Production company Fremantle Media has confirmed that Neighbours will end its 37-year broadcast run this summer.
Earlier this year Channel 5 announced that it had decided not to renew its deal for the soap, despite it continuing to pull in as many as 1.4 million viewers for the broadcaster every day.
As C5 provided the lion's share of funding for the show, the news meant that it would be forced to end if another UK partner could not be found - and in a statement today, Fremantle announced that its search had been unsuccessful.
The statement said: "We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June.
"Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show
"To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours."
Neighbours stalwart Ian Smith, 83, has reprised his role as Harold Bishop for the swansong, as has Peter O'Brien, who played Shane Ramsay between 1985 and 1987. Other high-profile former cast members believed to have been approached include Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce and Natalie Imbruglia.
Filming of the show is expected to end in mid-June, with the final episodes airing on Channel 5 in the UK in August and on 10 Peach down under in September.
Neil Wilkes
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