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Stefan Dennis has revealed that he originally did not want to play Paul Robinson in Neighbours.
The Australian actor, who first played the character in 1985, is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary and the 6,000th episode of the show with the rest of the cast.
Dennis told Woman's Day magazine: "I was actually very reluctant to take the role. I was waiting for a role in a film, which I was positive I was going to get. But it was the old story of 'a bird in the hand' from my agent that convinced me to do it."
He also said that he still loves playing the soap's resident villain.
Dennis also remembers starring in the show at the same time as Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, saying: "Going to do shopping centre appearances with the cast was unbelievable.
"They would expect maybe 1,000 people, but anything between 5,000 and 10,000 people would turn up and all it would be was a cacophony of noise - just squealing and screaming. It was the Kylie and Jason show back then."
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Kylie Minogue once attempted to block broadcasts of episodes of Neighbours which she appeared in, it has been claimed.
The singer rose to fame playing Charlene in the Australian soap. According to the Daily Mail, Reg Grundy - one of the programme makers - has claimed that Minogue tried to ban repeats of her on-screen wedding to Jason Donovan's Scott Robinson
"That marriage probably got the highest ratings of any marriage in Australia," he said. "She went on to great success and I applaud that."
He continued: "She said we couldn't use the tapes because she didn't want us to use them. And we said, 'No, we own the tapes'. And she had to accept it.
"It was like, our lawyers versus their lawyers," he said. "But I think she felt as her career grew, she didn't want to be remembered for being on a soap."
He added: "That's understandable I think. But it did give her the break and I think now she does acknowledge that."
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As the 6,000th episode of Neighbours airs in the UK this week, there's a sinister event in store for the soap's legendary character Paul Robinson when he is pushed from the mezzanine level of Lassiters. The dramatic incident occurs after tempers on Ramsay Street reach boiling point due to Paul's constant lies and manipulation. As the ruthless businessman fights for his life in the aftermath of the shock attack, almost everyone on the Street becomes a suspect - leaving viewers to ponder the all-important question: who pushed P.R.? Paul's portrayer Stefan Dennis recently caught up with us to reveal more about the storyline.
Episode 6,000 is a very important milestone for Neighbours. What was the atmosphere like on set when it was being filmed?
"To be honest, on the day, it was really no different from another day of shooting on Neighbours - and remember we shoot three months in advance. It was more the surrounding events and celebration after when it hit home that this really is an amazing milestone."
How did you feel about Paul playing such a central role in the 6,000th episode week?
"Without sounding like I have a big head, I think it was fitting for the longest-running character on the show. I felt very privileged and thought it was a nice compliment."
As we all know, the main event of the week is Paul being pushed from the mezzanine level of Lassiters, but can you tell us a bit about the build-up to this?
"I can't give too much away! However, each night of the 6,000th episode week focuses on a suspect and presents their motive, I guess. But you're definitely left guessing…"
When you filmed the 6,000th episode, did you already know who the culprit was?
"Yes, I did, however I was the only cast member who did know for quite a while. I was sworn to secrecy - and for the first time ever, I had to actually fib to other cast members that I didn't know!"
Do you think viewers will be surprised when they discover who was responsible?
"The person who it is is very good - it's not at all what you expect, so I think viewers will be taken by surprise - it's great storytelling."
What kind of impact will this event have on Paul in the long-term? Would you like to see him change his ways and become a good guy as a result of it?
"Oooh, I can't say too much, otherwise I will give it away - but it does change him significantly. But I never want to see Paul change his ways - I like playing the bad guy, it's much more interesting!"
Did you enjoy working with Jane Badler, who's currently appearing as Paul's nemesis Diana?
"Yes, I did! Jane is a lot of fun and has a very naughty sense of humour!"
The UK fanbase has always been an important part of Neighbours' success. Is there anything you'd like to say to the British fans as the show reaches Episode 6,000?
"Thank you of course for all your continued support. It never ceases to amaze me how supportive you guys have been to us for so many years, and I'm delighted that we have kept you entertained. And there are even more amazing stories coming up in 2011, so stick with us."
This year is a year of celebration for Neighbours, but it's also the end of an era as the show is moving from Channel Ten to digital station Eleven in Australia next year. What are your thoughts on this?
"Australian audiences have really embraced the digital TV age, so I think it's very exciting for the show to be part of a brand new station and the promotion and attention that goes along with that. We're still on free-to-air in the same timeslot, just one notch up on the remote, so we're certainly not hard to find."
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Long-standing Neighbours character Steph Scully is to face fresh heartbreak when her young son Charlie is snatched, it has been revealed.
According to TV Week, Charlie will go missing in mysterious circumstances in episodes which are soon to air in Australia - leaving Steph panicked as she wonders what could have happened.
It is understood that the storyline kicks off as Charlie is enjoying some Halloween festivities with Steph's stepdaughter Summer Hoyland (Jordy Lucas) and her friends. After Summer takes her eyes off Charlie for only a split second, she is horrified to discover that he is nowhere to be found.
Reports suggest that the shock storyline will tie in with the return of a character who wants to cause pain to both Steph and Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine).
However, the identity of the person in question is yet to be confirmed, while details of what they want with Charlie are also currently unknown.
Carla Bonner - who plays Steph - announced back in June that she had decided to leave the soap. Producers have promised that Steph's forthcoming exit storyline will "do the character proud".
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Is this not a spoiler rather than general news?
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Jason Donovan has admitted that he would pass up the opportunity to return to Neighbours.
Speaking on This Morning, the star - who first made his name along with Kylie Minogue on the Australian soap - insisted that he will never reprise his role as Scott Robinson who he played between 1986 and 1989.
Describing his time on the show, he said: "It's like wearing a pair of old shoes - they're a bit smelly and there's a bit of sentimental value in there as well and you don't know whether to throw them away or not.
"But Neighbours is a wonderful Australian export and I'm very proud to have been part of it… it changed my life."
However, when host Phillip Schofield asked whether he would be tempted to return, Donovan said: "No!"
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Neighbours' executive producer Susan Bower has insisted that there is no link between the soap's forthcoming channel change and a recent batch of cast departures.
Jane Hall (Rebecca Robinson), Matthew Werkmeister (Zeke Kinski), Erin Mullally (Declan Napier), Sam Clark (Ringo Brown), Margot Robbie (Donna Freedman) and Carla Bonner (Steph Scully) have all quit the long-running show this year ahead of its shift from Channel Ten to digital station Eleven.
However, in an interview with TV Soap, Bower dismissed talk of poor morale on set and pointed out that cast departures are nothing new.
She explained: "When I first arrived here, there were four people who all left at the same time and there was all this negative press. It happens all the time. It's unfortunate that everybody's decided to leave at once. We wish everyone well. We only want the best for our people who have served us so well.
"None of these people are leaving because of Eleven or anything like that."
Bower also refuted speculation that Neighbours will be sexed up once it moves to Eleven next year.
She said: "There's this bloody rumour going around that because we're on Eleven it's going to be raunchy. I'm not going to do that. Why would I do that? England loves us the way we are. Australia loves us the way we are. Yes, we've taken a hit in the ratings, but so has everybody else."
Neighbours is currently struggling to attract an audience above the 600,000 mark in Australia.
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Neighbours star Ashleigh Brewer has revealed that she is currently exploring another side to Kate Ramsay's personality thanks to the character's new romance.
Kate's latest love interest is Detective Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor), who was introduced as part of the soap's 'Who Pushed P.R?' storyline before producers decided to keep the character in Erinsborough for a longer stint.
Fans in the UK have yet to see the pair get together, but the relationship is already blossoming in episodes currently airing in Australia.
In an interview with Holy Soap, Brewer said of Kate: "I'm really happy with the path she's gone down. She's really happy in this new relationship.
"And the audience is going to see a new side to Kate. She lets go a bit and starts acting a bit younger, which I was really hoping for!"
Since joining the show last year, Brewer's main screen love interest has been Declan Napier, originally played by James Sorensen and now portrayed by Erin Mullally.
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Simone Buchanan has admitted that she would not rule out another Neighbours return for her character Sam Fitzgerald.
The actress's alter ego has recently been causing more trouble on Australian screens in a four-week guest stint, which starts airing in the UK early next month.
Speaking to TV Soap about whether Sam could make another comeback next year, Buchanan explained: "Let's just say that anything's possible and I can't really say too much about that, but it's definitely a possibility I think with Sam.
"You can just throw her in and let her go and it's a great storyline… She's great stuff! I'm sure whenever they want something stirred up they'll bring her in."
UK fans will soon see Sam set the cat among the pigeons in Erinsborough yet again as she takes on the role of prosecutor in Steph Scully's (Carla Bonner) culpable driving case.
Buchanan made her first Neighbours appearance in 2008, when her character was introduced as Dan Fitzgerald's ex-partner.
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Former Neighbours stars Margot Robbie, Caitlin Stasey and Dichen Lachman all live in the same apartment block in Los Angeles, it has been revealed.
Lachman, who played Katya Kinski in the programme, was the first to move to the area, while Robbie (Donna Freedman) now lives in the same flat as Stasey (Rachel Kinski).
Australian actress Trilby Glover, who appeared in the film Righteous Kill, told The Herald Sun: "Dichen lived here first and then everyone else just flocked to this apartment block.
"My apartment door is literally one metre from Dichen's, so I can actually lean through my window and chat with her. Caitlin lives across the garden and Margot's staying with her at the moment - it's like an Aussie Melrose Place.
"All of Ramsay Street pretty much comes through."
