Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has shared an emotional message after the beloved soap came to an with its highly-anticipated finale. Famed for playing Paul Robinson for 30 years, the actor paid a fond farewell to the series.
The long-running Australian soap aired its final episode – at least for now – today, following its cancellation by Amazon Freevee, with the developments coming just a few years after its previous axing.
Following the airing of the finale, Dennis, who first played Paul in 1985, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message, with the star beginning: “Well, this is a bit weird for me because, as an actor, we like to always talk about what’s coming up.
“Today I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to talk about a show that has ended. Of course, you know what I’m talking about and that is the wonderful institution that is called Neighbours.
“People have been saying to me over the past couple of weeks: ‘How do you feel about the demise of the show?’ In saying that sentence, I’d be lying if I wasn’t feeling a bit melancholic about the fact that it has ended when it really shouldn’t have.
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“But to be truthful, I’m actually feeling really good about it, and you’re probably all going, ‘what? You callous bugger.’ The reason I’m saying that is because I’m the one that’s been privileged… I was there on day one and I have [mostly] been with it ever since.
“It was a privilege to be able to work on a show that, over that time, not only made me grow as an actor and taught me about my craft, but took me to places all around the world that I never dreamed of going to or seeing.”
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“It’s put me in front of and introduced me to people I never thought I would meet. I’ve made some wonderful, lifelong friends over the years that will remain with me,” continued the actor, who called it “one of the greatest training grounds in Australian TV”.
Several fans and co-stars, both past and present, reacted to the post, with April Rose Pengilly, Majella Davis, Matt Wilson and Tim Kano all leaving messages of support.