TV legend was secretly sacked from his iconic soap role

Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has revealed he was once ‘secretly sacked’ after soap bosses deemed the character to be ‘too big’.

The actor, 66, has played ruthless businessman Paul Robinson in the Australian serial since the very first episode, which aired 40 years ago this week.

However, his career could have been very different had the show not been picked up by rival broadcaster Network 10 in 1986, after creators Seven Network dropped it after just eight months on air.

Stefan continued in the role until 1992, reprising the part for Neighbours’ 2000th episode the following year.

Twelve years later, to coincide with the 20th anniversary celebrations, he was convinced by on-screen dad Alan Dale, who played Jim Robinson, to return once again.

‘Alan said, “Why are you not doing it Stef? Neighbours is a fantastic gig”‘ Stefan recalled.

‘And the next thing, he said, was the thing that made me do it? He said, “You’re only an actor if you’re working.” And I thought, “You know what. you’re dead right.”

‘The two weeks became a month, and the month became three months, became six, and the six became 20 years.

‘It makes me laugh when people say, “You must get bored playing the same character in the same show, day after day.” No, I don’t, because I am doing something different every single day.’

Last month – in a moment which mirrored the soap’s axing in 2022 – it was announced that time had been called on Neighbours once again, and the final episode will air in December.

This is now the third time it has been pulled, though for Stefan, the fifth time he has said goodbye to Paul.

Continuing to TV Tonight, he said: ‘I’ve actually left the show five times. I left the show when it was axed from Channel Seven in 1985, I left my own volition in 1992 when I was going to go out and sow my wild seeds, I came back in 2004.

‘Unbeknownst to a lot of people, I was actually sacked in 2006 because producers didn’t know what to do with the character anymore, because they’d made him too big.

‘I was actually sacked for about three days before they changed their minds and got me back.

‘Then I was sacked again when the show finished (in 2022), and now being sacked again.’

He continued: ‘So this is five times that I’ve actually left the show. But it’s three times that this show has actually been axed which has created yet another piece of history.

‘It’s the only show in the world, as an ongoing serial, that’s been axed three times.’

Stefan is at the centrepiece of this week’s big 40th celebrations, as Paul discovers he has fathered an eighth child to devious Chelsea Murphy (Viva Bianca).

‘I’m bit disappointed in Paul at the moment. He’s not really bad, he’s just a bit too family-man and a bit too nice at the moment.

‘I think that’s all about to change with the 40th’ he teased to the publication.’

‘Paul’s up for one of the biggest shocks in his life on the 40th, and it takes him on a journey that is incredibly unexpected.’

He added: ‘The audience doesn’t like Paul being nice. They like him being nice to Terese (Rebekah Elmaloglou), but they want Paul to be the villain.

‘Every now and then we have to readdress Paul and go, “He’s got to do some nefarious things.”‘

Stefan also revealed that he originally auditioned for the role of bachelor neighbour Des Clarke, who was eventually played by Paul Keane.

‘I thought I had the part of Des Clarke, and the script arrived on my doorstep saying Paul Robinson’ he said.

‘I had no idea who Paul Robinson was, but the rest is history, isn’t it?’

He also commented on his disappointment over the anniversary week being ‘overshadowed’ by the axing news, saying: ‘It’s really made the 40th anniversary a bit wishy-washy now.’

‘It’s a bit of a shame, because it’s an incredible accolade for an Australian show to say they’ve been going for 40 years other than other than news and current affairs.

‘But unfortunately, that’s now being completely and utterly overshadowed by the fact that the show is now on its way out.

‘So the 40th anniversary means nothing now.’

Last month he reflected on the shock decision, penning a ‘special message’ to his fans on Instagram.

‘It has taken some days to respond after the unexpected news on Friday,’ he wrote.

‘I was absorbing, digesting and reflecting on what has happened, not because I was losing something I love dearly but because it’s the sad ending to an iconic piece of Australian television history.

‘This is a crushing blow to both the industry and a show which has employed, helped and nurtured so many. I feel for all of you who are losing a faithful vault of daily entertainment and my heart goes out to all the cast, crew and production staff.

‘I have had the pleasure of working with an on going group of very loyal and passionate colleagues.

‘I have also had the privilege and honour of crossing my working paths with some of the greatest and most respected names in television, film, stage and music (in all departments) over the years and can easily say I have enjoyed and treasured those moments.

‘So a huge, flag raising salute to all involved over the decades. I cannot begin to tell you about my life that has been Neighbours but I’m glad I strapped in because it has been one hell of a ride.

‘So thank you to all of you for your dedication, support, love and viewing for the last 40 years.’

As well as Paul’s baby shock, this week’s episodes will see his eldest son Leo Tanaka (Tim Kano) marry his troubled fiancée Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) – unaware that she slept with her best pal on the eve of their wedding.

There’s a number of surprise returns too, with Mark Raffety reprising his Dr Darcy Tyler role, and Anne Charleston coming back to Erinsborough as a woman who looks strikingly like the late Madge Bishop, who she played between 1986 and 2001.

Flames surround the Power Road garage with a number of youngsters trapped inside, whilst a dead body is found floating in Lassiters Lake.

Neighbours streams Monday to Thursday from 7am – for free – on Amazon Prime Video.

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