Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Neighbours' Paul Robinson actor reveals end of soap felt like a 'death' before comeback

Neighbours actor Stefan Dennis has detailed how he was told the iconic Australian soap opera was making an unexpected comeback after it was axed earlier this year following a 37-year run.

Five months after the Melbourne-based soap was taken off air by Channel 5 bosses Channel 5 because they wanted to 'focus is on increasing investment in original UK drama', it is now making a comeback - but not as we know it.

Despite the Aussie programme being the fourth-most watched soap in the UK, it has been missing from TV screens since July, but now that it has been confirmed that the soap will be making a comeback, Paul Robinson actor Stefan Dennis has revealed how he was told that his time on Neighbours isn't up just yet.

Appearing on Loose Women on Tuesday, Stefan, 64, admitted that he had come to terms with the fact that Neighbours had 'died' after 37 years following the show's heartbreaking last episode which said goodbye to iconic longtime characters including Susan and Karl Kennedy, and Toadie Rebecchi.

Stefan plays Paul Robinson in the Aussie soap (ITV)

"I had dealt with the fact it was over, and I had accepted it. But then we got the news that it wasn't actually over," the Australian actor told Loose Women.

On being told that Neighbours was making an epic return, Stefan explained: "It's really weird, because we actually knew a week before everybody else - me, Toadie, Susan, and Karl.

"This was simply because the producers decided to come around and tell us personally - they came around to our houses at 8.30 on a Sunday morning. They had kept it a secret until they got to us.

"It didn't actually break until a week after that."

Favourites Dr Karl, Susan and Toadie all gathered with Paul Robinson to reveal the return of Neighbours on Amazon Freevee in 2023 (Amazon Freevee)

Neighbours has been a hugely popular show in the UK since its inception in 1985 but it will now be returning to our screens after streaming service Amazon Freevee bought the entire collection of its 37-year catalogue.

It will air on Amazon Freevee in the UK, meaning fans can watch without paying. In Australia, it will return to its home of Network 10, where it has aired for the past 36 years.

Amazon Freevee plan to revive the series new year, however, it is thought that it will not be a daily show like before.

Stefan has played Paul for decades (BBC)

An TV insider told The Sun : "Fans loved the fact that Neighbours was a soap which was served up on a constant, regular basis — they couldn’t get enough of it.

And the fact that it was always aired each weekday during its 37-year run was one of the reasons it was special in the minds of devotees.

"So while they’ll rejoice at the news of the revival, they might yet be disappointed by what form it takes."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.