Almost 9,000 episodes in almost 40 years: On Friday, Channel 5 broadcast the last episode of the soap “Nachbarn” (Neighbors) – a drastic moment, and not just for the British TV landscape.
With an emotional finale, the soap opera “Neighbours” (German: “Neighbors”), one of the longest television series in the world, said goodbye to its British audience after 37 years.
Several stars who began their careers on the Australian series returned for the latest episode of the daily soap – including pop stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan and Oscar-nominated actress Margot Robbie.
On average, 2.5 million people tuned in on Friday evening and up to 3 million at the peak, as the broadcaster Channel 5 announced on Saturday. That is the highest number of viewers since the show changed channels in 2008. In the 1980s, more than 20 million people watched at times.
Surprisingly, four people who had died in the series during the almost 9000 episodes also appeared again.
When series character Susan Kenny was reminiscent of former residents of the fictional Ramsay Street in Melbourne, the once deceased film characters could be seen in the picture. “What would they look like if they were alive?” said Kenny, played by Jackie Woodbourne.
Finally, the British broadcaster Channel 5 broadcast a double episode on Friday evening. In it, residents realize that their street is changing forever – Kenny looks down on many homes for sale on Ramsay Street.
“Neighbours” veteran Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) then tells her and her husband Karl that they are the last residents. Finally, current and old characters celebrate together a wedding party and farewell.
In the end, the series, which was even more popular in the UK than in its native Australia, addressed the audience: “Thank you for loving us, we love you,” read the screen. (dpa)