Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has defended Channel 5 over their shocking decision to axe the Australian soap.
Channel 5 removed Neighbours from schedules so they could focus on dramas made in the UK.
Fremantle Media, the production company that made the soap, extensively searched for another home but wasn’t successful and this Friday, the final ever episode will air.
When asked if continuing to make the show for a UK audience was a possibility, Ben Frow, boss of Channel 5, admitted that it was, but went on to say that he decided to spend the money on ‘UK shows’, which he claims is a better use of the funds.
‘Or I could spend the money on other things, which is what I decided to do’, he told Radio Times. ‘I can better spend the Neighbours money on UK shows.’
Despite the controversial decision, Stefan Dennis, known for his role as Paul Robinson, was certain Channel 5 shouldn’t be seen as bad people:
‘Literally, it’s an economic decision. People must realise that it’s not a case of, “Oh, Channel 5 doesn’t like it anymore” or “the ratings are down’. I mean, if anything, the ratings are up’, he told Digital Spy.
‘It’s just an economic decision, and in business, that’s what happens. That happens in business every single day. If a show can’t get the income for the outgoings, then of course, no business is going to hang onto that. It doesn’t matter how sentimental.
He continued: ‘I think both Channel 5 and [Australian network] Channel 10 really did hang on for absolutely as long as they could. Channel 5 was clutching it by the fingernails by the end.
‘They were incredibly upset. They were made out to be the bad guys but Channel 5 were actually the good guys, believe it or not, even though they were the ones that made the decision – only because Channel 5 had just backed this show so incredibly.’
Teasing the show’s finale, he added: ‘The only tiny snippet I can give you is, it’s not going to be sad. It’s going to be very happy. Neighbours is going to go out with a really good bang. It’s going to go out with a feel-good ending. I personally believe the show deserves that. It’s bad enough that it’s been cut short, so, let’s dignify it with the ending that it deserves, let’s make everybody feel really good about the show, and what it’s done over nearly four decades.’
A few days ago, Neighbours announced the return of even more iconic characters, including Hollywood’s Margot Robbie.
Delta Goodrem (Nina Tucker), Kym Valentine (Libby Kennedy), Carla Bonner (Steph Scully), Jesse Spencer (Billy Kennedy) will also join Margot and many more famous faces for the hour-long finale this Friday.
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