List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2025

Mark Townsend

Mark Townsend, played by Craig Hall, made his first appearance on 13 January 2025. His casting was announced in November 2024 following sightings of Hall on set. Townsend is introduced as a detective assigned to investigate the assault on Tim Russell (George Pullar). The main suspect in the case is Constable Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright), who was discovered beside an unconscious Tim during the 2024 finale.

Upon arrival at the Koi Stone River Estate, where multiple assault victims were reported, Townsend encounters Cash, who identifies himself as a constable and urges him to protect Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo), who is under threat. Justin Morgan (James Stewart) confirms he contacted the police after witnessing Cash over Tim, who sustained a severe head injury. During interviews with Eden and Remi Carter (Adam Rowland), Townsend learns that Cash's presence at the scene was unexpected. Cash explains that both Tim and Eden have been targeted by Nerida Mullins (Ellie Gall), a former patient of Tim’s. Sensing that Remi is withholding information, Townsend encourages him to come forward later and informs Cash that he has become a suspect.

At the police station, Senior Constable Rose Delaney (Kirsty Mariller) reports that Cash has not given a statement and reveals prior conflicts between him and Tim. Townsend consults John Palmer (Shane Withington) regarding a break-in at Eden’s residence. Later, Remi discloses an argument between Cash and Tim. Based on this information, Townsend arrests Cash for assault causing grievous bodily harm and removes Rose from the investigation after she permitted Eden to visit Cash.

Eliza Sherwood

Eliza Sherwood, portrayed by Martha Kate Morgan, first appeared 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 Introduced following a fire that destroyed her previous foster home, Eliza is characterized as withdrawn and troubled, raising concerns for Roo.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 started the fire herself, with tensions rising as she begins to threaten Marilyn Chambers, underscoring her volatile nature. Critics described her as "a whole lot of trouble" with behavior that is "strange and creepy."

Eliza arrives carrying only a music box salvaged from the fire, which contains personal mementos such as a lock of hair and a photograph with faces scratched out. She quickly displays troubling actions, including stealing money from Marilyn’s purse and developing an obsession with surgery after discussions with Levi Fowler. Her fixation extends to pregnant Harper Matheson, leading to boundary violations. Roo tries to support Eliza through homeschooling and enrolling her in Tane Parata’s youth program, but Eliza’s aggression intensifies—she assaults another participant and issues threats.

Marilyn decides to move out due to discomfort with Eliza’s intimidating behavior, which includes further thefts and acts of intimidation. During Harper’s labor, Eliza films the birth without consent and later withholds Alf Stewart’s heart medication, prompting Roo to seek alternative foster arrangements for her. Before departing, Eliza accuses Roo of being worse than previous carers. Subsequently, Roo reveals that Eliza is undergoing psychiatric assessment for suspected conduct disorder and psychopathic tendencies.

Sonny Baldwin

Sonny Baldwin, played 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, who was cast as Lacey Miller. Bown auditioned remotely from London, completing his final Zoom call just before moving. He was informed of securing the role two days later and soon returned to Australia. Bown described the Home and Away ensemble as friendly and expressed enthusiasm about joining the renowned series.

Sonny enters the storyline as a companion of established character Remi Carter (Adam Rowland). He is depicted as a "charismatic," "impulsive," and "fun-loving" party enthusiast—"cheeky and spontaneous." Bown mentioned that Sonny is a more exaggerated version of himself, with loyalty put to the test and a layered past to uncover. Upon arriving in Summer Bay, Sonny surprises Kirby Aramoana (Angelina Thomson) by breaking into Remi’s residence. His history reveals he once worked as a promoter and mascot for Remi and Kirby’s band Lyrik before traveling overseas. Now back, he offers to assist Remi in managing his newfound inheritance. Bown highlighted that although Sonny has "a good heart," he still needs to grow, with his motives for returning becoming clearer over time.

Lacey Miller

Lacey Miller, portrayed by Sophea Pennington, debuted on 13 March 2025. Pennington's casting was revealed along with Ryan Bown’s in January 2024. She described joining the show as a "pinch-me moment," having grown up watching it, and commended the cast’s camaraderie during filming at Palm Beach.

Described as "the wild child with a heart of gold," Lacey shares similarities with Pennington herself, combining rebelliousness with kindness. The character is connected to the River Boys surf gang, initially appearing as Gage Reynolds’ girlfriend before developing a relationship with Theo Poulos. Lacey’s storyline introduces complexity, especially through her ties to her father David Langham and sister Jo Langham, who arrive later in the series.

David Langham

David Langham, played by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, made his debut on 28 May 2025. Taylor returned to the series after previously portraying Detective Dylan Carter in 2016. Filming commenced in late 2024, with Taylor praising the cast and expressing excitement about pivotal scenes.

David arrives as the new police sergeant in Yabbie Creek, acting as a moral anchor within the show’s plotlines. He is the estranged father of Lacey and Jo Langham, with their familial relationships marked by trauma and difficult attempts at reconciliation. Professionally, David faces challenges working alongside Cash Newman, whose questionable history complicates their partnership.

Early storylines establish David’s strict policing style and his determination to locate Lacey, who has been missing for several months. Their tense reunion at the police station highlights ongoing family tensions amid broader law enforcement narratives involving Cash and other characters.

Jo Langham

Jo Langham, portrayed by Maddison Brown, appeared for the first time on 9 June 2025. Brown’s casting was confirmed on 18 May 2025, shortly after she returned from Los Angeles to Australia. She described joining Home and Away as a “full circle” achievement fulfilling a childhood dream and praised filming at Palm Beach as an unforgettable experience.

Jo arrives bearing a "complex backstory" and family connections in Summer Bay, though not marking a "happy family reunion." Brown noted that Jo’s fractured family ties promise intense drama consistent with the show’s tradition of conflict-driven storytelling. Her father, David Langham (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), had been introduced before her arrival, while her sister Lacey Miller (Sophea Pennington) appeared earlier in March.

Jo comes to Summer Bay to support her father after he secured steady employment in Yabbie Creek. She crosses paths with Tane Parata (Ethan Browne), who offers assistance fixing her car but she declines his help. Jo also attempts to mend her strained relationship with Lacey; however, Lacey rejects her overtures leading to a physical confrontation between them. Both sisters are taken into custody by Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright); Jo appears distressed while Lacey remains defiant.

Cohen Luther

Cohen Luther, played by Nathan Murray, made his first appearance on 18 June 2025. He is introduced as the new foster child of Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) following the arrest of his mother, Samantha Luther (Heidi May). Prior to this, Cohen experienced homelessness and lived in a tent. He faces significant fear and confusion due to his mother’s detention and their forced separation. Murray characterizes Cohen as "deeply frightened" and having difficulty trusting others because of his situation.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Role / Business Context
13–14 January	Dr Anita Khurana	Emily Havea	Obstetric surgeon collaborating with Levi Fowler during fetal surgery on Harper Matheson’s unborn child, providing expert advice on crucial medical decisions throughout the operation.
13–14 January	Anaesthetist Harry	Paul Hughes	Responsible for administering anaesthesia during Harper Matheson’s procedure; oversees vital sign monitoring and supports the surgical team.
13 January	Paramedic	Mitchell Gilmour	Attends to an assault incident at Koi Stone River Estate, delivering emergency medical assistance.
5–10 March	Scott	Finnian James	A teenage participant in Tane Parata's youth initiative; featured in a storyline addressing challenges in youth engagement.
12 March–24 April	Gage Reynolds	Tom Wilson	Member of the River Boys surf gang; operates a business modifying vehicles and provides paid repair services, reflecting local entrepreneurial activity.
15 April–	Archie	Various babies	Child of Harper Matheson and Tane Parata; involved in a medical subplot focusing on prenatal surgery and healthcare services.
12 May–	Debra Fowler	Tammy MacIntosh	Mother to Eden, Levi, and Abigail Fowler; participates in family gatherings influencing interpersonal relationships relevant to workplace dynamics.
29 May – 8 July	Avalon Bracken	Gemma Dart	Vocalist engaged in music production alongside Kirby Aramoana and Remi Carter; symbolizes entertainment industry involvement within the storyline.
18 June	Samantha Luther	Heidi May	Cohen Luther’s mother; arrested due to possession of stolen property, triggering legal actions and social service interventions affecting family dynamics.
18 June–	Constable Bowman	Nick Drummond	Police officer overseeing Samantha Luther’s arrest and coordinating with social services concerning child welfare matters.
30 July–	Adrian Purcell	Tom Matthews	Asserts paternity of Cohen Luther; interacts with law enforcement and social workers involving family law procedures and DNA testing.
31 July	Vivienne White	Diana Gyllén	Private detective engaged to investigate a car accident; exemplifies private sector participation in legal inquiries.

External links

Cast and characters available on 7plus