Dieter Brummer and Melissa George's 20 year feud

Former Home And Away star Dieter Brummer begged to be killed off so he could escape Melissa George. He tells PHIL KOCH why he hasn’t spoken to the actress in 17 years…

Dieter Brummer is still rolling around laughing after the latest rant from Melissa George, who became famous playing his lover on Home And Away. He hasn’t spoken to Melissa since he asked producers to kill off his character, Shane Parrish, 17 years ago to escape the tension and diva-like demands she made even when she was starting out.

“I think they were unnecessary and a bit ridiculous – but then that’s Mel,” Dieter says in the wake of Melissa’s recent outburst. “We may have been love interests on the show but the chemistry was far from real!” Melissa threw a tantrum and “threatened to walk off set” on The Morning Show when her Home And Away character, Angel Parrish, was mentioned last week. The US-based actress further isolated herself from her Aussie fans by lashing out after the incident.

“I don’t need credibility from my country anymore; I just need them all to be quiet. If they have nothing intelligent to say, please don’t speak to me anymore,” Melissa told Melbourne’s Herald Sun. “I’d rather be having a croissant and a little espresso in Paris or walking my French bulldog in New York City,” snapped the actress, who is dating French millionaire Jean-David Blanc.

Dieter jokes he’d probably also rather be “walking his French bulldog and enjoying a croissant” but is happy to settle for a takeaway coffee and a cuddle with Jelly, his 10-year-old fox terrier. “Mel was incredibly ambitious right from the outset,” explains Dieter, who has made a comeback in Underbelly and still works as a high-rise abseiler in between acting gigs. “I think she wanted to be the next Kylie Minogue. She was a big fan and she aspired to be a big star just like Kylie. I don’t think she had much time for the cast of Home And Away.”