Channel 5 has confirmed speculation that it is dropping Neighbours from its lineup this summer.
As it stands the announcement effectively means that the Aussie soap - on air since 1985 - will be axed unless another UK broadcaster is able to step in and help to fund its budget.
The show enjoyed huge ratings in the UK in the late '80s, with more than 21 million viewers tuning in at its peak, although audiences have steadily declined and are reportedly at the level where they are now unprofitable for Channel 5.
In a statement to Sky News, the broadcaster said: "Neighbours will no longer air on Channel 5 beyond this summer.
"It has been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we'd like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series.
"We'd also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years.
"We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers."
Aussie broadcaster Network 10 will be unable to support the soap further without a new UK partner on board.
Neil Wilkes
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