The Australian soap airs its final ever episode on Channel 5 in the UK on Friday night.
And just hours before, Neighbours icon Alan Fletcher surprised EastEnders fans as he swapped Ramsay Street for Albert Square in a special farewell clip posted to social media.
As well as clever interaction which saw Alan playing himself in a scene with some cast members of the BBC soap, stars sent heartwarming messages to the cast and crew of the Aussie show.
Surprise! Neighbours icon Alan Fletcher surprised EastEnders fans as he swapped Ramsay Street for Albert Square in a special farewell clip posted to social media, on Friday
In the short video, Linda Carter, played by actress Kellie Bright, is sat expressing her sadness over Neighbours coming to an end.
When actor Alan – who recently revealed he has been diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss – unexpectedly pops into Bridge Street Cafe looking for a taxi in order to make a ‘swift exit,’ Linda is stunned.
She leaps to her feet and, after confirming that it’s ‘Dr Karl Kennedy’, swiftly asks Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty, to take a photograph of her with the Australian soap star.
Following the scene, many EastEnders actors and actresses are shown in turn saying meaningful goodbyes to Neighbours.
Swift exit! Alan pops into Bridge Street Cafe looking for a taxi to make a ‘swift exit’
Delighted! In the short video, Linda Carter, played by actress Kellie Bright, is sat expressing her sadness over Neighbours coming to an end when actor unexpectedly Alan pops in
Those who sent messages included Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, who thanked Neighbours for giving people ’37 years of joy.’
EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher, sent her own well wishes and told cast and crew to be ‘really proud.’
Danny Dyer, who stars as Mick Carter in EastEnders wished everyone good luck and admitted he was ‘gutted’ to see the Aussie soap go.
Neighbours: The Finale is being broadcast at 9pm on Friday July 29, 2022 on Channel 5 as a double episode special.
Sad: Those who sent messages included Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, who thanked Neighbours for giving people ’37 years of joy’
Be proud! EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher, sent well wishes
The send-off promises to have something for everyone, spanning all generations and decades from the opening scene in 1985, to the final episode in 2022.
The beleaguered soap opera faced an uncertain future following its cancellation by original network Channel 5, where it has spent the last 14 of its 37 years on British TV.
And Fremantle Media, the production company responsible for its development confirmed it would be taken off-air indefinitely over the summer after an ‘extensive search for alternative funding’ ended in failure.
News of the finale air date comes after it was reported that the stars of Neighbours will reportedly embark on a ‘farewell tour’ of the UK after the finale episode.
Gutted! Danny Dyer, who stars as Mick Carter in EastEnders wished everyone good luck
Farewell! A message flashed up to wish Neighbours a fond farewell
Alan’s EastEnders cameo comes after he recently revealed he has been diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss but said he finds his new look ‘fun.’
It can affect hair on any part of the body and can happen to anyone at any age – it can be triggered by stress.
Earlier this year the Neighbours actor addressed fans’ concerns about his health after he recently debuted a bald head.
Alan reassured fans he’s okay in a video posted to the show’s Twitter account in May as he explained his diagnosis.
‘I started to lose hair into my beard and then on my scalp in patches. So eventually I shaved my beard off, and then my hair became so patchy on my head, I had to get rid of most of that as well,’ he explained.
Legacy: Actor Alan – who has starred as Karl Kennedy since 1994 – recently revealed he was diagnosed with alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss (throwback snap)
A synopsis for the Neighbours finale reads: ‘Jane gives Mike a tour of all the Ramsay Street houses before the go under the hammer. As old feelings stir, Clive’s jealousy leads to a shocking confrontation.
‘Harold asks Karl and Susan to be the custodians of the history book. Faced with her beloved friends and neighbours leaving, Susan struggles with her feelings.
‘As Toadie and Melanie’s wedding gets underway, Terese and Paul confront their unresolved feelings.’
Neighbours released a heartwarming finale trailer ahead of its last ever episode, teasing that fans will be in for an emotional hour as some of the stars bid farewell, while others return to the iconic Ramsay Street.
The 40 second video starts with a shot of the iconic Ramsay Street sign while Harold Bishop reflects on his time in Erinsborough by saying: ‘It certainly feels like the end of an era. It all goes so quickly.’
Finale: The send-off promises to have something for everyone, spanning all generations and decades from the opening scene in 1985, to the final episode in 2022 (Pictured: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan as Charlene and Scott)
The trailer shows that Kylie Minogue and her real-life ex Jason Donovan have finally reunited to play Scott and Charlene one last time for their final scenes on Neighbours.
The couple are seen leaning against their car, as they take in the surroundings and reminisce on their time together in the town.
In the 80s, the show was unstoppable with Kylie and Jason’s onscreen wedding as Scott and Charlene was watched by two million Australians on July 1, 1987.
Their union was an even bigger attraction when it aired in the UK a year later, drawing 19.6 million viewers, making it Britain’s third most-watched show of 1988.
Kylie and Jason, who were dating in real life at the time were household names in both countries, and would each go on to launch music careers in the UK.
Elsewhere in the trailer, a number of Neighbours legends return to our screens including Joel Samuels (Daniel McPherson) and Mike Young (Guy Pearce).
It ends with a shot of the street and Susan Kennedy saying: ‘We might be leaving the street, but we’re always going to be in each other’s lives. Always.’
And Margot Robbie is set to return to her old stomping ground of Neighbours in a cameo filmed over Zoom, news.com.au reported on Sunday.
The 32-year-old, who played Donna Freedman on the soap between 2008 and 2011, was reportedly unable to fly home to shoot the scenes.
Instead, she recorded an appearance over video link, and sent pricey Champagne to the cast as thanks.
The publication reported that former stars Delta Goodrem, Kym Valentine, Carla Bonner and Jesse Spencer are all set to return too.
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