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From Ramsay Street to the Ballroom: Paul Robinson Actor Stefan Dennis Joins Strictly Dance Line-up Stefan Dennis, the veteran actor best known to global audiences as the calculating businessman Paul Robinson in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours, has made a highly publicised move to the competitive world of UK reality television by joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing. His move comes shortly after the second and final cancellation of the beloved serial drama, marking a significant professional pivot for one of Australian television’s longest-serving stars. The announcement of Dennis’s inclusion in the 2025 cast of the flagship BBC One show sparked immediate interest, particularly in the UK, where the actor and his alter-ego, Paul Robinson, have held iconic status since the show's original run on the BBC in the 1980s. The transition from the familiar, often nefarious, storylines of Erinsborough to the glamorous but demanding spotlight of the ballroom represents a bold new chapter for the 66-year-old performer. Paul Robinson, affectionately and sometimes critically referred to by fans as 'Paul Neighbours,' was one of the original characters when the soap launched in 1985. Over four decades, the character evolved dramatically, starting as a quiet engineering student before transforming into a ruthless, money-grabbing control freak, often dubbed "Mr. Evil" by his co-star, Alan Fletcher. His character's complexity, which included multiple marriages, corporate espionage, and even involvement in a plane crash, ensured his enduring central role in the drama. Dennis himself holds the unique distinction of being the only cast member to appear in the very first episode and remain until the show’s final curtain call in 2025, albeit with a significant break between 1992 and his return in 2004.
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This longevity means he has navigated the highs and lows of the soap's history, including its first rescue from cancellation. The recent ending of Neighbours for a second time, despite what many saw as strong global ratings, came as a shock to the cast and crew. Reflecting on the show’s demise, Dennis expressed widespread frustration among the production team. He said: “Not to get into the politics of it, but none of us really know why it got axed this time around because it was rating really well all over the world, so we’re all scratching our heads, going, ‘Why?’” Following the end of filming, Dennis revealed that he had been preparing for a significant change of pace, contemplating what he termed "semi-retirement. " This plan, however, was quickly overturned by the unexpected invitation to join Strictly Come Dancing. The actor commented on the dramatic shift in his daily routine: “Funnily enough when Neighbours ended, I was preparing for semi-retirement. I’m now dancing eight hours a day, how did that happen?” His participation in Strictly places him as the oldest contestant in the 2025 series, a fact he acknowledged with characteristic humour, noting, "I don't often feel old, but I feel very old in this competition. " Despite this, his professional partner, Dianne Buswell, praised his work ethic and commitment to mastering an entirely new discipline. Dennis views the opportunity as a chance to add a new skill to his professional repertoire and force himself out of his acting comfort zone.
He confessed to the BBC that the sheer scale of the UK show had genuinely surprised him. “I’ll be honest, I’m quite blown away by the scale of Strictly. In Australia we have Dancing With The Stars which I’m familiar with, but the love for Strictly in the UK really is a different level,” he explained. “I knew it was big, but it’s only once you’re inside the machine that you realise how big. It’s this well-oiled juggernaut, and it feels really exciting to be a small cog in it. ” Industry analysts suggest that the move is a savvy career decision, keeping Dennis in the public eye in a high-profile, non-scripted context, particularly appealing to the vast UK audience familiar with his work. Entertainment journalist Jessica Sansome noted: “For an actor who spent decades playing a character so often mistaken for his real-life persona, Strictly offers a unique chance for the public to see the man, Stefan Dennis, and not the perpetually plotting businessman, Paul Robinson. ” The actor’s career has always maintained strong ties to the UK. After his initial departure from Neighbours in the early 1990s, he moved to Britain, becoming a familiar face on the pantomime circuit, often cast in the role of the villain, reflecting his soap notoriety.
He also starred in the BBC Scotland soap opera River City in the early 2000s before returning to Australia and Ramsay Street. While the dramatic departure of the Neighbours cast from their roles has seen many stars pursue new paths, Dennis’s decision to join a major BBC reality show signifies the end of one television era and the energetic beginning of another. Although Paul Robinson’s legacy as the most iconic figure in Australian soap history remains cemented, the actor is now focused entirely on earning the audience’s vote in the UK's most popular dance competition. The coming weeks will determine if he can transfer the ruthlessness of his fictional business mogul character to the discipline and flair required to lift the Glitterball trophy. This video shows a music release from Paul Heaton, where his neighbours helped film the video during isolation, demonstrating the continued presence of 'Paul and neighbours' in entertainment news. Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - A Good Day Is Hard To Find.
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