Don’t stream.. it’s over
Neighbours legend Stefan warns of trouble for Corrie
NEIGHBOURS star Stefan Dennis says top soaps such as Coronation Street face the axe unless they go on to streaming channels.
The actor, 63, has filmed his last scene as ruthless businessman Paul Robinson in the Aussie soap, which is ending after 37 years.
Stefan, who had been in the show since the first episode in 1985, said: “Though I would have loved Neighbours to be the first recognised commercial soap to make the switch to a streaming channel, sadly there were no takers.
“My concern is that if a soap does not soon make that transition, we will start to see the demise of these beloved programmes. That would be an incredible shame because, like them or hate them, they bring viewers great pleasure and they provide work and training in the industry.”
He said the survival of favourites such as Corrie, which began in 1960, and US show Days of Our Lives, on since 1965, is in fans’ hands.
Neighbours has been broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 since 2008 and on 10 Peach in Australia since 2011.
In March, producer Fremantle Media revealed it had not found a buyer for future episodes.
Stefan said: “No amount of wailing and upset from fans is going to stop what was an extremely tough economic decision that Channel 5 never wanted to make.
“Ultimately, Neighbours is a product in the big business of film and television.”
Stefan described filming the last scenes on Neighbours as a “melancholy day”.
Guy Pearce, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan have reprised their roles for the final episode, to air on August 1.
So too have Ian Smith (Harold Bishop), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy) and Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy).
No amount of wailing from fans was going to stop a tough economic decision STEFAN DENNIS ACTOR ON NEIGHBOURS BEING AXED