Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan confirmed to return for Neighbours finale

Virgin Radio

3 May 2022, 08:40

Neighbours legends Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan have confirmed they will be returning to Ramsey Street one last time as the beloved soap comes to an end.

In February this year, Channel 5 announced the devastating news that they would no longer be airing Neighbours beyond the summer, resulting in the show’s cancellation.

A statement on the official Neighbours Twitter said: “We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.”

The news, of course, caused uproar among long-standing fans of the soap and former cast members, and many took to social media to pay tribute to the show.

At the time, Minogue wrote on Twitter: “I’ll be forever grateful for the experience & the friends I made on Neighbours. We had no idea how big the show would become and how passionately viewers would take it to heart. Pure love.”

Her comment sparked a lot of viewers to call for her return to the show alongside onscreen lover Jason Donovan.

It has now been confirmed that the pair will be making a comeback to the show after they both shared an image of a script for the final series of the soap on Instagram.

Those who have been watching Neighbours for a long time will remember Minogue played Charlene Mitchel and Donovan played Scott Robinson back in 1986 before either of them had a music career.

They were hugely popular characters, and their wedding episode was watched by almost 20 million people in the UK when it aired in 1988, making it one of the most-watched TV moments of the decade.

Since Minogue left the soap in 1988 and Donovan in the following year, there have been rumours of their return for various anniversary episodes, but nothing has ever happened until now.

Speaking about their return to the soap, executive producer Jason Herbison said: “I think it’s time to celebrate Neighbours. It has kept my family employed for a long time, to be honest. My daughter is currently in it, my dad was in it. I think we should be grateful for what it’s given Australia, it’s given actors, producers, writers, directors.”

Filming for Neighbours is expected to wrap on 10 June, with final episodes airing in August.