Home and Away channel 5
Soaps

Channel 5 axes Home and Away for new evening news hour

The Australian drama has been removed from its timeslot

| Updated:

Home and Away has been axed by Channel 5 to make way for a new news hour in the evenings.

The shock move will see the Aussie soap only airing at lunchtimes now in the UK.

Home and Away
Home and Away has been axed from its evening broadcast (Credit: Channel 5)

Previously it aired first at 1.15pm and then again at 6pm but no longer.

The Australian soap has become a casualty of Channel 5’s new nightly schedule that has seen its broadcast axed.

Instead, an hour-long news bulletin will air at 5pm, pushing Neighbours to 6pm.

Read more: Coronation Street fans in hysterics over Norris Cole’s revenge on the paperboy

However, it’s not all bad news for Home and Away fans.

With the evening broadcast axed, 5STAR will air a first look episode each night at 6.30pm.

The news comes after it was reported the soap was facing the axe after 31 years in its native country.

Home and Away - Summer 2018 Trailer

How long has Home and Away been on?

The soap, which airs on Channel 5 in the UK and Channel Seven in Australia, first came onto our screens in 1988 and introduced an unforgettable theme tune and countless loveable characters who lived in Summer Bay.

Alf and Ailsa Stewart, Marylin Palmer (Emily Symons), Donald Fisher, Kim Hyde (who was played by Chris Hemsworth) and Emma Jackson (Dannii Minogue) all became household names in the UK as well as Down Under.

The show is said to be at risk over pressure on ratings from reality shows and other dramas.

Home and Away's Bella attacks Irene
Lynne McCranger hit out at the 2019 reports (Credit: Channel 5)

Home and Away axe rumours explained

The soap’s home channel Channel Seven is said to be “under pressure” to make changes to its scheduling but could cancel the soap completely, the report says.

Airing at 7pm in Australia, the soap is up against popular reality show Married At First Sight.

But the channel declined to comment on the 2019 reports.

Read more: Emmerdale: Jamie Tate is ALIVE and faked his death, say fans

However, cast member Lynne McGranger – Irene Roberts to fans – hit out at the 2019 claims.

She insisted they were false and pointed out the soap was five months ahead of its own filming schedule.

Channel 5 have been contacted for comment.

Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!