By A. JAMES FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Published: 05:24 EDT, 17 March 2025 | Updated: 05:34 EDT, 17 March 2025
Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has vented his frustration as the long running soap faces the axe for a second time in less than two years, just as it hits its 40th anniversary on the air.
Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades, says that the Neighbours special birthday episode now means 'nothing'.
In a new interview, Stefan said the show's cancellation means any celebrations around the soap's amazing track record has been 'completely overshadowed' by the sad news of its demise.
'It's really made the 40th anniversary a bit wishy-washy now,' he told TV Tonight on Monday.
'It's a bit of a shame, because it's an incredible accolade for an Australian show to say they've been going for 40 years other than other than news and current affairs.
'But unfortunately, that's now being completely and utterly overshadowed by the fact that the show is now on its way out.
Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis (pictured) has vented his frustration as the long running soap faces the axe for a second time in less than two years as its heads into its 40th anniversary on air
Stefan, 66, who has played the character of Paul Robinson on the series for four decades says that the Neighbours special birthday now means 'nothing' (pictured on Neighbours)
'So the 40th anniversary means nothing now. It's a bit of a shame.'
Stefan, who was part of the original Neighbours cast when it debuted in 1985, left the show in 1992, but returned in 2004.
Elsewhere in the chat, Stefan explained why he chose to speak out: 'Our show is about to go, so I'm not afraid to say anything anymore. I'm going to start speaking up.'
He also criticised Amazon for pulling it from Prime Video - even after it remains a ratings winner in the UK.
'Amazon, don't own it. Amazon just buy it to show it... but they not producing the show and that's where people get confused,' he said.
'Free to Air television is on the way out... As soon as the Free to Air television stations start realising that, and stop trying to drag their heels, like one particular one I won't mention, they're just sticking their head in the sand.'
Stefan teased that his character will be in for 'one of the biggest shocks in his life' as the Neighbours 40th anniversary gets under way this week.
It comes after show's cast learned of their fate online last month.
News broke in February that streaming giant Amazon would not be renewing the Neighbours' production deal.
In a new interview with TV Tonight Stefan said the show's cancellation means any celebrations around the show's amazing track record has been 'completely overshadowed' by the sad news of its demise (pictured in a a throwback image from the soaps heyday)
Pictured: Neighbours cast members Annie Jones and Stefan Dennis visit the UK in 1988
By the time the Neighbours cast and crew had gathered in Melbourne to hear the fate of their jobs, news had already spread globally that the long-running soap would be canned for a second time, reports the Herald Sun.
In a heartwarming post on Instagram and Facebook, the crew assured fans that new episodes from the 40th anniversary season would continue to be broadcasted on Prime Video and Ten, with 'all the big soapie twists and turns that our viewers love.'
Neighbours will reportedly end production in July after production company Fremantle failed to agree on a new deal with Amazon.
The final ever episodes will air at the end of 2025 with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street for a second time.
Neighbours nearly ended forever two years ago when Channel 5, who part funded the soap for UK viewers, pulled out of their deal.
The final episode aired on July 29, 2022, and saw very famous faces return including Margot Robbie, Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce.
And mere months after its ratings success, it was confirmed that Amazon Freevee had given the show another lease of life and brought it back under a revamped production.
The newly-rebooted Neighbours premiered on Amazon in September 2023, but just less than two years on, it will be leaving screens for good.
Neighbours was aired on Freevee worldwide, but Amazon axed the free, ad-supported streaming service late last year, folding it under its Prime Video banner.
The beloved Australian soap opera first aired in 1985 and has been on screens for a staggering 40 years and has launched the careers of many Aussie megastars.
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