castmates and crew that he had lived the “most privileged life” and “met the...

The 51st Daytime Emmys were held live on Friday, June 7 at the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles. Gold Derby associate editor Latasha Ford was on the red carpet to chat with winners, nominees and presenters. In addition to competitive awards, Lifetime Achievement honors went to actress Melody Thomas Scott, her producer husband Edward J. Scott and renowned culinary TV host Lidia Bastianich.

Watch each red carpet interview below:

Tabyana Ali (“General Hospital”)

Zooey Deschanel (“What am I Eating? with Zooey Deschanel”) and Jonathan Scott

Robert Gossett (“General Hospital”)

Tamron Hall (“Tamron Hall Show”)

Jennifer Hudson (“The Jennifer Hudson Show”)

Star Jones (“Divorce Court”)

Thorsten Kaye (“The Bold and the Beautiful”)

Wally Kurth (“Days of Our Lives”)

Katherine Kelly Lang (“The Bold and the Beautiful”)

Kate Linder (“The Young and the Restless”)

Beth Maitland and Tracey E. Bregman (“The Young and the Restless”)

Gregori J. Martin (“The Bay”)

John McCook (“The Bold and the Beautiful...

In June 2022, Jason Herbison was on set shooting what was to be the 8,903rd — and final — episode of “Neighbours,” an experience he admits was “very, very emotional.” The cult Australian soap opera — a show he first starting writing for after leaving high school in 1990 and came to oversee as its top exec producer — was coming to a tearful end.

Two years on, almost to the day, and Herbison is now on a short trip to L.A. to see if “Neighbours” — which recently announced that “Selling Sunset” favorite Chrishell Stause is joining the cast — wins a daytime Emmy on Friday from its first-ever nomination.

While the producer describes the remarkable turn of events as “really unexpected and amazing,” the story of how “Neighbours” was effectively brought back from the dead parodies the sort of wild plotline generally only conceived in a daytime drama writers’ room. Usually, it’s soap characters...

Chrishell Stause is growing her soap opera roots again with a new role in Neighbours. Amazon Prime Video announced on Wednesday that the Daytime Emmy-nominated actress and reality star will join the series as a guest role. Stause’s role in the series is as Yasmine “Yas” Shields, a businesswoman who is glamorous, successful, and in pursuit of an exciting new opportunity. Production will begin for Strause in Australia this July. In a statement, Stause said of the news, “I am honored and excited to join such a beloved and iconic show! Coming from the world of soaps in the U.S., it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry. They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street here I come!” Meanwhile, executive producer Jason Herbison revealed, “We created a character...

“Selling Sunset” star Chrishell Stause is returning to her soap opera roots.

The real estate agent and actor, who got her start on “All My Children” and “Days of Our Lives,” is joining the cast of Amazon Freevee’s “Neighbours” reboot as a guest star. Stause is set to start filming in Australia in July.

On “Neighbours,” Stause will portray Yasmine “Yas” Shields, who is described in a press release as “a glamorous and successful businesswoman in pursuit of an exciting new opportunity.”

“I am honored and excited to join such a beloved and iconic show,” Stause said in a statement. “Coming from the world of soaps in the U.S., it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry. They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street here I come!”

The iconic Australian daily soap,...

Chrishell Stause is moving to Ramsay Street.

The Selling Sunset star will return to her soap-opera roots when she joins the Australian drama Neighbours as a guest star, TVLine has learned.

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Stause, who had long runs on All My Children and Days of Our Lives, will play Yasmine “Yas” Shields, who is described as “a glamorous and successful businesswoman...

Chrishell Stause is joining the cast of Amazon Freevee’s “Neighbours” as a series guest star, it was announced on Wednesday.

The “Selling Sunset” star will begin taping in July at the Australian soap’s studio. She will play a newly created character named Yasmine “Yas” Shields, a glamorous and successful businesswoman who is in pursuit of an exciting new opportunity.

“I am honored and excited to join such a beloved and iconic show!” said Stause. “Coming from the world of soaps in the U.S., it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry. They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street, here I come!”

“We are thrilled to welcome Chrishell to the cast of ‘Neighbours,’” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “We created a character especially for her and we can...

Sean Penn, Matthew Fox, and Kick Gurry are heading to Mipcom Cannes to talk about their satirical comedy series C*A*U*G*H*T.

In a major coup for the TV market, they’ll discuss the Australian show in an exclusive Media Mastermind Keynote on Wednesday, October 18 at 12pm local time in France, alongside distributor Fremantle.

Two-time Academy Award winner actor Penn, who serves as an executive producer (and acts as himself in the series), will feature in the panel in at the Palais des Festivales’ Grand Auditorium, alongside Fox (Lost), and Curry (Edge of Tomorrow), moderated by TV and film critic Rhianna Dhillon.

The session will feature footage and an ‘In Conversation with’ segment featuring Penn, Fox and Gurry, bringing insights about approach taken for the series, which explores themes of identity, fame, and the absurdity of the viral age and looks to comedically deconstructs the intellectual ideas humanity faces.

Amazon Freevee has released the official trailer for the new chapter of the hit Australian daily drama ‘Neighbours.’

The series will return to screens on 18 September, with new episodes released daily, Monday-Thursday, at 7 a.m. BST, on Amazon Freevee in the UK and the U.S.

The continuation of the long-running series – about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne – will pick up two years after the finale in 2022, which was watched by millions of adoring fans.

Previous seasons of ‘Neighbours,’ as well as over 100 iconic episodes, are currently available to stream on Amazon Freevee. Additionally, the free streaming service features two series-themed Fast Channels on the service, ‘Neighbours – Looking Back’ and ‘Best of Neighbours.’

Also in trailers – “That road don’t end good…” Full trailer drops for the final season of ‘Top Boy’

The new series will star Alan Fletcher,...

London—1 August, 2023—It’s time to return to Ramsay Street!The new chapter of the hit Australian daily drama Neighbours will premiere exclusively on Monday, 18 September, on Amazon Freevee. The official teaser trailer and key art are available now. New episodes will be released daily, Monday-Thursday, on Amazon Freevee in the UK and the U.S. The series will also stream on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Australia’s Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new chapter of the series.

“All the cast and crew are incredibly excited that Ramsay Street will officially welcome viewers again to the neighbourhood on 18 September in the UK and Australia, and also be introduced to brand new audiences in the US and Canada when the new chapter of Neighbours is unveiled.”

Jason Herbison, Neighbours’ Executive Producer

The continuation of the long-running soap series—about the lives,...

Fans can revisit the world of Neighbours beginning September 18, 2023 with Amazon Freevee’s revival of the long-running popular Australian series. The premiere date announcement was accompanied by a first-look teaser trailer along with a character-filled poster.

New episodes will air on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Past seasons of the series, which ran for 30+ years, are currently available to stream on Amazon Freevee.

Previous seasons featured Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce, and Russell Crowe before they made it big. The new chapter stars Alan Fletcher, Annie Jones, Candice Leask, Emerald Chan, Georgie Stone, Jackie Woodburne, Lloyd Will, Lucinda Armstrong Hall, and Lucinda Cowden. Marley Williams, Naomi Rukavina, Rebekah Elmaloglou, Riley Bryant, Ryan Moloney, Sara West, Shiv Palekar, Stefan Dennis, Tim Kano, and Xavier Molyneux are also on board as series regulars.

Neighbours guest stars include April Rose Pengilly, Guy Pearce, Ian Smith, Jodi Gordon, Melissa Bell, and Mischa Barton.

Freevee’s official trailer for Neighbours is here, exploring the latest chapter of the Australian drama’s revival in the footage above. As the narration notes at the end, the short trailer makes an exciting entrance and introduces new viewers to the show. We also see that love is in the air in this idyllic neighborhood, with a ceremony that “cannot go wrong,” according to Guy Pearce. “All the cast and crew are incredibly excited that Ramsay Street will officially welcome viewers again to the neighbourhood on September 18 in the UK and Australia and also be introduced to brand new audiences in the US and Canada when the new chapter of Neighbours is unveiled,” says Jason Herbison, Neighbours’ Executive Producer. The continuation of the long-running soap series—about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, follows the finale...

It's hard to believe that Neighbours is staging a comeback after its widely publicized series finale.

Amazon Freevee went public with the teaser trailer and premiere date for the highly-anticipated comeback season of the Australian soap opera.

Neighbours will premiere exclusively on Monday, September 18, on Amazon Freevee.

New episodes will be released daily, Monday-Thursday, on Amazon Freevee in the UK and the U.S.

The series will also stream on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Australia's Network 10 will retain first-run rights in Australia for the new chapter of the series.

Yes, the move to streaming seems to have been the trick to get the show on more platforms around the world.

"The continuation of the long-running soap series—about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents on Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne—follows the finale in 2022, which...

The long-awaited revival of Neighbours is adding an O.C. alum to its ranks.

News broke this week that Mischa Barton had landed a guest role in Freevee's first season of the Australian soap as Reece, described as "an American new to Erinsborough who's not quite who she appears to be."

Neighbours was initially canceled in Australia after a longtime production partner decided against renewal in favor of more homegrown content.

Despite a much-publicized series finale that brought the likes of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan back after years away, Amazon announced its Freevee platform would pick up the show in November.

"With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa's caliber join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter," said Jason Herbison, executive producer of Neighbours.

"Mischa's character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street.

Neighbours is returning less than a year after its final episode was axed – and one special guest star has already been announced.

The Australian soap originally aired from 1985 to 2022, but came to an end in July. However, in November, it was announced that the show was being rebooted by Amazon Freevee.

With production kicking off on Monday (17 April), it has now been announced that The Oc star Mischa Barton will make an appearance in the new series.

Barton will arrive in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough as Reece, an American who is new to the area and “not quite who she appears to be”.

Speaking about joining the soap, Barton, 37, said: “I’m excited to be part of this iconic show’s next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia, a place I know and love!

“I think the character of Reece is going...

Mischa Barton will be visiting Ramsay Street as a guest star in Freevee’s upcoming season of Neighbour. Barton is set to appear in the upcoming Australian soap opera’s latest season, picked up by Freevee in November, as Reece, described as “an American new to Erinsborough who’s not quite who she appears to be.” The new chapter of Neighbours officially started production on April 17 in Melbourne, Australia, and will launch on Amazon Freevee in the autumn of 2023. “With Neighbours launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s caliber join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” said Jason Herbison, Neighbours’ executive producer. “Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.” Barton also shared her enthusiasm and added,...

Mischa Barton will appear in the new season of “Neighbours” coming to Amazon Freevee.

Barton will guest star in the upcoming season of the long-running Australian soap opera, which was picked up by Freevee back in November. According to her official character description, Barton will play Reece, “an American new to Erinsborough who’s not quite who she appears to be.”

“With ‘Neighbours’ launching on Amazon Freevee in North America, we are beyond excited to have an actor of Mischa’s calibre join us for the beginning of this exciting new chapter,” said executive producer Jason Herbison. “Mischa’s character is dynamic and unpredictable, and will have an instant presence on Ramsay Street. Our loyal viewers are going to love her, locally and abroad.”

“I’m excited to be part of this iconic show’s next chapter, and I am really looking forward to being back in Australia a place I know and love!

Having already been brought back from the dead, Australian soap Neighbours has now added a star name from another sun-soaked TV hit to its cast.

Mischa Barton — who broke out in The O.C. — has joined the new chapter of Fremantle’s cult show, which has now officially started production just over a year after it looked like it was finished for good after 37 years when key U.K. partner Channel 5 pulled out. Several months later — and after a supposed final episode aired (one featuring many of Neighbours‘ former stars, including Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce — Amazon Freevee stepped in to save the day.

Joining alongside many of the leading cast, returning to their roles as the residents of Ramsay Street in the fictitious Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, Barton will have guest appearance as Reece, an American new to the area who apparently isn’t quite who she appears to be.

“Neighbours” will start filming again at Nunawading Studios in Melbourne on April 17.

The new season will then launch in the second half of 2023 on Network 10 in Australia. Seven days after each episode airs on free-to-air television, they will be available on subscription streaming service Prime Video.

The announcement was made on stage during the final show of “Neighbours – The Celebration Tour” by returning cast Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, Stefan Denis, Ryan Moloney, Annie Jones and April Rose Pengilly.

“It’s a hive of activity at the studio. We’re busy writing the next chapter of “Neighbours”, bringing to life again the show’s much-loved characters as well as new residents,” said the show’s executive producer, Jason Herbison.

“It’s exciting to see the sets being prepped, ready to start filming on April 17, which will be a huge day for everyone involved.”

‘Neighbours’ restart date announcement. (Fremantle)

Network 10 said...

Like their characters, soap operas never truly die. After broadcasting its “series finale” just this July, long-running Australian soap “Neighbours” is already coming back, and has found a new United States and United Kingdom home in Amazon Freevee.

Amazon announced the news on Thursday, revealing that production on the revival will begin in Australia next year, with a targeted premiere date for the second half of 2023. Series stars Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney, and Jackie Woodburne are confirmed to return to the revival, which will premiere for free on Amazon Freevee, Amazon’s free ad-supported streaming service, in the UK and U.S., as well as Prime Video in New Zealand and Canada. Australia’s Network 10, where the soap aired for 36 years, will retain first-run rights for the new series in its home country.

In addition, a catalogue consisting of thousands of past “Neighbours” episodes will launch on Freevee...

Click here to read the full article.

In a plot twist that could have come straight from the show itself, Neighbours, the iconic Australian soap that looked like it had finished for good after 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes, is set to make a dramatic return.

Amazon Freevee and the show’s producer Fremantle have unveiled that a new season of the beloved series — which helped launch the careers of a host of stars, including Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce — will start shooting in Australia next year, continuing the long-running drama involving the residents of Ramsay Street in the fictitious Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney and Jackie Woodburne will return to reprise their leading roles.

The revitalized series is set to premiere exclusively, and for free, on Amazon Freevee in the U.K. and U.S. and will include streaming rights to thousands of episodes from the previous seasons,...

Turns out it wasn’t a final goodbye from Australia’s Neighbours after all.

The iconic soap, about the Ramsay Street residents living in the fictional Erinsborough, has been saved from the scrapheap by Amazon’s free streamer Freevee, following a deal with program maker Fremantle.

A new series will begin filming in Australia next year, with the likes of Stefan Dennis, Alan Fletcher, Ryan Moloney and Jackie Woodburne reprising their roles. A premiere is slated for the second half of the year.

Watch a teaser for the new run here.

The daily series had bowed out on Network 10 in Australia and long-time British home Channel 5 in June after 37 years, after the Paramount-owned UK network pulled its funding from the show. Due to the costs of running a daily drama, Network 10 and Fremantle relied on a British co-funder to keep it going.

Alumni such as Margot Robbie,...

Guy Ritchie To Receive Honorary Award At Red Sea Film Festival

Guy Ritchie is to receive an Honorary Award at this year’s Red Sea Film Festival. During the Festival (Dec 1—10), Ritchie will also take part in an ‘In Conversation’ event where he will talk through his cinematic career. Mohammed Al Turki, CEO of the RedSeaIFF, said: “Guy Ritchie is a pioneering director and unique storyteller. Over the last 20 years, he has created a huge variety of unforgettable characters featuring original and intricate plots on the big screen. We are delighted to honor his extraordinary talents at the Festival and look forward to welcoming him to Jeddah this December.”

Danny Dyer To Lead New Thriller ‘Heat’

Channel 5, Network 10, and Fremantle Australia have partnered on Heat (4 x 60’), a new action thriller to be filmed in Australia and starring Danny Dyer. Fremantle will distribute the series internationally. Production on the series starts this month.

Paramount-owned British network Channel 5, Australia’s Network 10 and Fremantle are looking to a post-Neighbours future and working on a primetime thriller from Neighbours exec Jason Herbison, starring Stay Close actor Jo Joyner.

Filming will get underway shortly in Australia on four-parter Riptide, which will follow Alison (Joyner), whose life is plunged into despair when her new Australian husband vanishes after a morning surf. It quickly becomes obvious there is more to the story than meets the eye as she sets out to investigate his disappearance.

Joyner will play the lead and Herbison created the show. He was an exec on Channel 5/Network 10 miniseries Lie With Me and Neighbours, the soap produced by Fremantle for Channel 5 and Network 10’s (and streamer 10 Peach) that is about to end after three-and-a-half decades, as the UK network pushes further into original drama such as Riptide.

Joining Joyner is Ciarán Griffiths and Australian actors David Berry, Peter O’Brien, Ally Fowler (Wentworth), Pia Miranda, rising stars Benny Turland, Asher Yasbincek and Yazeed Dahar, and newcomers Benjamin Samaddar and Sonya Suares.

“Lie With Me proved incredibly popular with our viewers and I’m looking forward to expanding our drama slate even further, working hand in hand with our production partners Fremantle Australia and Network 10,” said Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment, Unscripted, Channel 5 & Paramount+.

The lights went out for the last time on Ramsay Street yesterday, as the very final scene of Australian soap Neighbours was put in the can.

Former stars of the show, including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce had all returned to join in the final scenes of the show which had made them household names in Australia and beyond, but was calling it a ‘G’day’ after 37 years.

Stefan Dennis, the only actor in Neighbours to be with the show from the beginning (bar a few breaks along the way), told Australian breakfast programme Studio 10 the experience of filming the last scenes had been “melancholy.”

He said: “I sort of closed the studio door behind me on my very last scene, my very last dialogue scene and… I suddenly surprised myself by getting incredibly emotional.

“I just kept to myself and went to my dressing room… so I...

Guy Pearce is the latest big name to be returning to his soap alma mater of Ramsay Street, with the Memento star joining the cast for the grand finale of Australian soap Neighbours.

Pearce will join a list of stars including Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan appearing in the show after absences of several decades to mark its final farewell.

The Australian actor is among the most successful of his many castmates, with roles in in films including LA Confidential, The King’s Speech and a recent appearance in TV’s award-winning The Mare of Easttown.

The very last episode of the show is set to air on August 1, bringing to a close Australia’s longest-running TV soap after 37 years.

Pearce told London newspaper Metro: “It is very exciting and surreal at the same time being back on set again, however it feels like coming home.

“It’s where it all started for me professionally.

Shaun Grant and Harry Cripps are among the writers aiming to win consecutive prizes at this year’s Awgie Awards.

Grant, who won the adaptation prize with Cripps for Penguin Bloom in 2020 and for the True History of the Kelly Gang in 2019, is nominated this year for his work on Nitram, against the Here Out West writing team of Nisrine Amine, Bina Bhattacharya, Matias Bolla, Claire Cao, Arka Das, Dee Duygu Dogan, Vonne Patiag and Tien Tran; Falling for Figaro‘s Ben Lewin and Allen Palmer; and The Furnace‘s Roderick MacKay in the original feature film category.

Cripps and Robert Connolly have been recognised for The Dry, which is one of two nominees for the feature film adaptation award alongside Babyteeth, written for the screen by the original playwright Rita Kalnejais.

In the television categories, Tony McNamara’s The Great is pitted against Wakefield, Five Bedrooms and Wentworth for...

In Fremantle’s four-part drama Lie With Me, produced for Network 10 and Channel 5, a British woman Anna and her Australian husband Jake move back to Melbourne with their two small children. With Anna resuming her career, they hire a young live-in nanny to help. But local girl Becky is anything but the innocent stranger she pretends to be.

Starring Brett Tucker, Charlie Brooks and Phoebe Roberts, Lie With Me is a story of deception, following your instincts and what lengths you would go to in order to protect the ones you love.

Lie With Me is created by Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison, and is directed by Scott Major. Writers include Herbison, Anthony Ellis, and Margaret Wilson.

Premieres August 19 8.30pm on 10 And 10 Play.

The post ‘Lie With Me’ (Trailer) appeared first on If Magazine.

‘The Masked Singer.’

Network 10 is sticking to tried-and-true formats next year, its schedule and investment in local content unaffected by the pandemic-induced advertising downturn.

While all the new and returning shows unveiled today were commissioned before the Federal Government’s media reforms scrapped the local content sub-quotas, executives say that had no bearing on its strategy for 2021.

New to the slate next year are Making It Australia, an adaptation of the NBCUniversal format, a local version of the UK’s The Dog House and The First Inventors, a co-commission with Nitv. (See separate story).

The network continues to commission children’s dramas, with the second series of Jonathan M. Shiff Productions’ The Bureau of Magical Things, the Stephen Jaggi Company’s teen mystery drama Dive Club (a co-commission with Netflix) and a third show yet to be announced. All will premiere on 10 Shake.

“We will deliver a 50-week schedule next year,...

‘The Masked Singer.’

Network 10 is sticking to tried-and-true formats next year, its schedule and investment in local content unaffected by the pandemic-induced advertising downturn.

While all the new and returning shows unveiled today were commissioned before the Federal Government’s media reforms scrapped the local content sub-quotas, executives say that had no bearing on its strategy for 2021.

New to the slate next year are Making It Australia, an adaptation of the NBCUniversal format, a local version of the UK’s The Dog House and The First Inventors, a co-commission with Nitv. (See separate story).

The network continues to commission children’s dramas, with the second series of Jonathan M. Shiff Productions’ The Bureau of Magical Things, the Stephen Jaggi Company’s teen mystery drama Dive Club (a co-commission with Netflix) and a third show yet to be announced. All will premiere on 10 Shake.

“We will deliver a 50-week schedule next year,...

Colette Mann and producer Natalie Lynch.

With nearly 50 years experience under her belt, Neighbours star Colette Mann figured she would quickly grasp the new health and safety guidelines when filming resumed.

What the actress, who plays meddlesome barmaid Sheila Canning, hadn’t counted on was her tactile instinct.

So the instant she grabbed the arm of Bonnie Anderson, who plays Bea Nilsson, she knew that was a no-no. “It was just muscle memory,” Mann, a regular on the Fremantle/10 Peach show since 2012, tells If.

“When you’re in the moment, that’s what you would normally do. But we are getting so used to the safe-distancing rules.

“The directors and all the young actors are being amazing about it. Viewers will notice we don’t sit close to each other any more but the integrity of the script is there.”

Mann credits series producer Natalie Lynch with ensuring cast and...

First Ad Jeremy Grogan, Dop Martin McGrath and camera operator Nicolas Owens on the ‘Wakefield’ set (Photo: Lisa Tomasetti).

The Australian TV drama production sector has virtually ground to a halt with multiple shows suspending shooting last Friday.

Jungle Entertainment and BBC Studios shut down the ABC-commissioned Wakefield, the eight-episode drama set in a Blue Mountains psychiatric hospital.

“The limitations we’ve put on our incredible cast and crew over the last two weeks have made shooting more and more difficult and it is now logistically impossible and unsafe to continue,” Jungle CEO Jason Burrows tells If.

“We’re lucky to have partners in the ABC, Screen Australia, Screen Nsw and BBC Studios who have been very supportive. I just hope the government will provide some financial relief to those in need in our team, and the wider industry, while they are out of work.”

Hoodlum Entertainment called a halt...

Noel Mpofu and Anthony Ellis.

Seasoned writer and script executive Anthony Ellis has joined Screentime in the newly created role of head of scripted.

Ellis will work alongside head of production (scripted) Kerrie Mainwaring at the Banijay-owned production company headed by CEO Rory Callaghan.

Also at Screentime, chief financial officer Noel Mpofu has been promoted to chief operating officer. Earlier Screentime executive producer Johnny Lowry was upped to head of non-scripted.

These moves follow the retirement late last year of executive chairman Bob Campbell.

A former head of scripted content at Fremantle and Wentworth script executive, Ellis’ most recent credit was writing an episode of Breathless, Fremantle’s four-part thriller created by Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison for Network 10 and the UK’s Channel 5.

Ellis said: “I am delighted to join Screentime and look forward to helping secure and build on its legacy of innovative, compelling and hugely popular drama.

Deborra-lee Furness.

In 2008 Deborra-lee Furness founded About Change, a not-for-profit organisation which supports and educates families and communities in caring for displaced children – an abiding passion which she will bring to directing episodes of Neighbours.

The actress, who was a regular in Neighbours in 1985, will spend three weeks on the Fremantle show directing scenes in which same-sex couple Aaron (Matt Wilson) and David (Takaya Honda) decide to become permanent carers.

The serial’s executive producer Jason Herbison, who has an adopted daughter with his partner Pete, is familiar with the bureaucracy involved in the adoption process.

Impressed with her work through Adopt Change, Herbison invited her to direct the block with Kate Kendall. The adoption story arc plays out over three months, for which Deborra-lee will serve as a consultant. The episodes will go to air on 10 Peach in June.

“I am thrilled to be collaborating with the team at...

(L-r) Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne, Stefan Dennis and Ryan Moloney

Network 10 and the UK’s Channel 5 have commissioned an extra five episodes of Fremantle’s Neighbours to mark the show’s 35th anniversary.

The anniversary week kicks off at 6.30 pm on March 16 on 10 Peach as Chloe Brennan (April Rose Pengilly) get the idea to stage a wedding expo to save Lassiters, with help from Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou).

This evolves into five weddings, one per episode, reuniting couples from different decades on Ramsay Street that didn’t make it down the aisle.

In contrast, the bonus episodes at 7 pm have a darker, grittier tone with the deaths of three Erinsborough favourites.

The drama centres around Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta) being whisked away to Pierce Greyson’s (Tim Robards) remote island glamping resort to celebrate her 35th birthday with a group of Ramsay Street friends including Toadie (Ryan Moloney).

However,...

In this week’s jam-packed International TV Newswire, Variety catches you up on HBO’s first Danish original series “Kamikaze,” the first deal between ViacomCBS-owned broadcasters since the merger, David Tennant’s upcoming 80-day global circumnavigation, an un-scripted deal between Japan’s Nippon TV and the U.K.’s The Story Lab. Also on the mix: Eccho Rights’ newest global pickup from Sweden, U.K. Creative Content Eis Fund’s first investment, and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize’s jury announcement.

HBO Europe Announces First Danish Original Series

For HBO it’s always been about quality, not quantity, so it’s no surprise that HBO Europe has enlisted an all-star team for its first Danish original series, “Kamikaze.” The series will be directed by “Borgen” director Annette K. Olesen and executive produced by Hanne Palmquist, and Steve Matthews and Antony Root.

Based on the novel “Muleum” by Norwegian writer Erlend Loe,...

A day after the ViacomCBS merger closed, the company’s international networks are already starting to work together. UK broadcaster Channel 5 and Australian broadcaster Network Ten have co-commissioned drama thriller Breathless.

The four-part series is produced by Fremantle and stars Station 19 star Brett Tucker and EastEnders star Charlie Brooks.

The show follows a British woman and her husband seeking a fresh start in Australia after infidelity rocks their marriage – that’s the plan until they hire a young local nanny who isn’t as innocent as she appears and there are deadly consequences.

Created by Neighbours and Home and Away writer Jason Herbison, who will exec produce, it was commissioned for Channel 5 by Greg Barnett and will start filming in Melbourne in 2020. It will be directed by Neighbours director Scott Major.

Ben Frow, Director of Programmes for ViacomCBS’s UK networks, including Channel 5, said, “First and foremost, Breathless promises...

Australia’s Network Ten and Channel 5 in the UK have co-commissioned a new four part drama, Breathless, from Fremantle Australia. It’s the first joint project for the broadcasters since the ViacomCBS merger that’s brought the two free-to-air TV networks under common ownership.

Created by Neighbours producer Jason Herbison, the thriller stars former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks and Australian actor Brett Tucker (The Americans, Station 19 and Mistresses).

Breathless centers on a British woman and her husband seeking a fresh start in Australia after infidelity rocks their marriage until they hire a young local nanny with deadly consequences. ...

Brett Tucker and Charlie Brooks.

Fremantle will produce Breathless, a four-part thriller created by Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison for Network 10 and the UK’s Channel 5, using a production model designed as a precursor for more short-run dramas.

Directed by Scott Major, the miniseries will feature Aussie Brett Tucker and former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks as a couple in the UK who seek a fresh start in Australia after infidelity threatens their marriage.

That’s until they hire a nanny (yet to be cast), who isn’t as innocent as she appears and there are deadly consequences.

This is the first co-commission by 10 and Channel 5 since the completion of the ViacomCBS merger. The sibling networks collaborated on Neighbours spin-off series Neighbours: Erinsborough High, which premiered on their respective digital streaming services 10 Play and My5.

Herbison tells If he has long wanted to make a short-form drama,...