Eliza Sherwood

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	January 17, 1988; 38 years ago
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia

Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. This list highlights characters introduced in 2025, all under the guidance of executive producer Lucy Addario. The show's 38th season commenced broadcasting on 13 January 2025. Detective Mark Townsend made his first appearance in the season opener. In February, Eliza Sherwood and Sonny Baldwin were introduced, followed by Lacey Miller in March. Sergeant David Langham arrived in May, with his daughter Jo Langham and Cohen Luther joining the cast in June.

Mark Townsend

Mark Townsend, played by Craig Hall, was first seen on 13 January 2025. His casting was announced in November 2024 after set photos emerged. Townsend is the detective assigned to investigate the assault on Tim Russell (George Pullar), with Constable Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright) identified as the main suspect after being found near Tim, who was unconscious and injured, at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

Townsend's investigation begins at Koi Stone River Estate following reports of two men being assaulted. Cash Newman identifies himself as a constable and urges Townsend to protect Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo) from harm. Justin Morgan (James Stewart) informs Townsend he saw Cash leaning over Tim, who had sustained a severe head injury. During interviews with Eden and Remi Carter (Adam Rowland), it is revealed that Cash was not expected at the residence. Cash claims his presence was due to threats from Nerida Mullins (Ellie Gall), a former patient of Tim’s. Townsend suspects Remi may be concealing information and advises him to come forward if necessary before informing Cash that he is now considered a suspect.

At the police station, Senior Constable Rose Delaney (Kirsty Mariller) reports that Cash has not yet provided a statement and had a previous confrontation with Tim. Townsend discusses a break-in at Eden's home with John Palmer (Shane Withington) and later learns from Remi about an argument between Cash and Tim. Understanding Cash’s protective behavior linked to his sister’s death, Townsend proceeds to arrest him for assault causing grievous bodily harm and removes Rose from the case after she allowed Eden to visit Cash.

Eliza Sherwood

Eliza Sherwood, portrayed by Martha Kate Morgan, made her debut on 13 February 2025 as Roo Stewart’s new foster child. Introduced following a fire that destroyed her previous foster home, Eliza is characterized as withdrawn and troubled, raising concerns for Roo. Early plotlines suggest Eliza may have been responsible for starting the fire, culminating in her threatening Marilyn Chambers. Simon Timblick of What's on TV described Eliza as "a whole lot of trouble" exhibiting "strange and creepy" conduct.

Eliza is brought into Roo’s family circle, including Alf Stewart and Marilyn Chambers, bringing only a music box rescued from the fire. She demonstrates reluctance to socialize and behaves secretively, including stealing money from Marilyn’s purse and developing an obsession with surgery after conversations with Levi Fowler. Her disruptive behavior escalates when she assaults another young person at a youth program and issues threats toward others.

Marilyn eventually moves out due to feeling uneasy around Eliza, who continues stealing and making threats. During Harper Matheson’s labor, Eliza secretly films the birth without permission and later withholds Alf’s heart medication. These incidents compel Roo to find a new foster placement for Eliza. A subsequent psychiatric assessment indicates Eliza may have conduct disorder accompanied by psychopathic traits.

Sonny Baldwin

Sonny Baldwin, brought to life by Ryan Bown, made his first appearance on 17 February 2025. The announcement of Bown's casting came on 12 January 2025, alongside Sophea Pennington's casting as Lacey Miller. Bown auditioned while based in London, completing his final audition via Zoom before moving to Australia shortly after landing the role. He described joining the Home and Away ensemble as becoming part of "one big wacky family" and shared his enthusiasm for working on the renowned series.

Sonny is introduced as a close acquaintance of established character Remi Carter (Adam Rowland) and is depicted as a "charismatic," "impulsive," and "fun-loving" party enthusiast, also described as "cheeky and spontaneous." Bown mentioned that Sonny represents a more exaggerated version of himself, with loyalty issues and a revealing past that will be explored throughout his storyline. Upon arriving in Summer Bay, Sonny surprises Kirby Aramoana (Angelina Thomson) by breaking into Remi's house. His history includes working as a promoter and mascot for Remi and Kirby's band Lyrik before traveling overseas. Now back, he offers assistance to Remi in managing his recent inheritance. Bown highlighted that Sonny possesses "a good heart" but requires growth, with his true intentions gradually unveiled over the course of the series.

Lacey Miller

Lacey Miller, portrayed by Sophea Pennington, first appeared on 13 March 2025. Pennington’s casting was revealed on 12 January 2024 alongside Ryan Bown’s announcement as Sonny Baldwin. Pennington described joining the cast as a "pinch me moment," having grown up watching the show, and enjoyed filming at Palm Beach with a close-knit group of actors.

Lacey was introduced as "the wild child with a heart of gold." Pennington noted parallels between herself and Lacey, describing her character as a "bad girl" with a kind heart, which made portraying her both enjoyable and challenging. Connected to the River Boys surf gang, Lacey initially appears as the girlfriend of gang leader Gage Reynolds (Tom Wilson) but later develops a relationship with Theo Poulos (Matt Evans). Her family narrative expanded with the arrival of her father David Langham and sister Jo Langham.

David Langham

David Langham, played by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, made his debut on 28 May 2025. Taylor, who had a recurring role in 2016, joined the main cast in late 2024 after six months of filming. He praised the cast and described his initial scenes as unforgettable.

David is introduced as the new police sergeant at Yabbie Creek station and is portrayed as "very by-the-book," acting as a moral anchor amid unfolding drama and emotional conflicts. He is the estranged father of Lacey Miller and Jo Langham (Maddison Brown). The family faces challenges in rebuilding their relationships while David manages his professional dynamic with Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright), whose dubious history creates friction.

Upon arriving, David reprimands Cash for being late and reviews his disciplinary record. When he finds Lacey’s name in police files related to a coercive relationship with a gang leader, David instructs Cash to bring her to the station. Their reunion is strained; Lacey expresses her displeasure at seeing him despite his attempts to find her. Meanwhile, Tane Parata defends Cash’s recent behavior, underscoring difficulties within David’s new team.

Jo Langham

Jo Langham, played by Maddison Brown, made her first appearance on 9 June 2025. Brown's casting was revealed on 18 May 2025, shortly after her return to Australia from Los Angeles. She described joining Home and Away as a "full circle" experience, fulfilling a dream she had since childhood. As part of the main ensemble, Brown expressed enthusiasm about filming on location in Palm Beach, calling it a "pinch-me moment."

Jo is introduced with a "complex history" and pre-existing family connections in Summer Bay, though their reunion is far from joyful. Brown highlighted that Jo's family relationships are "very fractured and complicated," promising intense drama and conflicts characteristic of the show. Her father, David Langham (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), was introduced prior to her arrival, followed by her sister Lacey Miller (Sophea Pennington), who appeared in March.

Jo comes to visit her father, who has recently settled into a steady role in Yabbie Creek; Brown described their bond as "beautiful." During her visit, she meets Tane Parata (Ethan Browne), who offers assistance with her car but is turned down. Jo also attempts to mend the troubled relationship with Lacey, who initially rebuffs her efforts, resulting in a physical confrontation—the very first scenes Brown filmed. Both sisters are subsequently escorted to the police station by Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright). While Jo is visibly distressed, Lacey remains unrepentant.

Cohen Luther

Cohen Luther, portrayed by Nathan Murray, was introduced on 18 June 2025. He arrives as the new foster child of Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) following the arrest of his mother, Samantha Luther (Heidi May). Previously homeless and living in a tent, Cohen is deeply frightened by his mother's detention, which cuts off his sole source of support. He finds it difficult to trust others and is profoundly impacted by the separation's duration.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Role Description
13–14 January	Dr Anita Khurana	Emily Havea	Obstetric surgeon assisting Levi Fowler with the removal of a cyst from Harper Matheson's unborn child. She steps in when complications arise, advising Levi on surgical approaches and overseeing Harper’s condition.
13–14 January	Anaesthetist Harry	Paul Hughes	Provides anesthesia to Harper during surgery, monitors vital signs, and supports Levi and Dr Khurana throughout the procedure.
13 January	Paramedic	Mitchell Gilmour	Attends to assault victims at Koi Stone River Estate; assists in emergency care for Tim Russell’s head injury.
5–10 March	Scott	Finnian James	Teenager enrolling in Tane Parata's youth program; involved in confrontations with Eliza Sherwood, highlighting challenges faced by local youth.
12 March–24 April	Gage Reynolds	Tom Wilson	Member of the River Boys surf gang; operates a car modification business offering paid work to Theo Poulos and Sonny Baldwin. Acts as an influential figure within this niche market.
15 April–	Archie	Various babies	Son of Harper Matheson and Tane Parata, born following prenatal surgery addressing a lung cyst. His birth and early care involve critical medical interventions by Levi Fowler.
12 May–	Debra Fowler	Tammy MacIntosh	Mother to Eden, Levi, and Abigail Fowler; participates in family events supporting major character developments such as Eden’s engagement.
29 May – 8 July	Avalon Bracken	Gemma Dart	Singer collaborating on music production with Kirby Aramoana and Remi Carter; her involvement introduces industry-related tensions affecting production timelines.
18 June	Samantha Luther	Heidi May	Arrested for possession of stolen property and outstanding warrants; surrenders parental rights impacting foster care arrangements for Cohen Luther.
18 June–	Constable Bowman	Nick Drummond	Police officer managing Samantha Luther’s arrest and coordinating with social services concerning Cohen’s welfare.
30 July–	Adrian Purcell	Tom Matthews	Claims to be Cohen Luther’s biological father; initiates legal procedures including DNA testing that influence foster care decisions.
31 July	Vivienne White	Diana Gyllén	Private investigator hired by Lacey Miller for case investigation but later withdraws from the assignment.

External links

Cast and characters available on 7plus