Simone Bedford

Home and Away
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television soap opera
Founded	January 17, 1988; 38 years ago
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. The following section details the characters introduced in 2018, organized by their initial appearance date. All these characters were brought to the series under the supervision of executive producer Lucy Addario. The show's 31st season commenced on 29 January 2018. New characters such as Dean Thompson and Colby Thorne made their first appearances in February; Lance Salisbury and Ebony Harding joined in April; Ty Anderson arrived in May; Chelsea Campbell debuted in September; Dean’s mother, Karen Thompson, appeared in October; and both Simone Bedford and Bella Nixon were introduced from November onwards.

Dean Thompson

Dean Thompson, played by Patrick O'Connor, was first seen on screen on 1 February 2018. O'Connor began filming his role approximately five months prior to the public announcement of his casting on 13 January 2018. Although he had previously auditioned for other roles within Home and Away, this marked his inaugural acting job. He described landing the role as an exciting opportunity, particularly due to the legacy surrounding the River Boys group—originally introduced with the Braxton brothers in 2011—and expressed enthusiasm for portraying a "bad boy" persona. Jonathon Moran from The Daily Telegraph referred to Dean as "Summer Bay’s new bad boy." O'Connor depicted Dean as "cheeky" and an avid AFL supporter, appreciating that his character featured tattoos, which aligned with his personal interests.

Colby Thorne

Colby Thorne, portrayed by Tim Franklin, made his debut on 6 February 2018. Franklin’s casting was officially confirmed in December 2017 following filming at Palm Beach, the show’s external filming location. He discovered he had secured the role on his 27th birthday, calling it "the best gift" he could receive. Colby is a police constable whose challenging upbringing influenced his decision to join law enforcement. Franklin observed similarities between his own life experiences and those of Colby. The character has a past as a member of the River Boys surf gang and serves as a romantic interest for Jasmine Delaney.

Lance Salisbury

Lance Salisbury, enacted by Angus McLaren, first appeared on 17 April 2018. His casting was announced shortly before his debut episode aired, with McLaren expressing excitement about joining a series featuring characters familiar from his previous work. Lance operates as an Australian Federal Police agent and is depicted as Robbo’s closest friend. He plays a crucial role in revealing Robbo’s amnesia storyline and assists him in pursuing justice. The character returned to the series in 2019.

Lance supports Robbo in recovering his true identity as federal agent Ryan Shaw, whose family was tragically killed amid a corruption probe. While undercover under the alias Beckett Reid, Robbo was assigned to Summer Bay to protect Kat Chapman. After confirming Robbo’s memory loss, Lance provides him with identification documents and encourages him to consider re-enlisting with the AFP. When Robbo opts against returning to active duty, Lance proposes an instructor position but respects his choice to leave police service.

Subsequently, Lance aids Robbo with an investigation into smuggling activities and conducts background checks on Ebony Harding. Invited by Colby Thorne, Lance attends Robbo’s pre-wedding dinner and wedding day functions, during which he notices Jasmine Delaney appears distressed. At the wedding reception, Lance and fellow AFP officers place Robbo and Jasmine into protective custody due to threats linked to those responsible for Robbo’s family’s deaths. He reinstates Robbo into the AFP temporarily and remains at the safe house alongside Tori Morgan before resuming field operations.

Ultimately, Lance is killed by the Ouroboros Gang as a warning directed at Robbo, highlighting the dangerous stakes involved in their federal investigations.

Ebony Harding

Ebony Harding (also known as Easton), played by Cariba Heine, made her first appearance on 19 April 2018. Heine landed the role after submitting a recorded audition from abroad. Ebony was introduced as an antagonist seeking vengeance against the residents of Summer Bay, with ties to the abduction of Justin Morgan's daughter, Ava Gilbert, and a connection to the criminal Boyd Easton.

Upon discovering her brother Boyd's death, Ebony assumes the identity of a doctor at Northern Districts Hospital. Alongside her mother, Hazel Easton, she pledges retribution. Ebony sets her sights on police constable Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin), who was responsible for shooting Boyd, initially attempting to get close to him by deliberately damaging her own vehicle to draw him in. She also targets Willow Harris and Justin Morgan. To undermine Justin's business, Ebony orchestrates a staged car accident and files a lawsuit demanding $100,000, ultimately settling for $30,000 and securing employment at his brother's restaurant.

Ebony embeds herself in Colby's life by disrupting his relationship with Jasmine Delaney and revealing his previous involvement with the River Boys gang, which results in his suspension from the police force. She manipulates Colby's friendship with housemate Robbo by flirting with him and agreeing to a lunch date. Hazel provides Ebony with poison intended to kill both Robbo and Colby, but Ebony hesitates during the meal and spares Robbo.

Continuing her vendetta, Ebony plants incriminating evidence to damage Colby's relationships and steals medication to incapacitate him. After rendering Colby unconscious, she frames Robbo for Hazel's murder by calling the police while Robbo is found at the scene. Confident in her success, Ebony departs from Summer Bay.

Later, Ebony contacts Colby online under the guise of his sister, luring him to a remote location where she traps him and attempts to set a fire. Robbo arrives in time to prevent tragedy until law enforcement intervenes and arrests Ebony.

Ty Anderson

Ty Anderson, portrayed by Darius Williams, debuted on 7 May 2018. Williams was signed on for a six-month contract beginning filming in October 2017. Ty stands out as Home and Away's first openly gay character since 2009, representing a deliberate effort by producers to engage with relevant social issues. He is fostered by John Palmer and Marilyn Chambers and develops significant relationships with Raffy Morrison and Ryder Jackson during his stay in Summer Bay. After leaving on 15 August 2018, Williams expressed enthusiasm about returning to further explore Ty’s narrative.

Ty arrives in Summer Bay following his grandfather’s serious illness and is taken in by John and Marilyn. Initially reserved and uncooperative, he clashes with Raffy Morrison over his demeanor and motives; however, they eventually reconcile and begin dating. Ty’s friendship with Ryder grows stronger when he confesses his feelings for him, leading to tension before Ty publicly comes out. After suffering a fall that requires hospitalization, Ty opens up about his sexuality to John and Marilyn, who offer their support despite Raffy’s initial upset.

Ty faces challenges regarding acceptance and anxiety at school but gains encouragement from friends after his music is shared publicly, which helps him earn peer acceptance. On his 16th birthday, Ty initially declines to meet his mother Jodi but later reconciles following her explanation of past family hardships. After coming out to Jodi, Ty decides to leave Summer Bay with her, concluding a storyline centered on identity, acceptance, and family relationships.

Chelsea Campbell

Chelsea Campbell, played by Ashleigh Brewer, made her first appearance on 18 September 2018. Brewer's casting was revealed on 31 March 2018, with an initial contract set for six months. She chose not to renew her contract due to plans to move to Los Angeles with her partner.

Chelsea holds the rank of senior constable and is connected to several core characters. Brewer characterized her as "very kind with a strong mindset," yet capable of stirring up trouble. A TV Soap commentator described her as a "feisty police officer" and commended Brewer’s casting as injecting fresh energy into the series.

Upon arriving in Summer Bay, Chelsea quickly crosses paths with Dean Thompson, who she promptly rebuffs. She later reconnects both professionally and romantically with ex-boyfriend Colby Thorne, despite their complicated history linked to Colby’s gang involvement. Their relationship endures various obstacles, including Colby's concealed past and familial disputes.

Chelsea is instrumental in police cases, notably aiding in the rescue of missing teenagers alongside Colby. Their renewed romance culminates in an engagement, although tensions arise when Chelsea’s father disapproves of Colby and attempts to exploit information regarding his missing sister Bella Nixon. After intense events involving Colby’s stepfather Ross Nixon, Chelsea calls off the engagement and seeks a transfer.

Following reconciliation, Chelsea and Colby marry in Mangrove River but soon face further dangers such as abductions and violent clashes with Ross. Ultimately, Chelsea grapples with the consequences of Colby’s actions, leading to her departure from Summer Bay and sending him divorce documents later on.

Karen Thompson

Karen Thompson, portrayed by Georgia Adamson, first appeared on 4 October 2018. Introduced to deepen Dean Thompson’s background, Karen is his mother with a troubled past marked by violence and substance misuse. Her arrival sparks significant developments in Dean’s narrative, emphasizing her ongoing instability and its effects on his life. Karen made intermittent appearances throughout 2019, 2022, 2023, and returned in 2025 alongside Dean and Ziggy Astoni.

Initially ignoring Dean's attempts at contact, Karen eventually arrives in Summer Bay exhibiting increasingly erratic behavior—demanding alcohol, clashing with locals, and causing a car crash. Despite Dean's support efforts, her instability results in violent episodes and hospitalization. Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, she later apologizes to Dean and discloses crucial family secrets, including the death of Colby Thorne's mother and the role of Colby’s stepfather Ross Nixon.

After being discharged, Karen moves in with Dean and reconnects with his friends Ben Astoni and Ziggy Astoni. She discovers that Dean’s biological father is Rick Booth and learns about the complex family relationships involving Rick’s daughter Mackenzie Booth. Despite initial mistrust and plans to leave town, Karen forms a bond with Mackenzie and takes a waitressing position at Salt. Although she struggles with adapting to the job and medication side effects that influence her behavior, Karen gradually rebuilds relationships and secures employment in nearby Reefton Lakes.

Simone Bedford

Simone Bedford, played by Emily Eskell, made her first appearance on 15 November 2018. Eskell, an alumna of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, landed this significant television role after undergoing several auditions. Simone was introduced as a special education teacher and an aspiring chef training to establish a professional career in cooking. She was also developed as a romantic interest for the married Brody Morgan (Jackson Heywood).

Simone acquires a cooking lesson with Brody through a charity auction, which leads to a one-month trial position at his restaurant, Salt. Their mutual enthusiasm for culinary arts creates a strong connection, despite friction with Brody’s wife, Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman). What begins as a professional association between Simone and Brody evolves into an affair that ultimately causes the breakdown of Brody’s marriage. Following this event, Simone departs from Salt but later returns to resume both her affair with Brody and her role as a learning support teacher at the local high school.

Brody professes his love for Simone and intends to leave Ziggy after her 21st birthday; their relationship becomes public knowledge and faces rejection from both families. After encountering hostility from the community—including graffiti branding Simone as a "homewrecker"—she steps down from her job and chooses to leave Summer Bay alongside Brody. Together, they sell Salt and move to Yarra Valley. Two years on, Simone and Brody reveal they are expecting their first child.

Bella Nixon

Bella Nixon, portrayed by Courtney Miller since 26 November 2018, is introduced as the younger sister of Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin), who had been missing for years. Colby has been on a long quest to locate Bella and their father Ross Nixon (Justin Rosniak). Upon their reunion, Bella—deeply affected by her traumatic past—initially perceives Colby as a threat due to her father's manipulations and even threatens him with a crossbow. Miller characterized Bella as a deeply troubled individual shaped by her difficult experiences, earning a nomination for the 2019 Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent for her portrayal.

Others

... [Entries continue similarly condensed] ...

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Role Summary
29 January	Nurse	Kate Boladian	Notifies Tori Morgan about inquiries concerning Kat Chapman following a road accident.
30 January	Odette	Romy Poulier	Employs Willow Harris to expose her spouse’s unfaithfulness and seeks assistance for a friend in similar circumstances.
1 February 2018 27 February 2020	Nurse Ruby	Christina Falsone	Hospital nurse involved in patient care including tending to Colby Thorne after a stabbing incident.
1 February	Devera	Mia Karaz	Kat Chapman's mother who attends her funeral service.
1 February	Paulo	Christian Leiva Fuentes	Kat Chapman's brother present at her funeral.
1 February	Minister	Richard Saunders	Officiates at Kat Chapman's funeral ceremony.
1–22 February	Taz	Jerome Meyer	Member of the River Boys aiding Martin Ashford in locating Robbo. Engages in confrontations that lead to arrest.
1–19 February	Bluey	Alex Jewson	River Boys member assisting in Robbo's search; apprehended alongside Taz following altercations.
1 February	Jimmy Tobias	Kyle Hazebroek	Provides intelligence on Robbo's whereabouts; nearly clashes with Martin Ashford.
8 February	Bushwalker	Adam Hedditch	Observes fugitive Robbo and alerts authorities.
8 February	Ambulance Officer Karen	Jerusha Sutton	Provides emergency medical aid to Justin Morgan, later participates in rescue efforts involving Alf Stewart.
12 February (multiple)	Lauren, Sophia, Lucas	Lianne Mackessy, Ava Rose Bowen, Luca Rochaix	Family members of amnesiac Robbo, revealed victims of a home invasion.
19 February–13 June	Dr Callan	Virginie Laverdure	Oncologist overseeing Maggie Astoni's cancer treatment through chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
20–22 February	David	Jack Ellis	Stalker and ex-boyfriend of Jasmine Delaney, takes hostages before being apprehended.
26 November 2018 – 20 February 2019	Ross Nixon	Justin Rosniak	Step-father to Colby Thorne and father of #Bella Nixon. Antagonistic figure involved in kidnapping and murder; ultimately killed by Colby and Dean Thompson. His remains are discovered one year later.
13 December	Nugget	Sam Webb	Supplies land and alcohol for Colby and Chelsea’s wedding; briefly disrupts the event.

External links

Cast and characters featured on the official Australian Home and Away site
Full cast and characters listed on the Internet Movie Database