ICONIC Aussie soap ‘Neighbours’ is facing the chop after 36 years on UK screens – but its army of fans, including Melksham News reporter Ben Fenlon, are not prepared to let the soap go without a fight! 
Broadcaster Channel Five announced this month that it will be pulling its funding of the show, leaving its future in doubt. Without another UK broadcaster to take its place, the show will stop filming in June this year, and its final episodes broadcast in August.
As the news broke, its fans launched a ‘Save Neighbours’ campaign, pleading for Channel Five to change its mind, or for another channel to step in and save the day.
Last year, Melksham News reporter, Ben, was crowned the UK’s biggest Neighbours superfan after beating his idol and Neighbours legend, Stefan Dennis aka Paul Robinson, in a head-to-head quiz on BBC Radio 2. Now, to support the campaign to save the soap, Ben has appeared on numerous radio shows on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Wiltshire and BBC Somerset. He even appeared on Channel Five prime-time news, and graced the pages of national tabloid, The Sun.
Ben and the ‘Save Neighbours’ army also succeeded in pushing the Neighbours theme tune to the top of the charts – hitting number one on the iTunes singles chart. In just a matter of days, an online petition against Channel Five’s decision exceeded 50,000 signatures.
“It has been a real rollercoaster since the news broke,” said Ben. “Neighbours means so much to so many people – and that’s been made clear by the outpouring of support and love for the show. For me, I’ve watched the show since I was about seven years old, and I can connect it to so many important moments in my life – it was an episode of Neighbours that helped me come out as gay to my mum; and an episode featuring the death of Toadie’s wife, Sonya, provided a cathartic release for me, shortly after my mum died in 2018.
“And the show still has so much more to give – it’s much more than just Scott and Charlene, and Bouncer the dog’s dream! It’s better than ever at the moment, it’s on a creative high with a great mix of characters, and it is one of Channel Five’s most-watched shows – it feels unjust and cruel to cut it down in its prime!”
Local MP, Michelle Donelan, Minister of State for Universities and secret Neighbours fan, has also pledged her support to the campaign. She told Melksham News, “Now I have been outed as a Neighbours fan, I must admit it is my guilty pleasure. I too have been a bit worried about this, but I have seen recent reports that show that RTL might be taking it, so there is hope yet for Neighbours – we’ll keep our fingers crossed and yes, I will join the campaign to save Neighbours!”
To support the ‘Save Neighbours’ campaign, sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/channel-5-channel-5-don-t-axe-neighbours
