Home and Away

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television drama
Founded	January 17, 1988; 38 years ago
Founder	Alan Bateman
Headquarters	Sydney, Australia
Products	Soap opera
Website	7plus.com.au/home-and-away

Home and Away (commonly abbreviated as H&A) is a long-standing Australian soap opera created by Alan Bateman, which debuted on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman conceived the series after witnessing local resistance to a foster home in Kangaroo Point, New South Wales. Initially named Refuge, the title was changed to Home and Away to evoke a more welcoming tone.

The program began with a ninety-minute telefeature, later retitled Home and Away: The Movie, followed by regular episodes lasting twenty-two minutes each. It holds the position as Australia's second longest-running drama series after Neighbours and currently broadcasts Monday through Thursday at 7:00 pm.

Set in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay, New South Wales, Home and Away initially centered around the Fletcher family—Tom (Roger Oakley) and Pippa (Vanessa Downing)—and their five foster children managing the Summer Bay caravan park. Eventually, they welcomed a sixth foster child, Bobby Simpson (Nicolle Dickson). The series has consistently tackled challenging subjects such as teenage pregnancy, sexual assault, substance abuse, overdose, and suicide, frequently pushing the boundaries of its scheduled timeslot. Exterior scenes are primarily filmed on location at Palm Beach in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, while interior shots take place at the Australian Technology Park in Redfern.

Having been distributed to over 140 countries, Home and Away ranks among Australia's most successful television exports. In the United Kingdom, it airs on Channel 5, alongside fellow Australian soap Neighbours. It is also one of the top-rated shows on Ireland’s RTÉ Television and New Zealand’s TVNZ 2. Domestically, it holds the record for winning the most Logie Awards with a total of 51 accolades, including numerous Gold and Silver Logies awarded to cast members. In 2015, it was honored with induction into the Logie Hall of Fame.

Conceptualization

Following the cancellation of Neighbours by Seven Network in 1985 due to poor ratings—after which Network 10 acquired and successfully revived it—Seven’s drama head Alan Bateman aimed to reestablish a presence in the soap opera market with a fresh concept distinct from Neighbours. During a family visit to Kangaroo Point, New South Wales, Bateman noticed community opposition against a foster home intended for urban children. This observation inspired him to develop a series portraying how savvy city youths adjust within a close-knit rural community. The setting was established as the fictional town of Summer Bay. Although initially met with skepticism from Seven executives, favorable audience research eventually endorsed the project. The series was originally entitled Refuge before being renamed Home and Away prior to production commencement.

Home and Away has since become Australia’s second longest-running drama after Neighbours. In 2002, several former characters returned for a special storyline commemorating Summer Bay’s 150th anniversary that included a dramatic storm and ferry disaster. The show marked its 4000th episode in 2005 with many past cast members reappearing for Alf Stewart’s 60th birthday celebration.

In March 2007, it ranked eighth among Australian television programs receiving complaints, primarily due to concerns about its suitability for the 7:00 pm timeslot. Between July 2005 and June 2006, it attracted 23 formal complaints.

On 23 July 2009, Home and Away celebrated its 21st year of production in Sydney; during this event, the mayor of Pittwater Council presented cast members with keys to Palm Beach—the site used for exterior filming. Cameron Welsh, who portrayed Mitch McColl (1999–2001), served as series producer from 2007 until his departure at the end of 2011. He was succeeded by Lucy Addario, formerly producer of All Saints, beginning January 2012.

In August 2012, Home and Away became the first Australian television program to surpass one million likes on its official Facebook page, launched in November 2009, with followers predominantly from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. The show commemorated its 25th anniversary in 2013 with a special storyline featuring former cast member Kate Ritchie reprising her role as Sally Fletcher.

On 14 February 2016, Home and Away broadcast its inaugural two-hander episode spotlighting only Ricky Sharpe (Bonnie Sveen) and Darryl "Brax" Braxton (Steve Peacocke), marking a significant innovation in its narrative style.

Location and sets

Home and Away unfolds in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay, located in New South Wales. Prominent settings include the beach, a high school, a diner, a bait shop, a garage, and a surf club equipped with a gym and restaurant. The characters live in various nearby residences such as Summer Bay House, Caravan Park, Beach House, Farmhouse, Pier flat, and Saxon Avenue. Occasionally, the storyline extends to other invented towns like Mangrove River and Yabbie Creek.

Since 1988, Palm Beach has been the main site for filming Summer Bay scenes, contributing significantly to local tourism through year-round tours of the show's outdoor sets. Exterior shots are primarily captured at Palm Beach and Fisherman's Beach in Collaroy. Initially, interior scenes were filmed at the Seven Network studios in Epping until 2010, after which production relocated to the Australian Technology Park in Redfern. The Jackeroo Ranch property in Kenthurst served as the exterior location for Summer Bay House and Caravan Park until a bushfire in 2002 destroyed these sets. Subsequently, the caravan park set was moved to locations such as Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary (2007–09) and Lane Cove River Tourist Park (2010–14). A reconstructed Summer Bay House was built at Kenthurst with slight modifications, and both sets reappeared on-screen in 2015. Notably, the Summer Bay House remains the sole original building visible since the series premiere.

Filming has also taken place outside New South Wales across various Australian states: South Australia's Flinders Ranges and Nilpena Station were used in 2012 for an outback kidnapping plot; Melbourne has hosted shoots twice; and Canberra's Australian War Memorial was featured in 2014 during an Anzac Centenary tribute episode. On the international front, production has filmed once in Hawaii and three times within the United Kingdom.

Theme song

The theme music for Home and Away was composed by Mike Perjanik. Since the series launch, nine distinct versions have been employed. While the lyrics have remained mostly consistent, verses have been shortened over time to accommodate broadcast time limits. The original rendition by Karen Boddington and Mark Williams aired from 1988 until 1995. This version was also released as a single in the UK, where it reached number 73 on the UK Singles Chart.

Later versions featured vocals by Doug Williams and Erana Clark (1995–1999), followed by The Robertson Brothers (2000–2003), who delivered the first male-only vocal interpretation. A condensed 30-second edit by The Robertson Brothers continued until 2006. In 2007, cast member Israel Cannan recorded a new version; however, it was replaced within months by Luke Dolahenty’s rendition after fan reactions. From 2009 onward, Dolahenty teamed with Tarryn Stokes to provide a shorter vocal theme.

Between 2010 and 2017, the opening credits featured an instrumental adaptation of the theme song; nonetheless, Dolahenty and Stokes’ vocals persisted in international closing sequences. In 2018, two fresh eight-second vocal versions—one male and one female—were introduced to the opening titles, incorporating only the final lines: "closer each day, Home and Away." Additionally, a longer 30-second male vocal version was made available online.

In January 2025, Wade Sellers from TV Week announced that elements of the theme song would partially return during that year’s episodes; however, it will not be included in every broadcast.

Opening titles

The opening sequence of Home and Away originally showcased the main characters, frequently depicting them in pairs or alongside family and friends within familiar Summer Bay locations such as the beach. Early versions incorporated black brushstroke silhouettes framing the character images. In 2004, the series transitioned to a picture frame concept, presenting characters inside large frames set against coastal scenery.

In January 2007, a refreshed opening was introduced along with an updated theme tune, retaining the framed photo motif but featuring new character portraits within these frames. By 2009, the intro was cut to just 15 seconds and omitted the cast entirely for the first time, substituting them with a photographic montage of Summer Bay landmarks due to time limitations. This adjustment led to audience calls in both Australia and the UK for reinstating the full cast sequence.

Between 2013 and 2017, the show rotated brief five-second openings that highlighted beach scenes with women in bikinis and men without shirts carrying surfboards. In 2018, an eight-second version brought back the theme music and displayed pairs running into the ocean to surf. Although a 30-second cut was made available online, it did not air on Australian television. Viewers continued to express their preference for traditional opening sequences.

In January 2025, TV Week announced that opening titles would return after a seventeen-year hiatus. Premiering on 6 February 2025, this new sequence featured cast members posing on the iconic beach backdrop, including some shots previously seen in promotional trailers. Designed for straightforward updates following cast changes, these titles are now employed selectively for creative purposes.

Cast and characters

Home and Away premiered in January 1988 centering on the "Fletcher" family—Tom (Roger Oakley) and Pippa (Vanessa Downing), along with their five foster children—who relocated to the coastal town of Summer Bay. Early episodes introduced key figures such as foster child Bobby Simpson (Nicolle Dickson).

The Fletchers took over management of the Summer Bay Caravan Park and became integral members of the local community, building relationships with residents like shopkeeper Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) and Ailsa Hogan (Judy Nunn), retired carnival workers Neville and Floss McPhee, as well as surfer Matt Wilson. They also maintained a notable rivalry with school principal Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn).

Additional early additions to the cast included Alf Stewart's daughter Roo Stewart (originally portrayed by Justine Clarke, later by Georgie Parker) and his sister Celia Stewart (Fiona Spence), broadening the core ensemble.

While featuring a blend of seasoned and emerging actors, Home and Away consistently emphasizes youth-centric storylines driven predominantly by younger characters. Several performers have enjoyed extended tenures: Judy Nunn played Ailsa until 2000, Norman Coburn portrayed Donald Fisher until 2003, and Kate Ritchie embodied Sally Fletcher until 2008. Coburn, Ritchie, and Meagher were recognized in the 2002 Guinness World Records as the longest-serving actors in an Australian drama series. Currently, Meagher holds this distinction alone as the last remaining original cast member.

Among present long-standing cast members are Meagher, Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts), Ada Nicodemou (Leah Patterson-Baker), and Emily Symons (Marilyn Chambers). Since 2010, Georgie Parker has taken on the role of Roo Stewart, making Alf and Roo the only original characters still appearing on screen.

Celebrity guest appearances

Home and Away has welcomed numerous notable figures as guest stars, including John Farnham, Johanna Griggs, Sia, Michael Palin, Ian Thorpe, Lleyton Hewitt, Paulini, Nick Grimshaw, Eliza Doolittle, Ed Sheeran, Jessica Mauboy, Atomic Kitten, as well as Sunrise hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr.

Broadcasting

In Australia, Home and Away is broadcast on the Seven Network from Monday to Thursday at 7:00 pm, competing with A Current Affair on Nine Network and The Project on Network Ten. The series airs roughly 45 weeks each year, generally running from late January through late November, followed by a two-month hiatus during the Christmas and New Year period. A typical season includes about 230 episodes, though this number can be lower during Olympic years when Seven Network covers the Games. All episodes are accessible via Seven’s 7plus streaming platform, with a Sunday omnibus edition broadcast on 7Two.

When it first aired in 1988, Home and Away was shown at different times across Australian cities but standardized to a 7:00 pm nationwide slot in January 1992. Since November 2009, reruns have been screened on 7Two in the mornings. Initially airing Monday through Friday, the Friday episodes shifted to Thursdays starting March 2013 to accommodate Seven’s AFL broadcasts. By 2018, scheduling became more variable, with multiple episodes sometimes airing on Thursdays.

From 2000 until 2021, the series took a two-week mid-season break during the Summer Olympic Games, often ending before the hiatus with dramatic 'Olympic cliffhanger' storylines. These breaks occurred in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016, and 2021; however, no pause happened in 2012 due to broadcast rights arrangements. Additional interruptions happened in 2018 and 2022 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast and Birmingham respectively.

Production was halted on 22 March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic despite no confirmed infections among cast or crew. The show was removed from Seven's lineup on 23 March to allow for extended pandemic news coverage but resumed airing on 13 April. Filming recommenced on 25 May under restrictions that limited studio work and altered storylines to minimize actor interactions. In July 2021, filming paused again due to Sydney’s lockdown measures but restarted after a two-week break in early August.

International

Home and Away has been distributed to more than 140 countries worldwide, solidifying its status as a prominent Australian television export.

In the United Kingdom, it was broadcast on ITV from 1989 until 2000, drawing audiences as large as eight million and ranking among ITV’s top thirty programs. ITV typically aired episodes twice daily around 5:10 pm or 6:00 pm. In a £40 million deal in 2000, Channel 5 acquired the rights despite ITV’s higher offer because Channel 5 pledged long-term commitment to the series. After a year-long hiatus caused by exclusivity agreements, Channel 5 launched the show in July 2001. Initially scheduled at 6:00 pm for new episodes with repeats following later, broadcasts later shifted to afternoon slots and digital channels such as 5Star. From July 2018 onwards, it also aired on Viacom’s Paramount Network UK. In September 2021, Channel 5 moved its evening news to 5 pm, displacing Home and Away from its usual slot; premiere episodes now appear first on 5Star and the channel's app. New seasons generally begin airing in late February or early March in the UK, with a Christmas break occurring mid-November.

Since September 2019, Amazon Prime Video UK has streamed the pilot episode along with early seasons.

In Ireland, Home and Away debuted on RTÉ2 in October 1988 and became one of RTÉ’s most-watched dramas. It airs unedited with a PS rating and is available for streaming on RTÉ Player. Northern Ireland viewers can watch it on both Channel Five and its sister channel 5STAR; however, some platforms impose geographic restrictions.

In New Zealand, TVNZ2 broadcasts Home and Away, offering weekend airings alongside weekday repeats; episodes are also accessible via TVNZ OnDemand. The show previously aired on TV3 until Endemol ended their contract in 2013.

In the United States, Home and Away had a brief run on FX during the mid-1990s and began streaming on Hulu in 2015; Hulu currently provides access to past seasons but does not offer new episodes.

In Kenya, it was shown weekdays at 6:00 pm on NTV.

Storylines

Home and Away explores a wide array of topics pertinent to its viewers, such as foster care, family relationships, adolescent issues, school experiences, and romantic entanglements. The series also delves into more serious subjects including abortion, accidental fatalities, infidelity, adoption processes, alcoholism, memory loss, limb amputation, arson, autism spectrum disorders, grief, brain aneurysms, bullying, cancer, child maltreatment, cult involvement, cyberbullying, domestic abuse, depression, impaired driving due to alcohol, substance misuse and trafficking, eating disorders, gambling dependency, medical emergencies, hit-and-run incidents, HIV/AIDS, sexual orientation diversity, Huntington’s disease, incestuous relationships, incarceration, abductions, marital difficulties, miscarriages, homicide, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), paedophilia, false pregnancy symptoms, pole dancing performances, postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additional narratives address prostitution, racial discrimination, sexual assault, revenge pornography, thefts, self-injury behaviors, sexual grooming tactics and violent acts such as shootings and stabbings. The program has also incorporated natural calamities like cyclones and bushfires alongside numerous vehicular and maritime accidents. In January 2017 an exclusive online installment titled Home and Away: All or Nothing was released featuring graphic violence intended for mature audiences.

Rating and restrictions

Although the show originally aired in a G-rated timeslot from its debut in 1988 despite containing mature subject matter,[citation needed] episodes have been classified as PG since 2008 due to increased content intensity. During its broadcast on ITV in the UK early episodes underwent editing but were later reinstated with minimal alterations when shown on Channel Five. In Ireland via RTÉ the series is presented uncut with a PS rating; however a recent installment received an MA (18) classification for adult content.

Controversies

A rape storyline in the inaugural season provoked public outcry owing to its early evening broadcast time. In 2007 it ranked among Australia’s most complained-about television programs because of concerns regarding suitability for its timeslot. That same year the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) determined that episodes featuring pole dancing warranted a PG rating rather than G. In 2009 accusations emerged alleging censorship of a lesbian kiss scene; producers refuted these claims confirming the scene was broadcast as intended. In New Zealand a sexual scene was judged excessively explicit for the show’s G-rated slot. A promotional campaign launched in December 2023 centered on a missing character drew criticism from fans who regarded it as insensitive.

Popularity and viewership

Premiering in 1988 with the goal of enhancing Seven Network’s early evening ratings share but initially trailing behind rival Neighbours, Home and Away secured the competitive 7:00 pm timeslot by the early 1990s opposite Neighbours. Throughout the early 2000s it maintained an average audience of approximately 1.3 million viewers; this figure increased modestly to around 1.4 million by 2007 before declining to about one million towards the end of that decade and further dipping to between 800,000 and one million during the early 2010s.

From the mid-2010s onward viewership experienced a notable downturn as audience preferences shifted toward streaming services such as Netflix and Stan. By July 2015 overnight ratings had decreased roughly 14%, falling below an average of 750,000 viewers per episode. Despite this reduction in traditional ratings metrics Seven Network highlighted digital engagement levels as an alternative indicator of success.

Between 2019 and 2025 season premieres witnessed variable audience numbers ranging from lows near 380,000 up to peaks exceeding 950,000 viewers per episode. Particularly during May–April intervals in recent years there was a significant rise in viewership with some episodes approaching one million viewers.

Awards and nominations

This series holds the distinction of having secured the greatest number of Logie Awards for any television program, amassing 48 wins out of 168 nominations. It was honoured with induction into the Logie Hall of Fame in 2015. Beyond this, the show has received twelve Australian Writers' Guild Awards (AWGIE) and five accolades from the Australian Directors' Guild.

Merchandise and spin-offs

Since its debut in 1988, Home and Away has expanded its brand through a wide range of merchandise, including novels inspired by its characters, annual publications, VHS collections, DVDs containing exclusive material, and four soundtrack albums released between 1996 and 2003 that feature music performed by the cast and from the series itself.

The franchise has also produced spin-offs such as headLand, a short-lived series centered around university life that aired from late 2005 until early 2006 before being discontinued due to insufficient viewership. In August 2013, a webisode series was launched to introduce new characters prior to their appearances on television.

In December 2015, two former actors reprised their roles for Home and Away: An Eye for an Eye, a feature-length special created exclusively for the streaming platform Presto without broadcast on the Seven Network. The positive reception led to two additional specials: Revenge in December 2016 and All or Nothing in January 2017.

Beginning in November 2019, a UK-based web series titled Home and Away: Christmas in Summer Bay was released weekly on My5 during the show's customary Christmas hiatus. This six-episode series offered interviews with cast members and behind-the-scenes insights focusing on prominent characters and locations within Summer Bay.

External links