Introduction: Ramsay Street’s ultimate villain
For nearly four decades, Paul Robinson has been the heart — and often the poison — of Neighbours. Played by Stefan Dennis since 1985, Paul evolved from Jim Robinson’s ambitious son into one of soap opera’s most complex villains. He wasn’t just bad for the sake of it; he was charming, layered, and occasionally even sympathetic.
Here we revisit the Top 10 Paul Robinson storylines that cemented him as an icon of Australian and British television.
Paul’s early ambition (1985–1987)
In the earliest years of Neighbours, Paul wasn’t yet the full-blown villain we know. Instead, he was a young man torn between following in his father’s footsteps and carving his own path. His early romances and business ventures hinted at the ambition that would later consume him.
• These storylines laid the foundation: Paul was not content to be ordinary.
• His early conflicts with Jim Robinson showed his hunger for independence.
The rise of the ruthless businessman (late 1980s)
By the late ’80s, Paul had shifted from young dreamer to ruthless tycoon. His ventures into hotel ownership and corporate manipulation became central to the show.
• Paul’s first major transformation was cemented with his move into business villainy.
• He became the soap’s Machiavelli, outsmarting rivals with charm and menace.
• Viewers loved to hate him, and Stefan Dennis relished the scheming.
Marriage to Gail Lewis (1987)
Paul’s marriage to Gail Lewis was one of his most memorable romantic arcs. Initially a marriage of convenience, it grew into something deeper — but, as with most of Paul’s relationships, it ended in disaster.
• Gail and Paul became a soap power couple.
• Their split revealed Paul’s inability to balance ambition with loyalty.
• Gail’s later returns kept the tension alive for decades.
Paul’s downfall and redemption arcs (1990s)
The 1990s saw Paul face multiple crises: financial ruin, moral collapse, and estrangement from family.
• His decline humanised him, showing cracks beneath the villain façade.
• But every time Paul fell, he rebuilt — often at the expense of others.
• This rise-and-fall cycle became a defining pattern of his character.
The plane crash and multiple marriages (1993–2004)
In the years Stefan Dennis was away from the show, Paul’s character continued to loom in Neighbours lore. When he returned in 2004, Paul came back darker, more damaged, and more complex.
• His involvement in a plane crash storyline added physical trauma to his catalogue: Paul lost a leg, making him one of the few soap characters visibly changed by such a dramatic event.
• His string of marriages (and affairs) kept Ramsay Street buzzing.
The villain’s return (2004)
Paul’s full-time return in 2004 was a landmark for the soap.
• He emerged as the older, manipulative patriarch, anchoring Neighbours with continuity.
• His clashes with Harold Bishop, Karl and Susan Kennedy, and others reignited the soap’s dramatic energy.
• This era solidified his role as Neighbours’ most essential long-running character.
Paul versus the Kennedys
Few feuds defined Ramsay Street quite like Paul’s long-running battles with Karl and Susan Kennedy.
• Paul meddled in their relationships, their careers, even their children’s lives.
• The Kennedys represented decency; Paul, ambition. The tension was perfect soap fuel.
• These clashes gave fans some of the most iconic showdowns in the series.
Manipulating Rebecca Napier (2008–2011)
Paul’s relationship with Rebecca Napier was one of his most dramatic love stories.
• Rebecca, played by Jane Hall, was drawn to Paul despite his reputation.
• Their relationship was turbulent, filled with manipulation, betrayals, and emotional blackmail.
• When Rebecca pushed Paul from a mezzanine in 2010, believing she’d killed him, it was peak soap opera melodrama.
The hotel wars and Lassiters legacy
Paul’s ownership of Lassiters Hotel was a recurring storyline across decades.
• The hotel became both his empire and his Achilles’ heel.
• Storylines about corporate sabotage, fires, and rivalries centred around Lassiters, making it as iconic as the Queen Vic in EastEnders or the Rovers Return in Coronation Street.
• Paul’s obsession with power and prestige was often tied directly to his hold on Lassiters.
Paul in the final era (2022–2025)
As Neighbours approached its conclusion, Paul remained pivotal.
• His return in the Amazon revival in 2023 showed he still had the power to dominate storylines.
• Old flames and feuds resurfaced, allowing nostalgia arcs to flourish.
• Reports confirm that Paul Robinson will deliver the final line of the entire series in December 2025 — a fitting full-circle moment for both the character and Stefan Dennis.
Honourable Mentions
• Paul’s affairs and betrayals: Too many to list, but always central.
• His children and family dramas: His complex relationships with offspring kept him human.
• Health crises: Heart attacks, amputations, psychological breakdowns — Paul endured them all.
Why Paul Robinson stands apart
Soap villains are plentiful — from EastEnders’ Dirty Den to Corrie’s Richard Hillman. But Paul Robinson has something rare: longevity. He’s been allowed to evolve over four decades, showing both ruthlessness and vulnerability.
Stefan Dennis gave Paul charm and subtlety, ensuring that viewers didn’t just hate him — they were fascinated by him. He wasn’t pantomime evil; he was human, flawed, occasionally even sympathetic.
FAQs
Q: Who played Paul Robinson in Neighbours?
A: Stefan Dennis, from 1985 to 1992, briefly in 1993, and from 2004 to 2025.
Q: Did Paul Robinson lose a leg?
A: Yes, following a plane crash storyline in 2004.
Q: How many times was Paul Robinson married?
A: At least six — with wives including Gail Lewis, Rebecca Napier, and Terese Willis.
Q: Will Paul Robinson appear in the final episode of Neighbours?
A: Yes. Reports confirm Stefan Dennis will deliver the last line of the show in December 2025.
Conclusion: The last word
From ambitious youngster to scheming patriarch, Paul Robinson is the heartbeat of Neighbours. His storylines defined the soap’s greatest highs and darkest lows. With the show ending in 2025, it is fitting that Paul — and Stefan Dennis — will have the final word.
For British audiences who grew up watching him at lunchtime, and Australian viewers who saw him shape Ramsay Street, Paul Robinson is more than a soap villain. He is a legend.
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