List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2008

Home and Away

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment, Television
Founded	January 17, 1988 (1988-01-17)
Headquarters	Australia
Website	7plus.com.au/home-and-away

Home and Away is a long-running Australian soap opera that premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Below is a summary of characters introduced in 2008, all under the direction of series producer Cameron Welsh. The show’s 21st season began airing on 28 January 2008. In February, the character Martin Bartlett, played by Bob Baines, was introduced. March saw the arrival of Trent Dalzell as Axel Hay, David Downer portraying Ross Buckton, and Celeste Dodwell as Melody Jones. In April, Tessa James joined the cast as Nicole Franklin. May brought new characters Jai Fernandez and Oliver Phillips, portrayed by Jordan Rodrigues and Oliver Davis respectively. June marked the debut of Esther Anderson and Rebecca Breeds as sisters Charlie and Ruby Buckton. July introduced Luke Jacobz as Angelo Rosetta and Paul Pantano as Elliot Gillen. Finally, in November, David Jones-Roberts began his role as Xavier Austin.

Martin Bartlett

Martin Bartlett, brought to life by actor Bob Baines, made his first appearance on 12 February 2008. He was cast as the new deputy principal at Summer Bay High, stepping into the role after the departure of former principal Donald Fisher. Following a violent incident where Sally Fletcher was stabbed by Johnny Cooper, Martin was promoted to principal. His storyline involved navigating various staff disputes, including managing the employment and dismissal of secretaries Jazz Curtis and Kirsty Sutherland.

A central plotline for Martin revolved around his interactions with Kirsty Sutherland (Christie Hayes). Despite his romantic interest in her, Kirsty declined his advances while she was involved with Miles Copeland (Josh Quong Tart). After terminating Kirsty’s employment, Martin covertly aided her by supplying a reference that helped her secure a position at the Sands resort. Tensions rose when Kirsty uncovered that Martin was a client of escorts at the same resort, which complicated her relationship with Miles.

One significant event during Martin’s term occurred at the senior formal when Kane Phillips’s vehicle crashed into the venue, resulting in Martin sustaining fractured ribs. Later, he organized a commemorative school trek in honor of Dan Baker’s passing. This event escalated into a hostage situation when Trey Palmer planted a bomb under their bus. Fortunately, Hugo Austin (Bernard Curry) defused the device. After these incidents, Martin resigned from his principal position and appointed Gina Austin (Sonia Todd) as his replacement before departing on a cruise.

Martin's personal history includes many years teaching Science at Summer Bay High. He was raised by a single mother, mirroring Kirsty’s own experience raising her son Oliver while Kane Phillips remains incarcerated.

Axel Hay

Axel Hay, portrayed by Trent Dalzell, made his debut on 19 March 2008.

Prior to Axel’s departure from the series, he and fellow student Jai Fernandez (Jordan Rodrigues) were struck by a drunk driver named Larry Jefferies (Paul Gleeson), who fled the scene afterward. Actor Todd Lasance, who plays Aden Jefferies, explained that Jai emerged mostly unharmed while Axel was seriously injured and hospitalized. Initially unable to recall details of the accident, both boys later remembered seeing a silver estate car, leading to the discovery that Aden’s father was responsible.

Axel first appeared alongside classmate Aden at a party hosted by Nicole Franklin (Tessa James). At this event, Axel made unwelcome advances toward Belle Taylor (Jessica Tovey) and subsequently pretended to comfort Melody Jones (Celeste Dodwell) before attempting to assault her. After Geoff Campbell (Lincoln Lewis) confronted Axel about his behavior, Axel was physically assaulted and later found unconscious on the beach by Belle. Although hospital staff were reluctant to cooperate with police investigations, suspicion initially fell on Geoff and Aden; however, Belle identified Aden as the culprit due to his indifferent attitude. Axel’s reputation suffered as a result of these events but he later apologized to Melody and developed a friendship with Jai. Following the car accident caused by Aden’s father, Axel succumbed to his injuries and subsequently appeared in Melody’s nightmares as a vision.

Ross Buckton

Ross Michael Buckton, portrayed by David Downer, made his initial appearance on 21 May 2008. Serving as an officer at Yabbie Creek Police Station, Ross investigates the homicide of Sam Holden (Jessica Chapnik). He questions Martha MacKenzie (Jodi Gordon), who is the ex-wife of Sam's widower Jack Holden, regarding a suspected forged suicide letter. Subsequently, Ross interrogates Jazz Curtis (Rachel Gordon) after uncovering new evidence.

Ross seeks to charge Jack and Martha with Sam's murder but withdraws the accusations when Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) demonstrates that Sam took her own life. Despite initial resistance from Ross’s daughter Charlie, who warns Morag to stay away, Ross and Morag revive a former romantic connection. His other daughter Ruby supports their relationship, and eventually, Charlie accepts it. Ross proposes marriage to Morag, and they wed in an intimate ceremony before departing on a honeymoon to Europe.

After returning, signs of strain in their marriage appear as Ross begins showing forgetfulness and increased stress. Following episodes of confusion, Rachel Armstrong (Amy Mathews) diagnoses him with Alzheimers. After nearly causing a fire at home, Ross consents to move into care facilities with Morag by his side.

When Grant Bledcoe (Clayton Watson)'s body is discovered, Charlie becomes the main suspect and is suspended. Ross admits to killing Grant in retaliation for Grant’s past sexual assault of Charlie during their youth and faces murder charges pending trial. Ross passes away in 2011, with his funeral taking place in Summer Bay.

Melody Jones

Melody Jones, enacted by Celeste Dodwell, was cast in December 2007 following her completion of the drama component of her Higher School Certificate (HSC). Dodwell initially auditioned for the role of Nicole Franklin, which ultimately went to Tessa James. Her agent provided her with Melody's detailed character description, which piqued her interest. Dodwell later exited the series to pursue drama studies in the United Kingdom.

Nicole Franklin

Nicole Franklin, brought to life by Tessa James, debuted on-screen on 18 April 2008. The announcement of James’ casting came in January 2008, with Executive Producer Cameron Welsh commending her as "an exciting talent" expected to connect well with viewers. James relocated to Sydney for the role and regarded her time on the show as valuable professional experience. Celeste Dodwell had originally tried out for Nicole’s character. Nicole’s prominent story arcs include reigniting romance while stranded on a desert island and enduring a hostage situation, underscoring her dramatic presence. Inside Soap labeled her a "flighty minx from the city," while the Daily Record described her as a "fiery favourite." Additionally, TV Week recognized James as one of the series’ most promising young actresses, suggesting potential future success in Hollywood.

Jai Fernandez

Jai Fernandez, played by Jordan Rodrigues, made his first appearance on 19 May 2008. Transitioning from theatre to television, Rodrigues embraced this role as a fresh challenge and appreciated the recognition from audiences. Jai’s backstory involves losing his entire family during the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, which connects him with established character Miles Copeland (Josh Quong Tart), who endured similar losses. Motivated by this shared tragedy, Miles brings Jai to Summer Bay despite prior tension due to Miles having left Jai behind in Phuket. Rodrigues characterized Jai as angry and struggling to adapt from city life to the coastal surf town environment.

In 2009, Rodrigues left the series to join ABC's Dance Academy. His performance earned him a nomination for "Most Popular New Talent" at the 2009 Logie Awards.

Jai initially appears at an urban refuge where Miles locates him. Despite an initially cold demeanor, Jai accepts Miles’ invitation to live in Summer Bay. He faces social challenges but forms a bond with fellow outsider Axel Hay (Trent Dalzell). Their friendship ends tragically when a drunk driver causes a scooter accident that kills Axel. This event fuels Jai’s reckless behavior, including stunts like jumping from Jump Rock and climbing school rooftops—actions that lead to a guilt-driven romance with Annie Campbell (Charlotte Best). Though their guardians are initially opposed, they eventually accept the relationship.

Complications arise when Annie becomes trapped in a storm drain but is rescued by Charlie Buckton (Esther Anderson). Meanwhile, bully Trey Palmer (Luke Bracey) targets Jai and others, escalating tensions through false accusations involving Kirsty Phillips (Christie Hayes). Jai retaliates by threatening to reveal Trey’s previous struggles with weight unless he retracts the charges.

Jai's relationship with Annie deteriorates after he drunkenly confesses at Ruby Buckton's (Rebecca Breeds) birthday party that he desires a physical relationship with her. Shortly thereafter, Jai is accidentally shot with an antique shotgun found on Martha MacKenzie's (Jodi Gordon) farm but conceals this until collapsing during a school hike. He recovers but grows increasingly jealous when Annie shows interest in Dexter Walker (Tom Green) and shares a kiss with him.

Jai’s mood improves upon Romeo Smith’s (Luke Mitchell) arrival—an old foster care friend—but Romeo’s romantic interest in Annie causes friction when Romeo claims credit for Jai’s love poems written for her. To escape this tension, Jai agrees to participate in a student exchange program in Japan but ultimately remains behind to support Kirsty following her miscarriage. Annie later joins him, and together they depart for Japan after bidding farewell.

Oliver Phillips

Oliver "Ollie" Phillips is the child of Kirsty and Kane Phillips. His introduction occurs when Irene Roberts picks him up after he falls ill, necessitating hospitalization. Despite efforts by doctors and law enforcement, Ollie remains unresponsive. Kane, who is on the run, secretly visits Ollie before Kirsty takes him away from the hospital during a police pursuit following Kane’s unsuccessful robbery attempt. Kane is subsequently captured and incarcerated.

Ollie and Kirsty reside with Irene, but Ollie stirs conflict by exposing Belle Taylor's relationship and damaging her professional reputation. Kirsty then relocates them to the caravan park, eventually joining a household with Miles Copeland and Jai. After Kane's release from prison, he briefly reunites with his family but departs again due to relational difficulties. Ollie is distressed by this but relieved to be back in Summer Bay.

Kirsty becomes pregnant but suffers a miscarriage; Ollie later meets his grandmother Shelley Sutherland, who takes them to live with her family in the city.

Charlie Buckton

'Charlie Buckton made her first appearance on 6 June 2008, portrayed by Esther Anderson, a former model brought in to enhance Home and Aways appeal with added "sex appeal." Anderson, an avid fan of the series, was excited to land the role after auditioning. She departed from the show in November 2011 to pursue acting opportunities in Hollywood.

Anderson received several nominations for her portrayal of Charlie, including "Sexiest Female" at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards, "Best Daytime Star" in 2010, as well as nods for "Most Popular Personality on Australian Television" and "Most Popular Actress" at the Logie Awards. The episode depicting Charlie's death was nominated for an Australian Writers' Guild award. Critics referred to Charlie as both a "sexy sergeant" and the soap’s "most charming crime fighter."

Ruby Buckton

Ruby Buckton, played by Rebecca Breeds, first appeared on 20 June 2008. Created by executive producer Cameron Welsh, Ruby is characterized as carefree yet concealing her true emotions behind a tough exterior. Mourning her mother's death, she internalizes her grief, presenting herself as independent and reserved. Breeds described Ruby as resilient and deeply devoted to family, emphasizing her spirited and self-assured personality.

In June 2012, Breeds filmed her final scenes before exiting Home and Away. Due to contractual restrictions, she did not publicly discuss her departure but confirmed that Ruby remained alive within the storyline. Breeds earned a nomination for "Most Popular New Female Talent" at the 51st Logie Awards in 2009 and was later nominated for "Most Popular Actress" in 2010. At the 2012 Inside Soap Awards, she was shortlisted for "Best Daytime Star". Holy Soap highlighted Ruby’s notable moments, such as a Skype prank and a retaliatory skinny-dipping incident.

Angelo Rosetta

Angelo Rosetta, portrayed by Luke Jacobz, debuted on 8 July 2008. Jacobz secured this role in June 2008 following the cancellation of McLeod's Daughters, where he had a recurring part. Prior to this opportunity, he had planned to take up work as a laborer in Sydney. Initially contracted for six months, Jacobz left Home and Away in early 2011, with his final scenes broadcast several months afterward. According to the official website, Angelo comes from a close family background and was originally perceived as loud-mouthed with limited prospects.

Jacobz received a nomination for 'Most Popular Actor' at the 2010 Logie Awards and was also shortlisted for "Best Daytime Star" at that year's Inside Soap Awards.

Elliot Gillen

Elliot Gillen, brought to life by Paul Pantano, was featured on Home and Away from 8 July until 26 August 2008. His character was highlighted in a Digital Spy article focusing on LGBTQ+ representation. Elliot's narrative centers on placing Roman Harris (Conrad Coleby), Nicole Franklin (Tessa James), and Geoff Campbell (Lincoln Lewis) in peril. Driven by vengeance over the death of his brother Mark, Elliot targets Roman, triggering a sequence of hazardous incidents that result in Nicole and Geoff being marooned on an island. Actress James characterized Elliot’s actions as creating "a life and death obstacle course" for Roman.

Elliot arrives in Summer Bay with the intent to confront Roman, holding him responsible for Mark’s demise during their service with the SAS in Afghanistan. Although an official inquiry concluded that Mark was killed during an ambush, Elliot rejects this version and manipulates Roman by initiating a relationship with his daughter Nicole. Following their breakup, Elliot intensifies his vendetta by abducting Nicole and demanding ransom from Roman. During the kidnapping, Geoff attempts to intervene but sustains injury from a speargun wielded by Elliot.

Roman complies with Elliot’s demands, leading to a perilous pursuit through the bushland where Roman encounters traps and injuries before subduing Elliot and ensuring his arrest. While in custody, Roman reveals that during the ambush Mark tried to surrender but was fatally shot by Roman to prevent betrayal; subsequently, Mark was captured and killed by enemy forces. Ultimately, Elliot discloses Nicole’s whereabouts and faces charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.

Xavier Austin

Xavier Austin, portrayed by David Jones-Roberts, made his first appearance on 20 November 2008 and departed on 3 July 2012, relocating permanently to Goulburn. Jones-Roberts secured this role after four auditions, describing the accomplishment as particularly rewarding due to the wait involved. He received the casting news via a payphone call while surfing. The soap opera website Holy Soap recognized Xavier's standout moment as witnessing Brendan cause a severe car accident using a catapult.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Business-Relevant Role
28 January–11 February	Aaron Copeland	Timothy Walter	Aaron is the deceased father of Sally Fletcher and Miles Copeland, appearing through flashbacks. His struggles with alcoholism and domestic violence led to family estrangement. After the death of his wife Diana, he unsuccessfully sought custody of Sally, who was fostered by the Fletchers. Aaron passed away in 2000 due to complications from alcoholism.
11 February	Diana Wilson	Uncredited	Diana, mother to Sally and Miles Copeland, appears in flashbacks. Her troubled marriage with Aaron ended before she remarried; she later died in a boating accident.
11 February	Mrs Keating	Uncredited	Grandmother to Sally and Miles Copeland, Mrs Keating is depicted in 1988 flashbacks living in a care facility suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
18 February–23 August 2010	Anasthesist	Philip Dodd	Medical practitioner at Northern Districts Hospital attending to principal characters following serious injuries.
28 February–23 May	Gavin Johnson	Daniel Feuerriegel	Editor at Coastal News overseeing Belle Taylor; involved in storylines influencing local journalism and interpersonal dynamics.
4 March–13 June	Cara Phillips	Holly Robinson	Schoolmate affecting social interactions among students, impacting various character relationships.
18 March	Steve Bradford	Nicholas Holland	Donor who provides $100,000 to Leah Patterson-Baker following Dan Baker’s courageous act.
20 March–16 April	Joe Stephens	Terence Hepburn	Bartender involved in a subplot concerning payment related to assault and drug dealings connected to Sam Holden’s storyline.
25 March–12 May	Logan Roth	Radek Jonak	Associate of Johnny Cooper participating in underground fighting rings influencing local conflict narratives.
10 April–27 January 2009	Matthew Lyons	Ross Pirelli	Year 9 student engaged in bullying and school conflicts that affect main youth characters; his behavior influences social dynamics and disciplinary actions.
14 April	Britt Grey	Meagan Drury	Sam Holden’s estranged sister who assumes custody of her nephew amid investigations into Sam’s death.
6–13 May	Danielle Hay	Katrina Risteska	Axel Hay's younger sister involved in school-related storylines including conflicts impacting educational settings.
7 May–26 February 2009	Christine Jones	Elizabeth Alexander	Mother of Melody Jones; central figure in storylines involving educational disputes, mental health issues, and family dynamics affecting community relations.
19 May	Peter Randall	Richard Gyoerffy	Operator of a teen refuge; provides perspectives on youth welfare and social services within the community.
30 May	Jamie Cooper	Shardyn Fahey-Leigh	Son of Julie Cooper; his fear of water is addressed through community sports programs enhancing local engagement themes.
12 June–5 November 2012	Georgina Watson	Jaclyn Albergoni	Police officer stationed at Yabbie Creek; involved in law enforcement storylines including promotion after significant events.
14 June–27 August	Jimmy Crawford	Adam Booth	Psychiatric patient whose interactions with medical staff shed light on challenges related to mental health treatment within hospital environments.
20–27 June	Pat Jenkins	Lachlan Buchanan	Ruby Buckton’s boyfriend with a controversial history impacting school policies and parental concerns.
11 July	Mrs. Hay	Amelia Longhurst	Mother mourning Axel Hay’s death; represents family impact within accident-related story arcs.
15–24 July	Daisy Alexander	Jessica Smith	University roommate providing support to Matilda Hunter; contributes to narratives about youth transitions and higher education experiences.
15–24 July	Nathan Cunningham	Andrew Lees	Resident advisor at university influencing student life and interpersonal conflicts on campus.
1 September–6 October	Edward Jones	Errol Henderson	Husband of Christine Jones; involved in mental health and family reconciliation storylines affecting community perceptions.
2 September 2008 – 3 February 2009	Bridget Simmons	Joy Smithers	Engaged in fraudulent schemes including identity theft and blackmail impacting local businesses; her arrest highlights legal consequences within the community.
3–4 September	Earl Pincus	Alan Cinis	Homeless man interacting with residents; incidents emphasize social welfare challenges and property security issues.
15 September–10 November	Murray Buchanan	Ben Tari	Council employee involved in environmental compliance matters related to land development; disappearance raises concerns about corporate misconduct.
26 September 2008 – 27 January 2009	Tim Coleman	Keiran Darcy-Smith	Developer managing construction sites with connections to criminal activities including murder and corruption affecting local governance stories.
22 October–5 November	Natalie Franklin	Adrienne Pickering	Former girlfriend and mother facing familial relationship difficulties influencing character arcs centered on trust and responsibility.
23 October 2008 – 3 February 2009	Brian Lawler	Ric Herbert	Criminal involved in blackmail, kidnapping, and fraud schemes impacting community safety and legal proceedings.
18–24 November	'Eric "Nobby" Nobbes	Mark Casamento	Suspect connected to assault cases; involvement with police sting operations culminates in his death, underscoring risks inherent in criminal investigations.

External links

• Official AU Home and Away website: Characters and cast
• Official UK Home and Away website: Characters and cast
• Full cast listing at the Internet Movie Database