Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis hoped for last-minute saviour for soap

 "The truth is it is a big shock to everybody."

Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has admitted to hoping for a last minute saviour for the soap, which is due to air its last ever episode next week (July 29) after 37 years onscreen.

Dennis has been playing Paul Robinson on the Australian soap opera since its debut back in 1985, and now he's shared that he wasn't quite ready to leave Ramsay Street after being told that the show would be coming to an end.

"Even after we got the news, officially, we were still like, 'Oh no, maybe it will get saved at the last minute,'" he said. "But no, no, no, it's well and truly sunk in now. The truth is it is a big shock to everybody. But the other truth is, we've also got over that shock.

He continued: "Now we're moving on and deciding what we're going to do post Neighbours, if you like, and in the meantime, we just want to make sure that we see the show off in style, give it the ending it deserves and the fans will be happy with."

The actor went on to say that seeing how loyal fans have been to the show after the news was announced is pretty special.

"It was like, 'Wow, that is incredible that people feel that passionate about wanting the show to go on, and how they feel, and what it's meant to their lives.'"

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When discussing whether the character had changed him as person, Dennis added: "I think it'd be unfair to say it didn't, simply because of the fundamental thing that I've grown and matured just as my character and the show has, because of the amount of time it's been around.

"Take, for example, the character I play, Paul, I've actually seen that character develop and grow over a course four decades.

"But also, I think it's taught me a lot of things about the industry, certainly, and how to handle certain things within the industry, hopefully what to avoid in the industry, too!"

Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 6pm on Channel 5 and streams on My5. The series finale will air in the UK on July 29 at 9pm on Channel 5.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach and streams on 10 Play. The series finale will air in Australia on July 28 at 7.30pm, simulcast on 10 and 10 Peach.