In 2007, Paul's evil ways were mellowed through a brain tumour story which brought the character in line with producer's vision of reinventing the show.

"[9] Network Ten branded Paul a high flying business man who enjoyed womanising until he met Gail Lewis (Fiona Corke).

Dennis believed that playing a "dastardly character" like Paul would normally create real life challenges but "rather than booing, hissing and stone throwing", he was greeted with "legend" status.

[37] Executive producer Susan Bower had hinted previously that the milestone would involve Paul[38] and Alan Fletcher teased audiences with the revelation that something horrible would happen to an iconic character.

"[47] A Tenplay journalist also reported that the writers were initially panicked by Dennis' shortened hair, but the costume department had been "spending up big on hats" for Paul.

After the death of her father Rob Lewis (Ernie Bourne), Gail decides to leave him and move to Tasmania where she gives birth to Elle, Robert and Cameron.

Paul strikes a deal with Affirmacon to build on Ramsay Street and he gets his protégé Dylan Timmins (Damien Bodie) to pollute the local wetlands.

Paul goes on a downward spiral and flirts with several women, attempts to blackmail Carmella Cammeniti (Natalie Blair) and betrays Lyn Scully.

Matt Turner (Josef Brown) informs Paul that Victor Cleary (Richard Sutherland), Gus's younger brother, has become a suspect in Kate's murder.

Paul realises Nina Tucker (Delta Goodrem) is in town and with help from Lou and Karl, he convinces her to sing at the festival's closing concert.

However, once it is obvious that her chemotherapy is not working, Terese visits her brother Nick in prison, who is later granted bail with the help of Clive Gibbons (Geoff Paine), much to Paul's chagrin.

Paul leaves for New York City, but meets Courtney Grixti (Emma Lane) at the airport and after a few weeks together, they return on Gary and Terese's wedding day.

When Amy quits the Robinson Pines project, he hires her former boyfriend and Gary's son Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) to take over.

Whilst driving to the jetty to rescue Harlow, he finds Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney) lying in the sand and learns that he was attacked by Finn Kelly (Rob Mills).

Paul and Toadie find the others and they are forced to hide in a mineshaft, where Bea Nilsson (Bonnie Anderson), her sister Elly Conway (Jodi Anasta) and Harlow are.

Paul protests when Jane's daughter, Nicolette Stone (Charlotte Chimes), offers to act as David and Aaron's surrogate, concerned about her past manipulative behaviour.

With Nicolette now heavily pregnant with David and Aaron's child, their surrogacy arrangement is thrown into jeopardy when it seems Chloe, her fiancée, has had a one-night stand with Leo, who has recently returned to Erinsborough.

Paul uses a private investigator to track Nicolette to Canberra, where he pays her a million dollars to hand over her newborn daughter, Isla (Axelle Austin; also Finn).

However, weeks later, Nicolette returns to Erinsborough with the real Isla, revealing that David and Aaron have been raising Abigail Tanaka (Mary Finn), the daughter of Leo and Britney Barnes (Montana Cox).

The night before they are due to be married, Melanie seemingly murders Krista Sinclair (Majella Davis) on the roof of the hotel; she runs to the penthouse and confesses to Paul, David, Aaron and Nicolette.

Over the next year, David leaves Erinsborough with his family to stay away from his father, Paul divorces Therese and gains control of her shares of Lassiter's, which he sells to reclusive business Conrad Sinclair.

Paul visits Eden in hospital afterwards and threatens to kill him if he reveals his role in David's death; however, the truth is exposed by Sadie Roswell (Emerald Chan).

Paul supports Therese when Toadie ends their marriage upon their return and is held hostage by Justin Ashton (Richard Sutherland) when he arrives in Erinsborough to recover money stolen by Heath and Tess; he survives the ordeal.

His plan to convince the residents of Ramsay Street that it will soon be underwater is inspired – and his instant impulse to dig for dirt when Harold Bishop brought in an expert for a second opinion was pure class.

[68] Journalist Adam Beresford branded him as "the lothario of Lassiters", one of soap opera's most married men and "the scoundrel that Neighbours viewers absolutely love to hate.

"[68] He is also labelled "ruthless" and the way he "tramples" on other characters, Beresford gushed that Paul "does it with such relish that you can't help but enjoy his schemes, no matter how extreme.

"[69] Paul was placed second in a poll ran via soap fansite "Back To The Bay", which asked readers to determine the top ten most popular Neighbours characters.

"[74] They branded him a "bad boy" who is "motivated by greed and lust, Paul manipulated his way into business and into the ladies' beds (even with a dodgy earring).

[8] In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary, British satellite broadcasting company, Sky UK, profiled twenty-five characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series history.

"[31] An Inside Soap writer opined that "slimy seducer" Paul remained the same "eighties smooth operator", observing "he's certainly not short of a slick chat-up line or two.