Former Neighbours star Natalie Imbruglia has shared her thoughts on the news that the long-running Australian soap could be coming to an end, saying that it would be "devastating" if the show were to finish.
After it was announced last week that Channel 5 is dropping Neighbours in the UK from August, it was confirmed that, if another UK production partner cannot be found for the soap, it will take an indefinite break from filming in June.
Natalie played Beth Brennan in Neighbours between 1992 and 1994 and she has now responded to the news of Neighbours' uncertain future, telling hosts JK and Kelly Brook on Heart Breakfast today (February 14) that she is very keen for the soap to have a reprieve.
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"Oh I think it's really sad!" she said of the situation. "I mean, who wants life without Neighbours? Let's face it."
She also threw her support behind the fan petition to keep the show on the air, which has already secured over 50,000 signatures in a week.
"I think at this point we just thought it was gonna go on forever so, you know, people are petitioning. Here's hoping they pull it off," she said, adding that she isn't ready to see Beth's Neighbours legacy end just yet.
"There's a character on the show who's my son!" she said, referencing Ned Willis (Ben Hall). "I mean, I think it'd be devastating. What's going to happen to my son?"
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Natalie isn't the first iconic Neighbours star to speak out about the show's axe, with Jason Donovan, Annie Jones, Takaya Honda, Alan Fletcher, Jackie Woodburne and Lucinda Cowden all throwing their support behind Neighbours in recent days.
The soap's executive producer Jason Herbison has promised fans that, if the show does wrap up this summer, its final few months will definitely leave the door open for a potential revival.
"We are very proud of everything Neighbours has achieved," he said. "We see the next few months as being a huge celebration for the show with a bit of everything for viewers. Any ending will be respectful of the past, the present and always open to a future."
Tune into Heart Breakfast with JK and Kelly Brook (in for Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden) on weekdays from 6.30am - 10am.
Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 (UK) and Mondays to Thursdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia).
