'Neighbours' longtime casting director axed?

A backstage shakeup at Neighbours has left a question mark over the future of the soap's longtime casting director Jan Russ.

Russ's future with the series has been called into question after it was announced Fremantle Media, the makers of Neighbours, were bringing on an external casting agency.

"It is part of the evolution of the programme," Fremantle spokesman Steve Murphy told the Herald Sun. "We have looked at every facet of Neighbours production, and what will be the best practice moving forward.

"The casting role is critical to the show, it is an enormous job and it continues to grow by the day. We continue to discuss with Jan her role with the show, as her skill and talents are incredible."

Russ, who has been with Neighbours since the series' inception in 1985, has helped launch the careers of some of the soap's biggest success stories including Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem, Jesse Spencer and Guy Pearce.