Neighbours: The Finale


"Neighbours: The Finale" comprises the 8901st, 8902nd and 8903rd episodes of the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. It premiered on 28 July 2022 on both Network 10 and 10 Peach in Australia, and on 29 July on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom. It was conceived as the end of the serial, after it was cancelled due to the loss of its UK broadcaster and failure to find an alternative buyer, and production ceased after it was filmed. The episodes were written by Shane Isheev and executive producer Jason Herbison, and directed by Scott Major. Production on Neighbours ended on 10 June. Production and cast had known the show was facing cancellation since 2021 and ideas for a suitable finale were already being planned at that point. In response to the news of the show's potential cancellation becoming public in early 2022, an online petition amassed more than 67,000 signatures to save the show. The petition did not change Channel 5's decision, who maintained that Neighbours remained popular and ending the show was solely a "business decision". Production were then tasked with bringing the show to an end within a few months. Herbison had already envisioned an ideal way to end the series, and Isheev and other writers supported his plans. Herbison did not wish to end the show with excessive finality, such as in the destruction of the primary location of Ramsay Street, and opted for a celebratory theme that acknowledged the show's history.
Alan Fletcher, who played Karl Kennedy, regularly provided the media with updates about the finale's development. Neighbours writers finished storylining the episodes in March and in May cast members received their final scripts. The finale contains numerous cast returns, some of which were publicised, while others remained secret. Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue's returns as Scott and Charlene Robinson attracted much media attention. Other high-profile returning cast included Margot Robbie, Natalie Imbruglia, Holly Valance and Delta Goodrem. Many returns were facilitated by one of the episodes' main stories, the wedding of Melanie Pearson and Toadie Rebecchi. The episodes also featured the return of Guy Pearce as Mike Young. His story provided the finale with further nostalgia, as writers reunited Mike with his 1980s love interest Jane Harris, who had returned to the regular cast in 2020. Other stories included all but one of the houses on Ramsay Street being put up for sale, and Amy Greenwood's plan to have more children. Herbison used the latter story to fulfil his wish to leave viewers with a remaining mystery.
There were post-production challenges, following Network 10's decision to broadcast the finale in a ninety-minute format. Episode 8901 was edited into the original sixty minute version, with the extended run-time allowing for extended dialogue and an extra cameo from Stephanie McIntosh as Sky Mangel. These were not featured in the British broadcast, where episode 8901 was broadcast earlier on the same day as the final hour, which was broadcast in a primetime slot. Herbison later revealed that there were more than fifteen minutes of footage cut from the episode. The episode featured more commercial music than any episode had done previously. One of the episode's most prominent features was a monologue performed by Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy, which forms the final scenes of the show. Herbison wanted Woodburne to have the opportunity to have a final "performance of a lifetime" in Neighbours. Woodburne reads Susan's entry into the Ramsay Street history book as the character reminisces and walks around a party held on Ramsay Street. Many television critics and fans praised the scene for its sentimental and emotional value.
There was considerable hype and anticipation from the media in the build-up to the finale, and the episodes attracted much praise from television critics. It was a television event that garnered many positive cast and celebrity responses, although three former cast members were disgruntled and criticised the episodes. Ratings for the finale were high; in Australia the episode was watched by 1.382 million viewers and gave Network 10 its biggest audience of the year. In the United Kingdom the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board reported that 4.02 million viewers watched the finale, with the addition of recordings and catch-up services. In the wake of the finale's success, Amazon Freevee finalised an agreement with the show's production company to revive the series, with its return announced in November 2022.

Plot

Malcolm Kennedy visits his parents, Karl and Susan, for lunch. Jane Harris also arrives to talk to Susan about her personal problems and her partner, Clive Gibbons, tells Shane Ramsay about his. Levi Canning asks Izzy to contribute to the Ramsay Street history book. Callum Rebecchi arrives home to attend his father Toadfish Rebecchi's wedding to Melanie Pearson. Clive surprises Jane by dressing up as a gorillagram. She is touched by the gesture, but they are interrupted by Mike Young on a motorcycle. Izzy becomes tearful as she reads the Kennedy family page in the history book. Mike goes to see his daughter Sam, and his old friend Paul Robinson. Karl and Susan visit Malcolm to tell him that Izzy and Shane kissed, but discover that Izzy has already told him, ending the relationship. Paul tells Mike that Shane is buying Lassiters and they arrange a get-together in the Lassiters complex. Jane meets Mike, whom she had previously dated, and she joins them for drinks. Toadie voices his regrets that his friend Amy Greenwood will not be at the wedding. Amy returns and explains that she ran away because she thought she had romantic feelings for Toadie, but Joel Samuels helped her realise otherwise. Susan finds Izzy, thanks her for being honest and tells her that she needs to find happiness. Harold and Shane join Jane, Paul, Mike and Sam, and they reminisce. An uncomfortable Jane leaves the group when Clive arrives and talks to Mike. Mike reassures Clive he is visiting Sam and does not want to reconcile with Jane.
Susan is shocked to see all the houses on Ramsay Street are up for sale. She and Karl go through the history book with Harold, who suggests she writes the introduction. Mike and Sam visit the street and meet Jane; they reminisce about their history together on a tour of the street. Paul admits to Clive that he still loves his former wife, Terese Willis. Susan and Karl discuss their neighbours leaving the street, and she admits her uncertainty about writing the book's introduction. Witnessing Jane and Mike on Ramsay Street, a drunken Clive tries to fight Mike using a lamp as a weapon. Harold separates them by spraying them with water. Clive claims to have suffered a nervous breakdown, and Mike tells Paul he is not trying to cause trouble. Des turns up and says that he told Clive to give up as Jane is not interested in him any more. Jane admits that she has thought about Mike a lot over the years, while Paul asks Mike what he wants. Paul and Terese kiss, but Paul leaves before Terese can tell him she and Glen Donnelly broke up. Karl posts a video to the Ramsay Street Facebook page, which former residents Felicity Scully and Beth Brennan watch when they coincidentally meet. Beth tells Felicity that Toadie is getting married. Back in Erinsborough, Terese tells Lucy about her kiss with Paul. Sam encourages her father to move on, like her mother has, after revealing that Jane is not attending the wedding.
Everyone gathers for Toadie and Melanie's wedding, while Mike visits Jane. Paul and Terese reconcile after the ceremony, and Paul then cancels the hotel sale. Scott and Charlene Robinson turn up on Ramsay Street and realise no one is home. Scott then stops Charlene entering through an open window at Number 24. Mike tells Jane about his break-up with Sam's mother and that, while they are emotionally damaged, they should try to be happy. The wedding party relocates to the street for the reception. Aaron Brennan, and David and Leo Tanaka, decide to stay in Erinsborough when they learn that Paul and Terese have reconciled. Nicolette Stone agrees to stay and resumes her relationship with Kiri Durant, while Elly Conway and Chloe reconcile. Toadie and Melanie decide to stay on Ramsay Street after watching congratulatory video messages. Clive tells Jane and Mike that he is going to Los Angeles. Jane reconciles her friendship with Paul. Amy tells Toadie that she found a sperm donor, implying it is someone he knows. Mike reveals to Jane and Sam that he has matched Shane's offer to buy Number 24 and will seek work at Erinsborough High. Mike confesses his love for Jane, and they resume their relationship. Susan decides what to write in the history book. She then walks through Ramsay Street as her book introduction is voiced over the scene. Various residents celebrate in the street as a floating balloon bursts, showering everyone with confetti.

Regular cast appearances

Background

In July 2021, Australian magazine Woman's Day ran a story revealing Neighbours was facing cancellation. The report cited the recent decrease to four episodes a week in Australia, British broadcaster Channel 5's desire to establish an hour of news programming over the show's afternoon timeslot, and the accusations of prejudice made by guest star Shareena Clayton. The show's Executive Producer, Jason Herbison, was informed about the possibility the show could end in 2021, and relayed the news to cast and crew. On 6 February 2022, it was reported that Channel 5 had not reached a new deal with Neighbours production company Fremantle, and as a consequence would not be funding or broadcasting the show beyond its current contract. Fremantle remained committed to producing the series on the understanding the show could secure a new international backer. Herbison did not receive confirmation of Channel 5 ending their contract until shortly before it was publicised. Herbison told Andrew Mercado from Mediaweek that "we are very proud of everything Neighbours has achieved. We see the next few months as being a huge celebration for the show with a bit of everything for viewers. Any ending will be respectful of the past, the present and always open to a future." In response to the news, an online petition titled "Channel 5 – Don't Axe Neighbours" was created via Change.org, which gained more than 67,000 signatures. The name of the petition's creator, Edward Skylover, was used in an episode of Neighbours broadcast later in the year, in gratitude for his display of support.
On 3 March, it was confirmed that the show would end because an alternative broadcasting partner had not been found. It was stated that production would cease in June that year after thirty-seven years of filming. A statement from the production team read: "we are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June." The statement detailed that there was "no option" to continue production but promised "to end the show on an incredible high." Herbison used the terminology that the show was being "rested" rather than "axed". He explained that Neighbours is a huge brand and the company would be "open to all possibilities", but the show was ending for the foreseeable future and cast members were free to pursue other projects following its end. In the show's final month on-screen, Channel 5 controller Ben Frow described ending the show as solely a "business decision".