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Neighbours finale ‘set to fall flat' as only one former star signs up to appear – and A-lists snub final episode
NEIGHBOURS' upcoming final episode could reportedly 'fall flat' - with only one former star signed up to appear.
Earlier this year, the beloved Aussie soap was axed for a second time, having been saved by Amazon after 37 years on Channel 5.
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The original finale saw Kylie Mingoue and Jason Donovan return to Ramsay Street, alongside other show alums.
However, bosses' attempts to bring back A-listers this time around have reportedly not panned out.
According to Daily Mail Australia, stars such as Margot Robbie, Natalie Imbruglia, Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe are all said to have snubbed the final episode.
An insider told the publication: "The cast of the current season will need to rely on the storylines that involve their characters, because breaking out the cheque book won't cover it."
Regarding the 2022 finale, the source added: "The mega stars waived their usual million dollar fees and felt like they were waving goodbye to the show that launched them. It was very classy.
"The fact that Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburn and Ryan Maloney were tipped off as the show was saved during Neighbours' "farewell tour" was pretty awkward in retrospect."
One confirmed returnee is Kimberley Davies, who appeared as Annalise Hartman from 1993 to 1996.
The 52-year-old later moved to the United States, appearing in episodes of Friends and Ally McBeal.
Amazon announced at the end of 2022 that it was bringing the iconic programme back in a multi-year deal.
It started filming in 2023 and was shown on Amazon Freevee worldwide.
Neighbours is being axed again - after production company Fremantle failed to agree a new deal with Amazon
However, last year Amazon axed the service and folded it into its Prime Video streaming offering.
And now, after two years streaming, the show will come to an end once more.
The Sun exclusively revealed production on Neighbours would be stopping this summer - with the final episode airing at the end of the year.
A source said at the time: 'Amazon gave Fremantle two years to see if it worked but sadly they just didn't get the viewers.
Neighbours stars who made it big
The long-running Aussie soap has launched the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Here are some of the Neighbours alums who went on to make it big after starring on the soap...
Kylie Minogue
Before she hit the big time with her music career, Kylie shot to fame playing Charlene Mitchell on Neighbours. Shortly after her arrival, Kylie began an on and off-screen romance with co-star Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson, which gained the couple an army of adoring fans.
Jason Donovan
After his stint as Scott, singer and actor Jason became an international popstar and had his pick acting of roles. He moved to the U.K., married, had children and has since starred in over a dozen West End show, most notably Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Alan Dale
New Zealand born actor Alan was one of Neighbours 12 original cast members having made his debut as Jim Robinson on the soap's first episode on 18 March 1985. As the head of the Robinson clan, widower Jim lived at Number 26 Ramsay Street with his children Paul, Julie, Scott and Lucy, and was a real anchor in the community. He stayed with the show for eight years, before his character was killed off in dramatic scenes aired in 1993 but which still reverberate through the soap to this day.
Margot Robbie
Way before she was Barbie or Harley Quinn, Margot was best known as Ramsay Street resident Donna Freedman. Her notable storylines included her marriage to Ringo Brown and becoming a young widow following his tragic death. After three years she bid farewell to the soap and Australia with a plan to make a name for herself in Hollywood which she did when she bagged the role of Naomi Lapaglia opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Jesse Spencer
Jesse rocked up on Ramsay street in 1994 with the rest of the Kennedy clan. He stayed for five years, literally growing up in front of the camera, but in 2000 felt it was time to spread his wings and head for Hollywood. It was certainly a smart move as he went on to bag leading roles in popular shows like House and Chicago Fire.
Russell Crowe
New Zealand-native Russell had a brief arc on Neighbours, appearing in four episodes of the soap 1987 as Kenny Larkin, the former cellmate of Street resident Henry Ramsay. The role obviously got him noticed though because he quickly went on to become a fully-fledged Hollywood A-lister, winning the Best Actor Oscar for his standout performance as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator.
'It's a really sad day especially for the cast and crew who work on the show in Melbourne.
'This really is the end of Neighbours just as it's celebrated it's 40th birthday.'
The show's official X account posted: "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."
