The final episode of Australia’s longest-running drama, Neighbours, will premiere tonight on 10 and 10 Peach at 7:30pm, in a 90-minute finale.
Since hitting the screens 37 years ago, Neighbours has seen over 100 kidnapping and hostage situations, 35 natural disasters, 115 car accidents, 64 deaths, 40 weddings, 17 births, and around 15 characters returning from the dead in 8903 episodes.
The Neighbours cast gather to say farewell to the show
The final episode will see Margot Robbie, Delta Goodrem, Jesse Spencer, Kym Valentine and Carla Bonner make a return.
Margot Robbie, who starred in The Suicide Squad and The Wolf Of Wall Street, will return to her role as Donna Freedman. Robbie’s character appeared on the show from 2008 to 2011. In 2010 the actor/producer featured in one of the show’s most memorable weddings to Ringo Brown, played by Sam Clark, to mark the series’ 6000th episode.
The word on television’s most popular street is this isn’t the last of the famous alumni planned to appear in the final episode, with the final number of returning cast topping 49.
Earlier this month, Mediaweek spoke to Neighbours EP Jason Herbison about wrapping up a show with such a huge legacy, and how he hopes the show is remembered.
“It’s a very sad time, but it’s also a time of huge pride. It’s a celebration,” says Herbison.
“It’s incredible that the show has gone on for 37 and a half years, almost 9000 episodes – we just want to go out on a big high.”
The sheer longevity of Neighbours is only part of the story. Having launched careers of people like Margot Robbie, Kylie Minogue, and Guy Pearce, Herbison says that losing the show will also mean losing a vital launch pad for people working in all aspects of Australian TV.
“We think of this as a university here, it’s such a training ground for the industry. People speak about six degrees of Neighbours, but I think it’s really two degrees of Neighbours.
“So many people in this industry have a connection to it – whether they worked here, or were mentored by someone that learned their craft here. It’s just a very important part of the industry.”
Watch the Neighbours final tonight on 10 and 10 Peach at 7:30pm.