Britain's Channel 5 set to produce a spin-off of iconic Aussie soap Neighbours

Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan in the Australian soap Neighbours, which is getting its first spin-off after 25 years on air. Photo / Supplied

Britain's Channel 5 has greenlit a spin-off of the iconic Aussie soap Neighbours, which has been on the air in the UK since the mid-1980s.

The show launched the careers of Margot Robbie, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

Neighbours: Erinsborough High will be a five-episode series that will play on My5, Channel 5's on-demand service. The platform has been stocking up on Australian drama in recent times, buying shows such as Bloom from Sony and Pulse from ABC Commercial.

Fremantle media will produce and distribute the Neighbours spin-off series. The show will follow what goes on behind the school gates of Erinsborough High during the exam period, with the disappearance of one of the Year 12 students sparking revelations.

The storyline will run in parallel to the linear show on Channel 5 and will feature well-known characters from the hit TV show as well as new faces.

Neighbours helped make stars of actors including Margot Robbie, pictured here in 2009. Photo / Getty Images

RTL-owned producer and distributor Fremantle and Channel 5 sealed a new deal for the Aussie soap in 2017 after lengthy talks that had at one point threatened to see Neighbours taken off British screens after more than three decades.

The new agreement included a larger number of episodes per year as well as specials.

"Neighbours continues to be a popular show, which has brought enjoyment to audiences for many years, so it's hugely exciting to bring its first ever spin-off series to fans in the UK exclusively on My5," said Oli Thomas, vice president digital lead at Channel 5.

Neighbours actors Sam Clark and Stefan Dennis, pictured in 2007. Photo / Getty Images

Neighbours recently introduced the show's first trans character in its near-35-year run.

The story of Mackenzie Hargraves ⁠— played by the Australian trans activist Georgie Stone ⁠— centres on the character befriending Yashvi Rebecchi, a fellow student at her school; revealing that she is trans; being accepted by her new friend and having her classmates stand up for her right to use the female bathrooms.