Stefan Dennis moved on rapidly from Neighbours
Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis quickly left the character of Paul Robinson behind when the Australian soap ended last year because he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
Stefan Dennis quickly moved on from Neighbours.
The 67-year-old actor said goodbye to Ramsay Street legend Paul Robinson when the Australian soap ended last year and admits that he left the show behind rapidly because he was taking part in Strictly Come Dancing – although the fans will never let him forget about his ruthless alter ego.
Stefan told Inside Soap magazine: "I've shaken off Paul, but nobody else has!
"I get reminded that I played him every day. But I'm an actor – he'll stay in my memory and I'm glad to get rid of the limp! But I literally moved on a week later because I had other stuff to do. I went from finishing Neighbours to Strictly in the UK."
Stefan was one of the original cast members of Neighbours and acknowledged that the soap - which aired its final episode in December 2025 after more than 40 years on screen – will always be a part of his life.
Referring to the show's revivals after previously being cancelled in 1985 and 2022, he said: "It was a very different ending the third time because we'd had such a big bang of a send-off on the previous one.
"This one was a little more about moving on and remembering it. For all of us that worked together on the show, Neighbours will stay with us forever."
Stefan is now appearing in a new stage production of The King's Speech, based on the Oscar-winning 2010 film, and explained that the chance to play speech therapist Lionel Logue (who helped King George VI overcome his fear of public speaking) in the show's UK tour lured him out of semi-retirement from acting.
He said: "The play is exactly the same story as the film.
"It's a very moving piece. I remember seeing the film when it first came out and thinking it was brilliant, very poignant. My character, Lionel Logue, was a truly remarkable man.
"It's a very interesting journey when you realise what he did with the King, and for so many other people as well."
Stefan claims that plenty of former Neighbours viewers will be coming to see the play.
He said: "I'm getting a lot of Neighbours fans saying they are excited about the show.
"Even when I'm out and about, people are stopping me every day to tell me they can't wait to see it. Everyone always mentions Neighbours, obviously. I think a lot of fans are planning to come along!"
