It could be the end of an era for the Australian soap Neighbours.
Channel 5 is dropping the show from its schedules later this year, meaning the drama's future is uncertain without another UK broadcaster's cash to fund its production.
Neighbours has been on air for 37 years, and has proved and important stepping stone in the careers of Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Chris Hemsworth and Russell Crowe, among others.
The show has been broadcast in over 60 countries but understood the UK market has been financially critical to it's survival.
The Journal.ie reports: "Neighbours was broadcast on the BBC from 1986 to 2008 before it moved to Channel 5. It was confirmed over the weekend that Channel 5 wold be dropping the soap to allow funding to be diverted to original UK dramas."
However, there could be a glimmer of hope among the gloom, as the Journal.ie reports RTE is in talks with makers of the programme.
Neighbours has been broadcast on Irish TV since 2000 and the Journal says: "in a response to questions about its future on Irish television, a spokesperson for RTÉ said: “RTÉ is currently in talks with Freemantle in relation to Neighbours”.
