Latest news with #JasonHerbison
The Independent
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Neighbours producer reveals why show has been cancelled again: ‘It's frustrating'
The producer of the hit soap opera Neighbours has confirmed why the show has been cancelled for a second time despite positive viewing figures and awards nominations. The Australian show was cancelled for a second time in February after originally being axed in February 2022 when Channel 5 decided to stop airing it in the UK. When production company Fremantle was unable to find another channel to carry the programme, the show was cancelled altogether due to a lack of funding. Nine months later, it was announced streaming giant Amazon would revive the programme with the series making a return to screens in September 2023. However, in a statement released by the show on Friday (21 February), it was revealed the show would be 'resting' from December 2025. Now executive producer Jason Herbison has spoken out about the cancellation saying that the closure of Amazon Freevee, where the show was streamed, was the key contributing factor to the sudden end. Speaking to TV Tonight, Herbison said: 'We were considered a very big success on Amazon Freevee, and we're so grateful to them for this chapter and this two and a half years. 'The team at Amazon Freevee did an incredible job of launching us over there. I think we were on bus stops all across the UK, it was amazing and they have been wonderful to work with. But yes, as you've as you've mentioned the closure of Freevee, did change the landscape. 'While we seem to be very successful on Prime we're just simply not part of their content strategy going forward. And there's really no hard feelings with that. Things change and as I say, we're just very grateful to them to have had this chapter.' The show was regularly in the most watched shows on Amazon and even earned two Daytime Emmy awards nominations during its run ont he service. 'As our viewers have pointed out, we're consistently number one, number two, number three show every day on Prime in the UK. So yes, that's frustrating,' added Herbison. 'But the flip side of that is that I think we'd be more disappointed if we weren't successful and we were just disappearing. So we're very, very sad that this chapter is coming to an end, but we're also very proud that it's done very well, and that our audience is still very invested in the show and we'd love to see it continue.' The current iteration of the show is set to end in July but Herbison, who wrote the 2022 finale, has not got any firm plans in place yet. 'It's a strange position to be in, to be contemplating another finale. I definitely have thoughts. I haven't committed to anything yet. I don't see it as a big street party with a cast of thousands. I'm not going to compete with what we did in 2022 because I'm very, very proud of that episode, and I do think it was a great way to go out at the time. But I definitely have ideas. I'm sure they'll evolve between now and July. All I can say is that door will absolutely be left open for a future chapter.' The 2022 finale saw a host of top names, who had previously appeared on the show, return for cameos including Guy Pearce, Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Holly Valance, Delta Goodrum and Natalie Imbruglia.
CNN
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Neighbours' canceled just 2 years after revival
Australia's longest-running soap opera 'Neighbours' has been canceled. Again. 'We are sad to announce that Neighbours will be resting from December 2025,' read a statement from the show, first aired in 1985, posted on social media. '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 continued. The original TV program ended with a finale in 2022 but it was rebooted by Amazon MGM Studios the following year. It currently streams in Australia, as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand. Amazon confirmed to CNN Friday that the series will 'come to an end' on Prime Video after its 40th year. Episodes will continue to air until the end of December and fans can continue to watch the series on Prime Video. 'Neighbours has brought so much joy over the last 40 years to its fanbase globally and in the UK,' an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. 'Forty years is an incredible milestone and we are proud that Amazon MGM Studios was able to have a small part of bringing further episodes to Freevee and Prime Video customers over the last two years, spanning over 400 episodes.' 'Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison said '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 Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024.' 'As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally,' he continued, adding, tantalizingly: 'We believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.' 'Neighbours' cast members have taken to social media to empathize with fans over the program's cancellation. Australian actor April Rose Pengilly, who portrayed Chloe Brennan from 2018 to 2024, described the cancellation as 'awful' on Instagram. 'Sending love to my @neighbours family today, all of the cast and crew and everyone behind the scenes who works so incredibly hard,' she wrote. 'Particularly those who are going through this a second time – it was devastating when this happened to us in 2022, but a second time is just awful. And to all the fans – I know how much the show means to you and I'm so sorry you have to go through this loss again,' she added. Australian actor Matty Wilson, who has portrayed Aaron Brennan since 2015, took to Instagram to thank fans for 'tonnes' of messages 'about the show wrapping up,' adding: 'Seeing how many people love this show and are so passionate that petitions are being made to save the show warms my heart.' A week of special episodes dedicated to new and old residents of Ramsay Street, a fictional suburb of Erinsborough in Melbourne, will air in March to celebrate 40 years of the show, according to Amazon. Over the past few decades, the likes of singer Kylie Minogue, 'Hunger Games' actor Liam Hemsworth, 'Barbie' movie star Margot Robbie and actor Guy Pearce have all appeared in 'Neighbours.'
CNN
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
‘Neighbours' canceled just 2 years after revival
Australia's longest-running soap opera 'Neighbours' has been canceled. Again. 'We are sad to announce that Neighbours will be resting from December 2025,' read a statement from the show, first aired in 1985, posted on social media. '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 continued. The original TV program ended with a finale in 2022 but it was rebooted by Amazon MGM Studios the following year. It currently streams in Australia, as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand. Amazon confirmed to CNN Friday that the series will 'come to an end' on Prime Video after its 40th year. Episodes will continue to air until the end of December and fans can continue to watch the series on Prime Video. 'Neighbours has brought so much joy over the last 40 years to its fanbase globally and in the UK,' an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. 'Forty years is an incredible milestone and we are proud that Amazon MGM Studios was able to have a small part of bringing further episodes to Freevee and Prime Video customers over the last two years, spanning over 400 episodes.' 'Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison said '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 Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024.' 'As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally,' he continued, adding, tantalizingly: 'We believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.' 'Neighbours' cast members have taken to social media to empathize with fans over the program's cancellation. Australian actor April Rose Pengilly, who portrayed Chloe Brennan from 2018 to 2024, described the cancellation as 'awful' on Instagram. 'Sending love to my @neighbours family today, all of the cast and crew and everyone behind the scenes who works so incredibly hard,' she wrote. 'Particularly those who are going through this a second time – it was devastating when this happened to us in 2022, but a second time is just awful. And to all the fans – I know how much the show means to you and I'm so sorry you have to go through this loss again,' she added. Australian actor Matty Wilson, who has portrayed Aaron Brennan since 2015, took to Instagram to thank fans for 'tonnes' of messages 'about the show wrapping up,' adding: 'Seeing how many people love this show and are so passionate that petitions are being made to save the show warms my heart.' A week of special episodes dedicated to new and old residents of Ramsay Street, a fictional suburb of Erinsborough in Melbourne, will air in March to celebrate 40 years of the show, according to Amazon. Over the past few decades, the likes of singer Kylie Minogue, 'Hunger Games' actor Liam Hemsworth, 'Barbie' movie star Margot Robbie and actor Guy Pearce have all appeared in 'Neighbours.'
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Neighbours axed for a second time after being dropped by Amazon
The beloved Australian soap opera Neighbours is set to say goodbye once more. An announcement on the show's social media confirms that its final episode will air in December 2025. This comes after production company Fremantle Media could not clinch a new deal with Amazon for its continuation. Executive producer Jason Herbison said: "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 Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024. "As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally. READ MORE: EastEnders legend issues plea to fans amid concern over 'mistakes' during live episode READ MORE: BBC EastEnders Martin Fowler star James Bye breaks silence after death twist "We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future." Set in the fictitious Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough, Neighbours delves into the lives of its residents. The soap faced its first cancellation in 2022 when it couldn't secure fresh funding from Channel 5, but the drama experienced a brief revival thanks to streaming platform Amazon Freevee and producers at Fremantle. UK and US audiences can enjoy Neighbours on Amazon Freevee, while it continues to entertain viewers in Australia through 10 Peach and the streaming platform 10 Play. Channel 10 expressed a poignant farewell on X: "They've been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we're so sad to be saying goodbye. "We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian story over the years." Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and, Breaking News group by clicking this link
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amazon axes Neighbours two years after throwing soap lifeline
Australian soap opera Neighbours has been cancelled for a second time. A statement on the programme's social media accounts confirmed the final episode of the 40-year-old series would air in December 2025 after reports production company Fremantle Media failed to secure a renewed deal with Amazon. Executive producer Jason Herbison said: '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 Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024. They've been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we're so sad to be saying goodbye 💔 Unfortunately, after nearly four decades of events on Ramsay Street, production of Neighbours will cease this year. We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian… — Channel 10 (@Channel10AU) February 21, 2025 'As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally. 'We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.' The soap opera follows the lives of residents in Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne. In 2022, the show was cancelled by Channel 5 after it failed to secure new funding. A few months after what was meant to be its final episode, the series was revived by streaming site Amazon Freevee and Fremantle. Neighbours is available on Amazon Freevee in the UK and the US. It is also available Australia on 10 Peach and streaming service 10 Play. Channel 10 said on X: 'They've been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we're so sad to be saying goodbye. We'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian story over the years.'
