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He was the script stealer. Les made us see how he was tired of being Blake Dean.
Even though his character on screen was a success.
Les made it to clear how he didnt want it. Here is the lowdown on some of the real story....
This is one of the reasons why I find Les Hill to be an interest to me. In my collection
of magazines (just some of many) it became apparent to me how he expressed
his views about Home and Away, and wanted his right to stay in the UK and work
and probably spoke out for the minds of many other fello actors.
Is success all in the word luck, or hard acting in the word success?

(Above)
Many Critics said Les Hill
would never work again after he quit H&A's Blake Dean, before mouthing off about the show's producers. But they were wrong - the former soap prince is back was a new attitude and a new role on sudsy soap Pacific Drive.

"Les has calmed down since those days." says a source close to the sun-and-sizzle soap. "He's very professional and very dedicated to his work." Apparently, Les will play a suave and sophisticated character on Pacific drive, which is quite a leap from his days as a teenage heart-throb in Summer Bay

Not only has Soap cutie Les Hill landed a role in a fab new movie, but he beat Hollywood actor Stephen Dorf to the Role Les will make playing a hippyish kind of a guy in British made film, Looking for Atlantis. The movie is about the hopes of twentysomethings hanging out on Londons friendly Kings road one summer. It will be released next year. 1994

TV HITS 1993
POSTER SPECIAL
When Les said "Bye bye" to
Summer Bay last September sparks
went-a-flying.
Its seems our Les had a few words
with the H&A bosses.
"We just didn't get on". Says Les.
"I disagreed with them and they
disagreed with me. I'm not one
to bitch though the producers won't
be missing me, i'd like to think
some of the cast are."

Nov 1993 TV HITS Lisa Blakely (Blakes on screen half Sister)
Lisa spends a lot of time listening to other cast members
whining about wanting to leave the show. Take ex-Home and away star Les Hill for instance. "He was furious with the whole soap lifestyle. They treated him badly. He possibly worked it out the wrong way, but he proved he was serious about acting. I worked very closely with Les when he was on the show. He used to say 'Lisa, you'll hate working on the show, its like being in jail. Get out! You don't know what you are in for.' I used to get angry with him for saying that. I can see in some ways he was right."

the cast of H&A aren't shedding any tears about their co-star Les Hill leaving the show! Apparently he has got so big headed recently that they are absolutely sick of him and cant wait to see the back of him. But maybe because he has become such a star and pin up recently, it is a simple case of the old green monster!

Womans Own HOT SEAT 1993) LES HILL QUOTES:

"I miss the people, but not the job.
I cant stand Soap operas. That includes Home and Away."

LES SPEAKS HIS MIND!
Les Hill has been very
outspoken during a recent interview
with on of Australias top
TV magazines. He told
TV Week how fed up
he was with being famous.
"Obviously i knew about
the photo shoots, interviews
and what not, but
as far as dealing with people,
thats where i got confused.
I didn't even stop to
think that people wouldn't be
straight...It seems that if
someones got it in for you,
you're a goner!"
And that he said thats why he
has just come to Britain to live
for at least two years!
"I don't care if i don't go back
to Australia, and i don't
care if i change my whole career
and become a street sweeper
in London. Its not that
important anymore!"

FAR AND AWAY YER GO!

A campaign to prevent Aussie soap stars from appearing in panto in the UK is underway. Under the banner F&A a groups of British Actors has got together in bid to persuade Equity to lobby the DoE in an effort to deny Aussie stars the right to work in Britain.

"We're a non terrorist movement" Jokes a spokesman for the campaign. "But our aim is very serious."

(above) One of H&As most popular story lines was Blake Deans romance with terminally ill Meg. Les Hill portrayed Blake is currently fighting British actors union Equity, who say that his work is not of a sufficient International standard for him to act in the UK.

"In my last column, i revealed that British actors are fed up with Australian soap stars taking away their livelihood especially during panto season. Well, i can now reveal that an action group called Far & Away has been set up especially to oppose the employment of Australian actors i in the UK." 1994

Ex H & A Star Les Hill is coming back to England this month to take part in a forum debate at Oxford University Union. The topic of discussion is whether or not Aussie soap stars should be allowed to get work over here in Britain. So Les has a keen interest.

Many soap stars have quit their shows in a blaze of publicity and promises of big things just around the corner. Life after soap can be notorious cruel world, so what chance do the have?

SAVE OUR AUSSIES!

Following our investigation into Aussie soap stars, being banned from working in Britain, we've decided to set up a special phoneline for fans to air their views on the subject. Let us know what you think, by calling the number below dont forget to leave your name addresses and telephone number. Every caller who leaves there details will go into a free draw to win lunch with H&A Les Hill.

Talent spot

"LEAVE LES ALONE!"

I really hate it when people slag off Home and Aways Les Hill. he was brilliant during the Meg and Blake story and I'm, obviously not the only person who thinks so. Judging by your poll, Les is definitely the most popular male and best actor on TV, so in future his critics should keep their stupid jealous opinions to themselves.

Miss Clark, Dagenham.

Les Hill is still trying to overcome his
problems with a work permit for the UK,
but when a friend
told him the temperature was 35 degrees
back in Oz, Les hopped on a plane for a
two week holiday. But fear not
he will be returning to the UK, where he
had several work offers lined up.

Les Hill has been living in London for
some time now and reported that hes
having some problems with a work permit,
he's still lined up for touring production of
a play called The Knack later this year.
H&A star Matt Stevenson has been staying
with his old flatmate and ex cast mate Les
Hill while in London preparing for pantomime.

Mag Ins Soap 1994

When Les Hill left H & A in 1992, he came to Britain dreaming of furthering
his career in acting. But for Les, and many other Aussie favorites-that
dream has turned into a legal nightmare of red tape and wrangles with
the Department of Employment.
Before an Australian citizen can take work in Britain he or she must first
get a work permit from the DoE, but recent change in the rules has meant
fewer Aussie stars will be able to work in this country.
And for Les, that meant leaving a choice role in the in the new Joanna Lumley sitcom,
A Class Act.
"I reckon the new rule that an overseas worker must have an international reputation
rather an just being a house hold name has meant maybe a £100, 000 loss in
earning," says Les who would love to stay in this country and buy a house here.
His rejection for permit for A Class Act where he was set to play
a young Australian - on the grounds that he is not a big enough television star,
seems ridiculous when lesser known Nadine Garner a far more lesser known
Australian actress has been given a work permit for exactly the same show!
The Department of Employment said its recent rule change
protects British actors who equally qualified to play the same part.
"However, explains a DoE spokeswoman, "we do consider each application
individually, so theres no real hand and fast rule."

But it's exactly this sort of inconsistency that upsets Les and the uncertainty
of whether or not he will be able to take the numerous roles he has been
offered has been very unsettling for the star. "I've just signed a lease on a
new flat, but here i am wondering how I'm going to be able to pay the rent
if I'm forced to leave the country in six weeks, " says Les who is not the first
Aussie soap star to have difficulties working in this country.
Neighbours star Kristian Schmid (played Todd) was forced to leave his
presenting job on Going Live when his work papers were rejected.
And Home and Away Richard Norton only got round the problem by
marrying his English girlfriend.
But marriage for Les is out of the question.
"I want to get married for the right reasons, i don't want to have it
forced on me," he says understandably. Les says hes ready to fight for
his right to work in Britain through the courts, but hes nearing the end
of his tether and may be forced to head back to Australia in the next
couple of months.
What this rule change means in the long term is that fewer Australian
actors will come to Britain, which means fewer pantomimes with much
lower budget and alternately it will be the fans who suffer.