In a move that has sent shockwaves through the UK television world, Channel 5 has officially removed Home and Away from its daytime schedule for the first time in nearly 25 years,

ending an era that began back in July 2001. What was once a beloved staple of the channel’s early afternoon programming — a daily tradition for millions — is now being shifted off

the main network entirely. And unsurprisingly, fans are furious. Channel 5 confirmed the bombshell decision today, announcing that beginning January 2026,

the iconic Australian soap will no longer air on Channel 5 at all, instead continuing exclusively on 5Star and the broadcaster’s streaming platform. For a generation of viewers who grew up with Summer Bay residents brightening their weekday afternoons, the news feels nothing short of heartbreaking.

A Dramatic End to a Longstanding Tradition

For decades, fans of Home and Away have relied on Channel 5’s mid-afternoon slot — most recently at 1:45 p.m. — to get their fix of drama, romance, heartbreak, and suspense. But now, that familiar viewing window is being completely scrapped.

Since March 2025, the show adopted a hybrid release strategy: new episodes debuted at 6:00 a.m. on the Channel 5 streaming platform, followed by a first-look double bill on 5Star at 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., before finally airing on Channel 5 the following afternoon.

But that final step — the Channel 5 airing — is the one now being eliminated.

Starting January:

• No more afternoon episodes on Channel 5
• Fans must turn to streaming for daytime viewing
• 5Star will remain the home for evening broadcasts, with the 6:00 p.m. repeat and 6:30 p.m. new episode
• Channel 5’s main network will no longer be part of the Home and Away schedule

The afternoon broadcast, which once anchored the channel’s weekday lineup, will vanish — leaving many long-time viewers stunned.

Channel 5 Doubles Down on Streaming

In a press release announcing the change, Channel 5 blamed — or credited — rapidly evolving viewer habits. According to the network, Home and Away’s transition into a “streaming-first title” back in early 2025 produced dramatic results.

The numbers, quite simply, were too powerful to ignore:

• Viewing hours surged by 17% year-on-year in the show’s first month as a streaming-first title
• Each consecutive month outperformed the previous year, showing consistent audience growth
• The most recent data showed a record-breaking 23% increase in engagement, proving that fans have adapted to watching online

These statistics painted a clear picture: viewers were embracing on-demand viewing far faster than anticipated. That momentum, Channel 5 claims, made the decision to drop the daytime broadcast “a natural next step.”

Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor for the channel, stated:

“Home and Away has been a phenomenal success for us on streaming. Viewers have fully embraced the flexibility of on-demand viewing, driving double-digit year-on-year growth and making streaming the preferred way to watch the show.”

Barnett added that moving daytime episodes completely online better reflects modern viewing habits — though his comments have done little to ease fan frustration.

Fans Blast the Decision: “It’s the End of an Era”

Unsurprisingly, the reaction across social media has been explosive.

Longtime viewers — many of whom have followed the show for decades — are calling the move “a betrayal,” “deeply disappointing,” and, in some cases, “the final straw” in Channel 5’s handling of international soaps. Others worry that the shift to 5Star and streaming may hurt the show’s UK visibility over time, possibly even threatening its future.

Thousands of fans shared how Home and Away had become a comforting part of their daily routine:

• “I’ve watched this show at 1:45 p.m. since I was a teenager. This is devastating.”
• “Not everyone wants or can stream! Why is everything being pushed online?”
• “They did this to Neighbours… now they’re doing it to Home and Away. Shameful.”

Many also drew immediate comparisons to Neighbours, which met its own tragic fate on Channel 5 in 2023 after the broadcaster pulled out of funding and scheduling it — a decision that led directly to the show’s cancellation before its temporary revival by Amazon.

The loss of Home and Away from the main channel feels, to many fans, like history repeating itself.

The Ghost of Neighbours Looms Large

Channel 5’s announcement comes during a bittersweet moment in the soap world: the final week of Neighbours — once again — as the revived version airs its last-ever episodes.

After Amazon Freevee rescued Neighbours following Channel 5’s withdrawal, the show enjoyed a brief revival. However, after a two-year deal and a 60-episode extension, Amazon Studios decided not to renew the series. Its final episode airs on Thursday, 11 December.

The timing of Channel 5’s decision has only sharpened fan fears. Many worry that pulling Home and Away off Channel 5 proper echoes the same step that preceded the demise of Neighbours.

Though Home and Away is not in immediate danger of cancellation, the optics have left viewers anxious — and outraged.

A Cliffhanger Christmas Break Adds to the Shock

All of this drama comes while Home and Away is currently off the air for its annual UK Christmas break. The final episode before the hiatus aired on:

• 5Star: Thursday, 19 November
• Channel 5: Friday, 21 November

Fans were already waiting anxiously for the show’s return in early 2026 — and now, they’re returning to a completely transformed broadcasting landscape.

What This Means for the Future of Home and Away

While Channel 5 paints the decision as a positive evolution, the move undeniably shifts the show’s relationship with UK audiences:

• It reduces visibility for casual viewers
• It reinforces streaming as the dominant mode of consumption
• It pushes loyal daytime viewers into new viewing habits
• It raises long-term questions about the show’s placement and support

Still, the show remains one of the most-watched Australian exports in UK television history, and its strong streaming numbers suggest that Home and Away continues to have a devoted — and growing — fanbase.

What remains to be seen is whether the shift will strengthen the show’s future through digital expansion…
Or whether removing it from Channel 5’s flagship lineup marks the beginning of a slow fade.

For now, one thing is certain: