It’s a revolving door over in Summer Bay.
Home and Away has graced our screens for almost four decades, and while longstanding characters like Alf Stewart and Irene Roberts will always have a place in our hearts, there’s a little room in there for a new character or two.
As always, the show has lots of twists and turns while new characters join and others leave, so if you’re need a little explainer, look no further.
The new arrivals to Home & Away
Ruth is (trying) to make her way back
Ruth “Roo” Stewart, played by Georgie Parker, is the daughter of Alf Stewart. After not being in Summer Bay for a while, the show teased that Roo was making her way home.
However, instead of a wholesome reunion, the plot has taken a dark, gritty turn, with Roo becoming the centre of a missing-persons investigation as the show teases a kidnapping.
The series has now left Home and Away fans on edge as viewers were left with David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) and Constable Lombard (Shannon Ryan) at the scene of Roo’s burnt out car in a forest clearing.
Has Roo been murdered, or is this just a decoy to throw the police off her kidnapper’s trail? We’ll have to tune in to find out.
Dylan Baldwin has arrived in Summer Bay
There’s a new Baldwin in town, with Noah D’Annunzio joining the cast as Dylan Baldwin.
Dylan made his Australian screen debut on October 12, arriving unexpectedly to visit his older brother, Sonny Baldwin. The pair have a complicated history, with Sonny having previously felt overshadowed by Dylan, who was seen as the golden child of their family.
However, Dylan’s arrival reveals that his seemingly perfect life might not be quite what it appears. He tells Sonny that he’s tired of living up to their parents’ expectations and wants to experience something different.
Dylan also catches the attention of Lacey, who is still grieving the death of her former boyfriend, Theo Poulos. Although she’s beginning to consider the possibility of finding love again, she struggles with the guilt of being attracted to someone new.
With a potential romance on the cards, Dylan’s arrival could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Lacey.
Is Imogen Fowler returning in 2027?
Another familiar face could be heading back to Summer Bay with reports suggesting Georgia Blizzard will reprise her role as Imogen Fowler, Levi’s ex-wife, in 2027.
Imogen has reportedly been spotted filming alongside Levi and a young girl, prompting speculation about the child’s identity and how she could affect Levi’s relationship with Mackenzie.
However, the show has not officially confirmed the details of Imogen’s return or the child’s connection to the family, so we’ll have to wait for more information before drawing any conclusions.
For now, Imogen’s return remains unconfirmed, and there is no official broadcast date.
Rookie cop Richie is back!
Another new face on the show this year was Richie Brezniak (played by Rocco Forrester-Sach).
He first entered Summer Bay as the new police officer at Yabbie Creek Police Station, and despite Constable Cash Newman initially offering to take him under his wing as the new recruit, his rookie enthusiasm started to irk his senior.
Richie made his Summer Bay appearance on April 28, and saw him strike up a romance with the newly-single Abigail.
However, after a recent climactic shooting plotline led to Richie being fired from the force, this new recruit took a small hiatus from the Bay.
Now, the young cop is making his grand return, with Channel Seven announcing on Monday, September 14, that Rocco will be returning as Richie next week! Tune in to see this character reunite with everyone he left behind.
Jimmy Fowler has returned
Aaron Jeffery has reprised his role as Jimmy Fowler, bringing another familiar face back to Summer Bay.
Jimmy is the father of Eden, Levi and Abigail, all of whom are now living in the Bay. His return comes as Eden faces a serious health crisis, giving the Fowler family a reason to come together during an incredibly difficult time. Jimmy’s return has already aired, with his former wife Deb expected to follow shortly behind. Gary Morrow is returningJimmy is the father of Eden, Levi and Abigail, all of whom are now living in the Bay. His return comes as Eden faces a serious health crisis, giving the Fowler family a reason to come together during an incredibly difficult time.
Jimmy’s return has already aired, with his former wife Deb expected to follow shortly behind.
Gary Morrow is returning
Peter Phelps is also heading back to Summer Bay as Gary Morrow, Cash Newman’s adoptive father.
Gary has appeared on and off since October 2022, and his return comes as Cash struggles to cope with Eden’s life-threatening diagnosis.
A promotional teaser shown during the Logies appeared to show Cash spending time away with Gary, suggesting he will be there to support his son during a difficult period.
Dr Amelia Carlisle made a climactic entrance
One of the most hotly anticipated arrivals to the show was Dr Amelia Carlisle, played by Nicole da Silva.
She is best known for playing Franky Doyle in Wentworth, and fans were excited to spot the actor on the Home and Away set back in January.
Nicole first entered the show during the season’s climactic shooting episode, stepping in as Dr Amelia Carlisle from Northern Districts Hospital to help save David’s (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) life after Richie’s rookie mistake.
“It is a rite of passage for most Aussie actors, I think,” she told WHO about joining the soap.
Although the actress admitted joining a show with such a deep fan lore was “terrifying” – “Hopefully everyone plays nice,” she joked – Nicole said on-set, the cast and crew have “been very welcoming”.
However, she stops short of naming the first cast member who made her feel at home on the series.
“If I told you one person specifically, you might figure out who plays my love interest – and it’s best you discover that when you watch,” she teased.
Now that Nicole’s character has spent some time on the show, you can probably guess who that love interest might be!
Who will be leaving Summer Bay?
Tane says a tearful goodbye
Tane Parata, played by Ethan Browne, has faced some climactic storylines this year on Home and Away. After being framed for drug charges by Harper’s mother, Kerrie, imprisoned and ultimately going on the run with Brax’s help, he found his way back to Summer Bay.
While there were many relationships keeping Tane in Summer Bay – one of those including Mackenzie Booth – the character ultimately bid his friends a tearful goodbye as he made the decision to move closer to his son Archie.
Tane had baby Archie with Harper, who left the Bay earlier this year.
However, despite this dramatic exit, fans are not quite sure we’ve seen the last of Tane and are holding out hope for his return. We’ll have to wait and see!
Harper Matheson has officially left Summer Bay
After rumours circulated for weeks about her departure, Harper Matheson (Jessica Redmayne) has officially left the Bay.
The rumours started after sisters Harper and Dana (Ally Harris) weren’t seen filming recently, and news dropped of Jessica’s new project, starring as Shelby in Steel Magnolias Australia.
In the end, Harper left Summer Bay with her son Archie and sister Dana as she no longer felt safe, even after her ex-boyfriend, Beau, was arrested when she reported him for abuse.
While Harper’s storyline was an intense one, with the character leaving on heartbreaking and sudden terms to escape Beau, Redmayne has reflected on both the “sad” and “grateful” reality of saying goodbye to this character.
“It’s, of course, sad to see Harper go – especially on terms like these – but I’m grateful as Jessica the actor to have experienced the immense challenge,” she told TV Week. “I particularly love telling true stories and this one was very real and raw.”
Who knows what’s next for Harper! She may return when Summer Bay settles down, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Harper’s new beau… Beau
Beau was also a newbie welcomed to the show this year, with the character played by Blake Richardson.
He was introduced as Harper’s new boyfriend, and their relationship kicked off with a wholesome start as they spent time together loved-up at the beach and spending time with Harper’s baby, Archie.
However, Beau quickly stirred trouble for single-mum Harper. After Beau landed himself in jail, Harper made the decision to leave Summer Bay for good to protect Archie.
While there doesn’t seem to be a return date for Harper anytime soon, the jury is still out on whether Beau will continue to cause trouble in Summer Bay when he’s let out of the slammer.
Time will tell!
Zane Talbot has been sent back to prison
Zane Talbot, played by Angus McColl, has also faced a dramatic change in circumstances.
After serving time for a burglary during which he accidentally struck a young girl, Zane struggled to adjust to life outside prison. Marilyn Chambers tried to help him start again, encouraging him to take up new opportunities and build a life beyond his past.
However, Zane continued to battle feelings of guilt and found the freedom of making his own decisions overwhelming.
After deliberately vandalising local businesses and getting into trouble with police, Zane was arrested again and sent back to prison.
His departure leaves Marilyn disappointed after her efforts to help him make a fresh start. While his future on the show remains uncertain, Zane’s latest storyline has brought his time in Summer Bay to an abrupt end.
Is Sonny Baldwin leaving Home and Away?
Sonny Baldwin, played by Ryan Bown, could also be facing an uncertain future in Summer Bay, although his departure has not been confirmed.
Sonny first arrived in February 2025 as the childhood best friend of Remi Carter. He later reunited with Remi after learning that his friend had come into money, and turned up in the Lyrik share house with plans to help him spend his windfall.
Speculation about Sonny’s future began after he reportedly had not been spotted filming at Palm Beach since late July. Fans also noticed that Ryan had changed his Instagram bio, removing the reference to Home and Away.
However, Ryan had also travelled to the UK with his partner, Natalie Spence, following their second wedding ceremony in the Cotswolds.
It is possible the actor was simply taking an extended break, and there has been no official announcement confirming Sonny’s departure.
For now, his future remains a question mark.
Why did Richie leave Summer Bay?
In one of the most climactic episodes of the season so far, rookie cop Richie (Rocco Forrester-Sach) accidentally shot his boss, David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), while on duty, sending him to urgent care. Since this (almost fatal) mistake, Richie has been suffering the consequences.
After having his gun license revoked and being let go from his dream job in the force, the aspiring cop spent his days applying for new opportunities, but continued to fall short as he couldn’t provide a reference.
As he sought out Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) for help, he was instead met with some hard truths and made the tough choice to leave Summer Bay and his girlfriend Abby behind in search of a fresh start.
However, this is not the last we will see of Richie! Rocco Forrester-Sach is still filming, signalling to fans that Richie will be back in the Bay later this year.
Abrupt departure for Tane
Tane Parata, played by Ethan Browne, has also faced questions about his future after being framed on drug charges by Harper’s mother, Kerrie, imprisoned and ultimately going on the run with Brax’s help.
His situation has left the future of his business in jeopardy and his relationship with Jo Staveley under strain.
However, filming reports suggest Tane is not leaving Summer Bay permanently. He has reportedly returned with baby Archie, and upcoming storylines are set to explore his feelings for Mackenzie Booth.
With Mackenzie engaged to Levi and Imogen reportedly returning to Summer Bay, Tane could find himself caught up in another complicated relationship storyline.
While his future may be changing, the latest reports suggest there is still plenty more to come from Tane.
Brax and Ricky
Fan favourites Brax (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky (Bonnie Sveen) returned earlier this year for a special Western Australia storyline, produced in partnership with Tourism Western Australia.
The couple were reintroduced living on a remote cattle station with their now 10-year-old son Casey, living in hiding after Brax never actually handed himself into police after that dodgy ordeal when he was last in Summer Bay.
The characters were on our screens for 10 weeks and exited on May 15.
Stephen and Bonnie spoke to WHO about their return and said it was a very emotional moment for them.
“I reunited with old crew friends,” Bonnie told WHO. “I shared a lot of hugs and a lot of chats. It was amazing working with old friends again, and then there were the new faces.”
“The dynamic was really beautiful between the new crew and the cast. Home and Away really is a beautiful place to work.”
