Amazon has announced it is reviving Australian soap Neighbours, less than four months after its star-studded finale aired in July. The show will resume filming in 2023 and will be available in the UK and US on Amazon Freevee, the company's free streaming service.
Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce were among the old favourites who returned for the final episode, in which all the houses on Ramsay Street were up for sale. However, Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) and Ryan Moloney (Toadfish Rebecchi) will be among the cast members returning for the new series.
Fletcher described the news as 'incredible', while Donovan said he was 'thrilled'. However, actor Takaya Honda, who played David Tanaka, revealed on social media that many former cast members had not been told about the relaunch. He posted a picture of Fletcher, Woodburne and Moloney on Instagram, writing: 'Apart from these three and Steffan the rest of the cast are finding out with you.'
The show's producer, Dean Elliott, said the planned 'Farewell Tour' would now become a celebration of the show's return. TV critic Scott Bryan noted that this is likely the first time a major streamer has invested significantly in a soap, which is a costly commitment due to the large cast and permanent base.
In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, the new series will be on subscription service Amazon Prime Video, while it will also air on Network 10 in Australia. Previous episodes will be available to stream. Amazon executive Lauren Anderson said: 'Neighbours has captivated its audience for nearly 40 years... We look forward to immersing the audience in new Ramsay Street experiences.'
