Neighbours Cast Films Emotional Farewell as 40-Year Soap Ends with Hope

As four decades of Neighbours came to an end on Friday, veteran stars Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis showed support for their fellow cast members in an emotional final day on set. 

The actress, 55, first appeared on the beloved soap in 1986 as Jane Harris, aka Plain Jane Superbrain, and was on hand this week to offer a supportive shoulder. 

She was seen wrapping her arm around her fellow stars as they came together to mark the end of an era at Melbourne’s Nunawading studios.  

Annie chose to step away from the spotlight in 1989 to look after her late mother, Elizabeth, who battled Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 2016.

She later reprised her role in 2018 and has been a regular fixture on the show ever since.

As four decades of Neighbours came to an end on Friday, veteran stars Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis supported for their fellow cast at an emotional final day on set

 Annie was seen wrapping her arm around her fellow stars as they came together to mark the end of an era at Melbourne ‘s Nunawading studios

Soap veteran Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades, was also seen on set for the final scenes of the concluding episode. 

The actor, who was part of the original Neighbours cast when it debuted in 1985, left the show in 1992 but returned in 2004.

He clutched buckets of Chupa Chups lollipops for his castmates. 

‘I never thought a single show would give me the greatest adventures of my career, spanning 40 years,’ Stefan said in a statement released by Prime Video. 

‘Without ‘Neighbours’ I would not have met the people, been to the places and lived the experiences of a lifetime.’

Other members of the crew were seen consoling one another in a group hug. 

Then, the entire cast gathered together at the end of the day for a group photo. 

For decades, Neighbours has chronicled the ups and downs of Melbourne’s fictional Erinsborough, and the series will air its last episodes in December, bringing Amazon’s two-year revival to a close. 

The final episode of Neighbours is set to air on December 11 (L-R back row Darius Perkins, Francis Bell, Elaine Smith, Alan Dale, Vikki Blanche, Paul Keane) (L-R middle row David Clencie, Anne Haddy, Kylie Flinker, Dasha Blahova, Peter O’Brien, and Stefan Dennis pictured in 2008)

As this chapter of the Amazon Prime show’s story comes to a close, the cast and crew have reflected on four decades of producing the perfect blend of drama and heart-warming community spirit (Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne pictured)

Alan Fletcher and Jackie Woodburne called the Nunawading Studios their home for over three decades of Neighbours

In total, the streamer has added a respectable 460 episodes to the show’s already staggering 9,000-episode legacy.

Executive producer Jason Herbison got a bit misty-eyed over the statistic, saying: ‘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 9,000 episodes, something we all feel proud of.’

He added: ‘Once again, we will be resting the residents of Ramsay Street on a hopeful note, with some tantalising possibilities for a future chapter.’ 

Veteran star Alan Fletcher, aka Dr Karl Kennedy, called the set his ‘happy place’, praising the ‘creative freedom and enthusiasm amongst the whole team.’

Jackie Woodburne, who has starred as Susan Kennedy for three decades, said, ‘It is impossible to measure the gratitude I feel for the gift of 30 years of Neighbours.

‘We are the best version of “family”. It has been a wild ride into a happy life. Wouldn’t change it for quids!’

Pictured: Neighbours cast members Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis visit the UK in 1988

In a new interview with TV Tonight Stefan said the show’s cancellation means any celebrations around the show’s amazing track record has been ‘completely overshadowed’ by the sad news of its demise (pictured in a a throwback image from the soaps heyday)

Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades says that he never expected ‘a single show’ to be the ‘greatest adventure’ (pictured on Neighbours)

Even the newer faces on Ramsay Street were gutted to say goodbye. 

Matt Wilson (Aaron Brennan) called the show ‘a real beacon of hope,’ while Ben Jackson (Max Ramsay) described his time on set as ‘the greatest gift of my life.’

In the UK, Neighbours experienced consistent Top 10 rankings under Amazon’s stewardship and earned a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series.

Back in 2022, the beloved soap got the axe after 37 seasons, only to be rescued for the revival. 

Now, it’s curtains for good. 

As cast member Naomi Rukavina (Remi Varga-Murphy) beautifully put it: ‘It’s a special thing to be part of a national icon.

‘Neighbours is nothing like I had imagined. It has been blessing on blessing for me. Fulfilling, stabilising, and heart-filling. Long live the icon,’ she said.

According to Metro UK, sets have already begun to be dismantled at the production base on the outskirts of Melbourne. 

The studio site, which was sold to property redevelopers several years ago but is on a long lease to programme-makers Fremantle Media, is expected to be reused for other productions in the future.