'Neighbours' revamp fails to win viewers

Neighbours has failed to win back viewers in Australia after its much-hyped relaunch in July.

Producers gave the 22-year-old show a revamp to halt a fall in ratings, including new scripts, a new family and a return to "heart-wrenching family drama". Its famous theme tune was also re-recorded.

However, the soap has not attracted a substantially larger audience, despite cameos from celebrities such as Emma Bunton, Michael Parkinson and Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

It is now averaging about 801,000 viewers a night on Network Ten, just 3% more than prior to the relaunch. Rival soap Home and Away attracts an audience of over 1.4 million for Seven.

A Fusion Media analyst said producers Fremantle Media and Ten would not be happy with the ratings, telling Australia's Daily Telegraph: "At the time [of the relaunch], they were hoping for 900,000 to a million viewers." However, he added that Neighbours' audience share was "good" given its "tough" timeslot.

But the show is unlikely to be axed in Australia because of the large financial contribution it receives from Five in the UK. The channel paid around £300 million for the rights to the programme - which draws nearly six million viewers in its twice-daily slot on BBC One - in May this year.

Ten insisted it is standing by the show, saying it will take time for the changes to filter through and audience numbers to start climbing.

Neighbours will be shown on Five's main channel and digital service Five Life from 2008.