The residents of Ramsay Street are returning – just months after they said an emotional farewell following 37 years on air.
Amazon Freevee and Fremantle announced the return of Neighbours, with a brand-new series to begin filming in Australia in 2023.
The continuation of the long-running daily drama series – about the lives, loves, and challenges of the residents of a fictional suburb of Melbourne – follows the finale earlier this year.
Filming ended after 37 years in June this year. Pic: Fremantle Australia/ Ray Messner
It featured a host of favourite characters returning to the cul-de-sac community and was watched by millions of fans.
The revitalised series will premiere exclusively for free on Amazon Freevee in the UK and US.
Actors Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Ryan Moloney (Jarrod “Toadfish” Rebecchi), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) and on-screen wife Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy) are returning to reprise their roles in the soap.
Donovan and Minogue (Scott and Charlene Robinson) were only in the soap for a few years before their pop careers took off, but returned for a cameo in the finale. Pic: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
In a social media teaser clip announcing the show’s return, Woodburne, 66, is seen in character telling the others about the news.
“We’re coming back,” she says, excitedly, to which Moloney responds, “I’m there!” with Fletcher saying: “Works for me.”
“Hang on, going to have to check my diary,” says Dennis, adding: “All right, I’ll make myself available. Happy?”
“We’re coming back!” – exclaim a delighted Maloney, Fletcher and Woodburne, embracing each other.
The soap opera first aired in Australia in 1985 before coming to the UK the following year.
It followed the lives of those living and working in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough.
The show was axed by Channel 5 from the UK TV schedule after nearly four decades and 8,903 episodes.
A 1987 photo of the cast of Neighbours, including Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. Pic: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
Although the series had lost viewers in recent years, it has always been a favourite in the UK.
The soap helped launch the careers of stars including Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia, Guy Pearce, Liam Hemsworth and Holly Valance.
The new series will also stream on Prime Video in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Production is set to begin in early 2023, with a world premiere expected to take place in the second half of the year.