Fans were left shocked on Thursday after news emerged that Neighbours has been axed for a second time less than two years after it was first revived.
But major signs hinted at the show’s failure just weeks after it returned to screens in October 2023.
Following its debut, Neighbours bumped The Bold and the Beautiful out of its usual 4.30pm timeslot to 4pm.
But after angering fans of the American soap, the network decided to return The Bold and the Beautiful to its original timeslot and ran Neighbours from Monday to Thursday at 4pm.
Just months later, Channel 10 announced its decision to cut Neighbours back to three episodes per week.
However it eventually reversed its decision following audience backlash.
The major signs the Neighbours revival was doomed from the start as Aussie soap is axed again less than two years after it was revived. Pictured Ryan Moloney and Jackie Woodburne
The Neighbours revival also failed to attract a strong audience despite the attraction of American actress and The OC star Misha Barton.
The first episode of the show drew in a total TV audience of just 244,000 and a mere 122,000 fans in the five metro centres tuned in.
Meanwhile, another 68,000 fans saw the debut episode on catch-up platforms including 10Play, and 10Peach.
Another 54,000 viewers watched the show in regional areas, making a total national audience of 174,000.
Its total TV audience of 244,000 came after what was supposed to be the show’s finale in July 2022 pulled in 1.09million viewers.
The Australian soap opera will reportedly end this summer after production company Fremantle failed to agree a new deal with Amazon.
The final ever episode will air at the end of 2025 with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street for a second time, according to The Sun.
A source told the publication: ‘Amazon gave Fremantle two years to see if it worked but sadly they just didn’t get the viewers.
Following its debut in October 2023, Neighbours bumped The Bold and the Beautiful out of its usual 4.30pm timeslot. But after angering fans, Ten returned Bold to its original timeslot
‘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 its 40th birthday.’
Longtime fans of the soap opera were quick to take to X to share their devastation over the show’s second axing.
They wrote: ‘Just heard that #Neighbours is being axed again. I am beyond gutted’.
‘Not sure I can go through this again,’ another said while one added: ‘Neighbours axed again?! Wow.’
‘I’ll never get how Home and Away is still vibing along when they’ve axed Neighbours twice. It’s always been the superior Australian soap,’ one commented.
‘After a hellish personal 14 months I refuse point blank to accept that they will try to take from me AGAIN!!! It’s sometimes the only 20 minutes in the day I can escape. Absolutely blooming well not!!’ another said.
Other fans also shared their concern that they won’t be able to get the ‘perfect’ ending which the show was given last time.
The Neighbours revival failed to attract a strong audience and drew in a total of just 244,000 viewers
Daily Mail has contacted Amazon and Fremantle for comment.
Neighbours nearly ended forever two years ago when Channel 5, who part funded the soap for UK viewers, pulled out of their deal.
The final episode aired on July 29, 2022, and saw very famous faces return including Margot Robbie, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce.
There were also epic cameos made by Holly Valance (Flick Scully), Natalie Imbruglia (Beth Brennan), and Ian Smith (Harold Bishop) as they reprised their roles.
It is not known whether the second final episode will attract the same star talent after viewers were overjoyed when many Neighbours icons returned for the first finale.
And mere months after its success, it was confirmed that Amazon Freevee had given the show another lease of life and brought it back under revamped production.
The newly-rebooted Neighbours premiered on Amazon in September 2023, but just less than two years on, it will be leaving screens for good.
Fans were concerned about the soap opera’s future when Amazon confirmed it was scrapping Freevee, and when a legendary character recently quit.
Neighbours nearly ended two years ago when Channel 5 pulled out of their deal. The final episode aired in July 2022 and saw stars including Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue return
Actor Ryan Moloney broke viewers’ hearts when he left Neighbours in September, bringing to an end his journey with Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi.
‘After 30 years playing Toadie, I will be leaving Ramsay Street. I can’t tell you what is happening to the character — maybe I could be the next Jim Robinson,’ he wrote at the time of his exit.
‘Or maybe I’ll be the next Harold Bishop and keep popping back over the years.’
Ryan has since returned to the soap opera for a cameo, but has not reprised his role on a permanent basis. It is not known if he will return for the finale.
Ryan has become one of the most recognisable faces on Neighbours since first appearing on Ramsay Street as Toadie back in 1995.
The beloved Australian soap opera first aired in 1985 and has been on screens for a staggering 40 years and has launched the careers of many Aussie megastars.
