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NEIGHBOURS had already been cancelled once in Australia by the time it appeared on British TV screens on October 27, 1986.

Eighteen months after it was first shown Down Under, having been rescued by a rival broadcaster after the original network binned it, the Ramsay- Street soap was added to the BBC daytime schedules.

It performed well, but when an additional 5.35pm teatime showing was added, ratings really took off and at its peak, nearly 20 million people were tuning in daily.

Stefan Dennis was one of the original cast members and is now the last man standing, still portraying Paul Robinson all these years later, albeit with a 12-year sabbatical between 1992 and 2004.

He and the rest of the early cast didn’t believe how big the show had become in Britain until they visited these shores.

“We had no idea it was really kicking off until we saw it for ourselves,” Stefan recalled.

“Even when we did the Scott and Charlene wedding and 20 million watched, it still didn’t hit home.

“The first time I went over was 1988 and I remember not being able to leave my mate’s house in London to go down to the shops without first checking for paparazzi.

“It was only when the entire cast was flown over for the Royal Variety Performance that we realised it was a juggernaut.

“We had massive security and screaming fans everywhere — it was insane, a Beatlemania-style reaction.”

Yet things could have turned out very differently for Stefan.

“I didn’t want the job. It sounds weird for any actor to say that, but I was convinced I was going to land a film role I had auditioned for when my agent called about Neighbours,” Stefan continued.

“My first reaction was that’s a corny title.

“I didn’t want to do soap — I was a ‘proper’ actor.

“I had my mind changed for me because the film role didn’t come off, the movie was a box-office flop, and Neighbours went from me thinking it wouldn’t last six months to being here nearly 32 years later.”

Stefan spent seven years on the show and decided to leave for new challenges.

“I felt it was time to move on and see what else I could do,” he said.

“I worked almost non-stop in the UK, so I can’t complain.”

He also met his Glaswegian wife, Gail, over here and they have three kids together. The family decided to move to Australia and soon, the call came from Neighbours.

“It started as a two-week guest stint, and then three months, and six months, and 11 years later, I’m still here,” he smiled.

“I had the opportunity to reprise what had become an iconic role.

“I’m starting to get itchy feet again, but I’m more mature now.

“I used to think I didn’t want to be another William Roache, but I’m not bothered any more.

“As long as I can do other stuff like short films and voiceover work, I’m happy.

“I’m fortunate to be the longest on-going character in Australian TV history.

“I still get a kick out of it as an actor and it’s a bit of a dream job.

“I love Neighbours.”