Neighbours: Natalie Bassingthwaighte ‘devastated’ soap could be ending

Neighbours legend Natalie Bassingthwaighte has shared her heartache that long-running soap Neighbours could potentially be coming to an end after 37 years.

The show’s future hangs in the balance after UK broadcaster Channel 5 confirmed its decision not to renew their contract to air the Aussie soap with producers Fremantle Australia last week.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday, the 46-year-old – who played Izzy Hoyland from 2003 to 2006 before making several guest appearances years later – said she was devastated.

‘It’s devastating for everyone that’s been involved in the past almost 40 years, but mainly the people who are there now – it’s their livelihood,’ she said.

Although the show is filmed in Australia, Channel 5 bankrolls most of the production.

According to industry site TV Blackbox, ‘it’s unlikely [Channel] 10 can keep producing [the show]’ without financial backing from an international broadcaster.

Natalie added: ‘I’m only hoping that someone will come in and save the day. I think there’s still hope, but my heart goes out to everyone that’s there.’

When asked if she’d spoken to any of the cast members about the soap’s end, she replied: ‘I have… it’s a hard time for everyone.’

Natalie starred as the soap’s most love-to-hate character Izzy who famously had an affair with Dr Karl Kennedy, played by Alan Fletcher.

In real life, she is happily married to her Rogue Traders bandmate Cameron McGlinchey and they share two children, daughter Harper, 11, and son Hendrix, seven.

In a statement released on Sunday, Channel Five confirmed their decision not to renew their contract to air Neighbours soap with producers Fremantle Australia.

Fremantle later emailed staff saying filming would end on June 10, and absent any new broadcaster emerging to provide the funds to resume production, the show looked to be at an end.

Channel 5’s statement read: ‘It’s been a much-loved part of our schedule for more than a decade, and we’d like to thank the cast, Fremantle and all of the production team for their fantastic work on this iconic series.

‘We’d also of course like to thank the fans for their loyal support of Neighbours across the years.

‘We recognise that there will be disappointment about this decision, however our current focus is on increasing our investment in original UK drama, which has strong appeal for our viewers.’

In an email to cast seen by The Herald Sun, the show’s executive producer Jason Herbison confirmed the soap’s run as an institution of Australian and British television was all but over.

‘As you know the future of the show has been uncertain for some time,’ it read. ‘Our audience remains steady and Channel 10 would love the show to continue if we could find another broadcast partner to replace C5.

‘These discussions are ongoing however there is no new broadcaster at the moment and production must end, effectively resting the show.

‘We are so proud of the show, you all and everything that you’ve achieved. But for now, this chapter is closing and we want to work together to give Neighbours the amazing send-off it deserves.’

Channel 10 released a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, confirming they have every intention of finding a new broadcast partner.

The statement read: ‘As outlined in the email to cast and crew, it is our intention to continue our association with Neighbours if another broadcast partner comes forward.

‘Network 10 has an ongoing commitment to the show, the cast and crew and is hopeful that Fremantle will find a new production partner. We will provide further updates as they become available.’

Meanwhile, Natalie is currently fronting a body-confident campaign with Dove who discovered that three in four Aussie teen girls are using filters to change their appearance by the time they’re 13, and more than 75 per cent will delete a selfie if they didn’t look ‘perfect’ in it.

The statistics are 30 per cent more than the global average.

Natalie called for a ban on ‘distorting’ filters in an interview with Daily Mail Australia, and said: ‘I personally would like to call on a ban on being able to distort your body.

‘I don’t think young children should be allowed to use these filters. That is an outstanding number to me.

‘The accessibility to be able to correct your body in such a way is causing such harm, and it’s so damaging. I would advocate for that to be eradicated, 100 per cent.’

She continued: ‘I want young girls and boys to know that a lot of people who are using filters don’t necessarily look like that.

‘I don’t want them to focus so much energy on their looks, I want them to be confident in who they are as individuals and what difference they can make in the world.’