Neighbours tops Channel 5's ratings one week after final scenes were filmed

 The final total will increase once recordings and catch-up numbers are added..

Neighbours are going out on a high as they topped Channel 5's ratings a week after the final scenes of the beloved Aussie soap were filmed.

Liam Hamilton, the go-to guy for UK TV ratings, wrote on Twitter that Friday's episode (June 17) was the broadcaster's most-watched with 520,000 viewers during its lunchtime airing at 1:45pm and their teatime 6pm repeat collected another 350,000 viewers.

However, these are just overnight figures, and the final total will increase once recordings and catch-up numbers are added.

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Fans will be able to enjoy the show for a few more weeks as the final episode will be airing on August 1.

The show's cancellation is still raw for the cast, with Georgie Stone admitting she learnt of the axe on Twitter.

Speaking exclusively to , the actress, who plays Mackenzie Hargreaves, said: "It is a real shame. I was really sad" about Neighbours' demise.

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She continued: "I saw the news first online – on Twitter – and I didn't know if it was real or not until I got a call from one of the producers, saying that it was true.

"It's not fun to find out that you're losing your job via social media."

The actress admits that it brought up a decision she had made previously, revealing: "I think I was going to leave at some point this year anyway, but I was sad that there wouldn't be future generations of young actors who get to have this experience on the show."

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Meanwhile, the soap veteran Stefan Dennis has overall concerns about the genre's future.

"Simply put, it is all about the quickly changing landscape in the way we view our favourite TV shows," he said, writing for WA Today.

Adding: "Drama on free-to-air television is dying a rapid death because nowadays viewers are used to being able to watch what they want when they want."

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 and streams on My5. In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach and streams on 10 Play.