The BBC is threatening to drop Neighbours after 21 years, it said on Thursday. The Corporation is currently in the middle of negotiations to renew its contract for the daytime show, but has accused distributor Fremantle of making 'unrealistic and greedy' demands. The breakdown of contract talks will open the way for ITV and Five to bid for the Aussie soap. BBC director of acquisitions George McGhee told Broadcast magazine: "If a deal is not reached in the very, very near future, we will withdraw the money and move it elsewhere. "We've made a good offer which is about to be withdrawn." An insider said the demands were 'unrealistic and greedy'. The BBC pays about £25,000 per episode but Fremantle are reportedly seeking a rise to more than £70,000. Neighbours is the most popular show on terrestrial daytime television, other than the BBC One lunchtime news. It has aired twice a day on the channel since 1986. Landing the show would be a coup for ITV1, which has struggled at teatime since losing Home And Away to Five and Paul O'Grady to Channel 4.
