Three million British viewers tuned in for the final episode of Australian soap Neighbours, which saw a TV stalwart leave after 37 years. The double-episode special drew that peak audience as the show ended with an average audience of 2.5 million, according to the night’s numbers.
The hour-long finale aired on Friday evening in the UK on Channel 5. Fans took to social media to praise the latest show, which recruited star alumni Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Margot Robbie made a cameo from Los Angeles, while singers Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance filmed a scene from London, where they both live.
The biggest praise from fans went to Guy Pearce, who reprized his role as Mike Young for the hour-long episode and committed wholeheartedly to his story arc, which saw him reunite with the his school sweetheart Jane, played by Annie Jones.
Channel 5 said viewing figures on Friday night were the highest since it began airing the show in 2008. Ben Frow, head of Paramount (which owns Channel 5), told the Guardian:
“I suspect there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience when Neighbors bowed last night.
“We wanted to give it a proper and respectful end and I hope that our night dedicated to the Neighbors has achieved that.
“Last night really was the end of an era. The response from viewers on the night has been very moving, even if they wish the end didn’t have to come.”
