The celebrations that erupted yesterday following the announcement that iconic Australian TV soap opera Neighbours will return to production next year have quickly soured after details of casting decisions were released.

The show which first aired 37 years ago and grew to become a global hit with loyal audiences in both Australia and in the United Kingdom was axed four months ago.

But yesterday its production company Fremantle Australia revealed a deal with Amazon’s streaming service to screen a revived Neighbours from 2023 in Australia as well as in the UK and USA.

The news was welcomed by some of the show’s main players including Ryan Moloney, Jackie Woodburne, and Alan Fletcher (below) who said they were looking forward to once again playing the main characters inhabiting the fictitious Ramsay Street cul-de-sac in fictitious Erinsborough in Melbourne where Neighbours is set.

But I am told that all three and two other former cast members have since been advised that their services will not be required for the revived show.

“All of the top cast have been shocked to learn that a secret deal has been struck by Fremantle with former prime minister Scott Morrison to play five lead roles,” a source within the company told me.

“Morrison has already shot a screen test playing Jackie Woodburne’s character Susan Kennedy (main picture) as well as assuming Moloney’s long-running role as Toadie Rebecchi, and replacing Alan Fletcher as Karl Kennedy.

“Morrison will also play the character of Paul Robinson, replacing Neighbours veteran Stefan Dennis,” the insider told me.

The former PM could not be contacted for comment, but my Fremantle source says producers have also cast Morrison as Harold Bishop, the popular, chubby, bespectacled, middle-aged character played by Ian Smith since 1987. (below)

“That was an easy decision for them to make since having Morrison play Harold Bishop means there is no need for any make-up whatsoever,” my source told me.