Home and Away

I must say this the best soap i have seen. I do not watch many soaps for the reason that they are are hard to follow. I do not follow this either. The reason i do not like soaps is because they are so hard to follow and you need to see so many episodes. I do not have much time on my hands to watch every single episode so it becomes complicated.



I am sorry but soaps are extremely bad and unrealistic, they always have break-ups, or people dying just as they find love. Love affairs are a big favourite, but it always happens. The best soap so take that for granted, but it's a soap!

Utterly pitiful. Made even more hilarious by the original boast of its cast members that it was more "realistic" than Neighbours... *POT KETTLE BLACK* anybody....? If realistic means a town where all the inhabitants have white teeth, there's no smoking, everyone is politically correct, there's lashings of bizzare family disharmony and ether soaked rags, morality is policed by local mutton head "tough nut", the humilliatingly naff Alf Stewart, and there's *never* any swearing, then er, BRING IT ON! I haven't bothered to watch this slop since 1991, no doubt I'll be accused of something or another, but hey rack off... Zzzzz...... Avoid like the plague.

I love watching Home and Away it's a great programme, with very talented actors and actresses both young and old.

My personal favourite is a actress called Tessa James who plays the character Nicole Franklin, she used to be in Neighbours for a bit and played a blind girl which i thought she played brilliantly, and in home and away now she plays a rich spoilt girl, she is very funny.



Then you have Alf Stewart whos been in in from the very beginning, and his sister Morag Bellingham wow shes funny, will she ever find love haha!!!



Its set in summer bay, and all the locals no each otehr, its a great show to watch, focusing on everyday issues etc



Worth a watch in my opinion!!!!

Home and Away = My life This so is amazing. I love it. I choose Ahead of it's time because it is. It just grabs your attention so easily and after every episode it makes you want to come back for more it is just so fabulous. I love it

The charaters are perfect for the part they play and it is directed so well. The person that envented Home and Away should become a saint. Everyone I know watches Home and Away. For me it is like a rituial to watch Home and Away I couldn't imagian life without it. I will love Home and Away forever.

home and away is great. i love it. i like all the story lines and never want to miss it. my favorite character is martha. i feel she gets the best story line and has a great sense of personallity. you can see how she has changed over the years and you can really tell what she would proberly want in a sicuation. overall i like all the characters. most of the events in summerbay ends up in tradedy and starts a new story line. i will always watch home and away and i will always love it. it is great and would really advise anyone to try and watch it. i don't know how any one can diss it.

this show is awesome it just keeps getting better and no one can doubt that. look at past storylines if you dont belive me, physcho stalkers, killer cops, explosive weddings, hostage situations, drugs, on the run, storms, shipwrecks and much more. have you ever had juicy and gripping plotlines like that on things like corrie, and neighbours. NO. and you probably never will home and away is way before its time and its one show that channel 5 shouldnt ever let go of i don t know what the ratings for this show are in britain but i know that i hate it when i miss an episode and people say ozzy soaps arent as good, i cant stand neighbours the show physically knocks me sick, bad acting and story lines wereas home and away is off the scale juicy ahead of its time storylines what more can you ask for in a soap.

Well where to start with this terrible show. Its actors are shocking. They replace them almost bi-monthly. Except for the ones that have always been there. Yet they form such close bonds to each other and their best friends, even though they change every 2 months. The story are just are bad. If all that bad stuff happend in your town, I'm pretty sure you would leave. If you hadn't already died in the weekly distaster or car crash etc. Really i have no idea how this show is still in production and why people watch it. Its terrible! Not to mention its almost exactly the same as another show on 30 mins beforehand by the name of neighbours. Get rid of this show!

I think Home and Away is great, its not as annoying and stereotypical as British soaps and isnt quite as crazy as US soaps. I do admit that its not the best put together show in the world and some things in the past have been forgotten (a psychic twin who turned out not to be a twin) but the story lines are great, the characters are unusual and the quys surfing are always great fun to see. We have just had a 2 week summer break of the show on channel 5 and i can not wait for it to start up again, and it will be starting with a bang as the best show do. It is a great, light show to watch (most of the time) and i will continue to watch it for quite a long time.

Home and away is one of those shows people don't admit to actually watching! Infact it is so bad that I have to keep on watching it. Its a great little 1/2 hour filler for when there's nothing else to watch. Sometimes the story lines are dragged on and can get a tad annoying. For example good old Irene and her jail stint for shooting a coppa! No one should be subjected into seeing Irene in that prison outfit!! As for Alf what is summer bay with out Alf Stewart I could sink a few Tinnies with that man so wise and full of knowledge. I also love when they have a town meeting and about 15 people rock up that is gold!



One last thing in the words of Irene.. For Gawds sake will someone tell Geoff and Annie to grow up, Geoff doesn't need to be babysat he is an adolescent as if Pippa needed to come down and look after them. Cut the cord Geoffy boy.

Summer Bay was allegedly founded by Alf Stewart's ancestors in the early 20th century, and is the home of the show Home and Away which initially was based around the foster family, The Fletchers, and their caravan park business. However, 20 years down the line, the show concentrates on the lives of it's residents in a more complex style. Home of many a natural and complex disasters, the residents of Summer Bay have their local Diner, Surf Club and beach to hang out on, and of course the school for the teenagers. This show is by far more superior than it's Melbourne counterpart.

Haay its a good show but the story lines are just a little bit over the top and silly lol ... And does anyone know how to change the picture on my profile?? xxx f f f f f f f fhuyjk yukjuy juy j yj uy jy j uy5jy j 6j 6j y6 j 54 hj 5 h 5 hg 5t gh 56 u7u 76 h h tyh tyh6jhty htrh m,rhlkh jklbkjf h ghrktjh gklu5hgkrthgrt h rt hty h tye h y5 h 53 h 5 h 5 h 5 h rhrthg6t jtyh tr hre h reh tr y

I have been watching Home and away since it began. I sometimes watch the new episodes. I like to watch Home and Away because I am interested in the characters and the stories. They are funny somtimes, sad but always entertaining.



Home and Away is set in a small town on a surf beach. For years the main characters have remained in the story. Others come and go sometimes for short periods and sometimes for many episodes. They help to make the story more exciting.



Some of the main chracters are Alf, Sally and Morag

Each episode is a story on its own but it forms part of the whole story.

Like I said in the Summary Home And Away is about a fictional town just north of Sydney called Summer Bay. The Summer Bay citizens are quite the trouble makers as the show is based on their daily lives.

In this show you will be able to explore the daily lives of the people of Summer Bay. Things that you will see will be relationships, friendship, shocks, scandals, affairs, kidnappings and most of all Logie winning performances like the ones made by Kate Richie (Sally in Homa And Away) whom has just left the show.

In all Home And Away is a pretty good and simple Aussie show, I would rate it better than Neighbours because it is just more interesting and full of no-stop new ideas.

I used to enjoy Home and Away. Now it is getting a bit too unbelievable. There are too many catastrophes, killings, and stalkers for such a small town. Nearly everyone has a secret and most relationships fail. I enjoy some of the characters personalities like Alf and Morag. The show does need fine-tuning. It is very, very predictable and the twists are not as good as they're made up to be. I think I will stop watching Home and Away soon, although I'll give it a chance to redeem itself. Overall Home and Away is your ordinary, average TV show. 7/10.

This show is one of the best soaps on Australian TV right now, and probably the only Australian show I really watch. But for some reason over the past two years I'm getting so tired of all the drama going on. Bringing Johnny back was eventful - but not surprisingly they killed him like they've killed many villians before him (Felix, Sarah, Zoe, just to name a few) which is stupid. I don't think in real life stalkers, murderers and crazy psycho people die in real life once they go for their revenge. Seeing how much drama has happened, I'm surprised people will still move to Summer Bay! I'm sad to see Sally go - she's been one of the best characters on the show, but I'm very interested to see how the show will go without her. I'm hoping they can recover from Sally leaving and make the show more substancial. I'm sick of all the drama - but then if it's completely perfect, the show will be boring. I just hope they can make their drama more realistic and think of ideas outside of the box, not just bringing back villians that have all been done before.

Jack gets a call from a local saying she's seen Johnny Cooper, Sam encourages Jack to go check it out. Meanwhile, while Matilda is sleeping Johnny watches over her when Sam comes in, Sam warns Johnny that if he touches Matilda, then Johnny cuts in and attacks her. Sam wakes Matilda and asks her why she wasn't camping and Matilda tells Sam that Dan died.



Pippa tells Sally about the news of Dan and Sally starts t think that Dan's death was her fault but Pippa reassures Sally and sais it was an accident but Sally is not convinced and she tries to get out of bed to talk to Leah, Rachel tries to talk Sally out of it. Sam looks shocked when she sees that sally has gotten out of bed. Leah thinks that it's her fault that Dan died because she married him when she new Vinnie was alive but Sally tells Leah that Leah is not the cause and that she is. Pippa and Colleen mourn over Dan.



Sam tells Johnny that sally is leaving the hospital soon and that she is going to the city with Pippa to live for a while, Sam tries to kick Johnny out without success, Johnny tells Sam to find a way for Johnny to get into Sally's room before she leaves.



Sally tells Leah what she saw in heaven and Leah thinks it's just a story. Sam refuses to break Johnny in but he threatens to ring Jack, and then Johnny attacks her again. Leah decides to hold a memorial for Dan before the funeral and the residents of summer bay offer to help her.



Sam breaks down in front of Jack, when Sam goes to her room she reveals her bruises under her top. Sam tells Jack she is fine.

I used to love watchin home and away,and i thought it woz really good,but now i think its gone really down hill,the storylines are'nt near as good as they used to be but its more how long they drag them out that bothers me,they also used to have really good looking guys in it too,well they have afew but they could do with puttin in some more,i think im still alittle bitter after they killed off noah i no it woz awhile ago but he woz really cute,but im still watching it waiting for it ta get better i have hope

ok so it depends what episode it is... some i like some "BORING" oh well... dont u think its abit weird Sam and

Jack i mean c'mon Martha that is sooo old.... but u no wat they say u cant help who you fall in love with... and Sally and Brad i guess it's all complicated. it is a good show abit dramatic dontt you think.... it's always changing every episode so i think if you dont already watch it that you should... its basically about a little home town "summer bay" lots of problems happening ETC stalkers, natural disasters, marriage break downs, family separations (break downs) back stabbing friends, lieing and cheating ETC its really a drama kind of soapy romantic TV show. last season there was Martha getting caught out trying on Sam's wedding dress and Jack still having feeling for Martha after the incident with the other police ( i dont call police cops cuz my dad is a police and they find the term "cop" effensive") jack about to marry sam but i guess Martha is gonna ruin EVERYTHING... poor Rory. always something happening in summer bay like that guy who likes Belle man he scares me....

This is an all right show about the people living in the town of Summer Bay, their lives and so on, just like any other soap. I got into it, when I saw it while my mum and sister were watching, and I started watching too.



It gets boring after a while, when there is no interesting plot, but when a good plot appears, I really want to watch. I think the show needs to do something to make this a bit more interesting.



My favourite character of all time, for some peculiar reason, is Morag Bellingham, probably because she is funny, but I also like Sally, Jack, Leah and Lucas from the current cast.

Home and Away is an Australian soap produced in 1987 going to air in 1988. In New Zealand it broadcasts on TV3 at 5:30pm weekdays and as an omnibus showing the past week's episodes on Sunday at 10:15am (depending on other events that may be broadcast that morning). TV3 has since been copied by TV2, placing rival Aussie soap Neighbours at similar times.

The omnibus is known to be popular amongst teens and 20-somethings as New Zealand law states that no advertising can be broadcast on Sunday mornings, making the Home and Away catchups ideal.



Home and Away is not a typical Soap Opera in that it operates in hours and days per episode rather than your typical minute for minute soap where after a single episode only an hour has passed.

It is however a great soap that you can leave and come back to at any time, this is in part to the characters staying long term including Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) and Sally Fletcher (Kate Richie) who has only recently left the show and to the clever writing of the script in that they get the characters to talk about past events, helping you to catch up. This is done simply as gossip amongst the characters but is extremely helpful and possibly one of the reasons it is so popular.

Home and Away is one of the best Aussie shows thats on NZ screens. My favourite characters were/are: Tasha Andrews, Kim Hyde, Robbie Hunter, Martha Mckenzie, Mattie Hunter, Ric Dolby, Lucas Holden, Belle Taylor, Sally Fletcher-Saunders, Flynn Saunders, Beth Hunter, Hayley Smith, Peter, Leah, Amanda, and thats all i can think off.



Home and Away has been going for almost 20 years. I'm just a couple of weeks older. I was born on the 5th of January and Home and Away started near to the end of January. It's had stabbings, murders, hit and runs, lots of weddings, lots of babies, divorce, and lots lots more.



The weddings I remember everytime someone gets married on the show are... Sally and Flynn's and Heyley and Noah's. Sally and Flynn's wedding was a disaster..but they got married and I always remember it. Hayley and Noah's wedding was soo sweet. But Noah and Flynn are dead now. Flynn died of cancer and Noah was shot by that freak Sarah (i think). I'll watch Home and Away till it finishes (touch wood it's not anytime soon!!)

This vomit-inducing waste of air time, which has been referred to in the press as "Dickheads by the Sea", is a horribly-written disaster that is embarassing to Australians. The characters are poorly developed and cannot string two words together (a typical line: "I'm goin' down to the flippin' diner"), and most of the actors are clearly cast for their appearance rather than acting ability. The producers attempt to compensate for the wooden acting and the characters' stupidity by featuring a "who will die" situation every week, such as a cyclone, a car accident or an explosion. Although this daily half-hour of drivel rates very well, it is most likely directed at thirteen-year-old girls and people of very low intelligence. If you want to watch a soap, I would strongly reccommend Neighbours (6.30pm weekdays, Network Ten) or The Young and the Restless (midday and 6.40pm, W Channel). This crap-fest, however, is an obvious attempt to meet the Australian content requirements.

n 1985, Seven Network axed the poor rating soap Neighbours; they continued producing that series for its remaining contract, ultimately producing 170 episodes. However Seven Network was unaware that Network Ten, a rival television network, was in talks with the production team to air the soap on their network in 1986. When Neighbours returned, on Ten, in 1986, it initially attracted low ratings. The Network worked hard to publicise Neighbours by revamping the show and adding several new, younger cast members, and they launched a concerted publicity drive largely focused on these new actors. This paid off for Neighbours and its popularity grew; by the end of 1987 it was attracting high ratings in Australia. In October 1986, Neighbours started being broadcast in the UK, where it began to attract strong viewing figures. From about 1988 to 1991 Neighbours was regularly watched by 20 million viewers in the UK.



In late 1986 the Seven Network's head of drama at the time Alan Bateman was tasked with creating a pilot for a soap opera that was in no way a copy of Neighbours. Bateman soon found his inspiration when he stopped in Kangaroo Point, New South Wales on a family outing. Chatting to locals Bateman discovered that the townspeople were angered over the construction of a home for foster children from the city. Seeing the degree of conflict the plan for the new youth centre had produced within the community, Bateman recognised the drama that could be generated by this situation and began to develop it as the basis for the new soap opera.



20th Anniversary: 1988 - 2008



Bevan Lee, who is the Script Executive for the Seven Network, revealed to the general public that he will be returning to the role of Script Producer for the first 6 months of 2008. He will replace Sarah Walker, who has just finished her period in the role, plotting storylines right up until the end of 2007.



Bevan had worked on the show for most of its run until 2004. During that time he was responsible for many memorable storylines including the Sarah Lewis saga and Kane's cancer battle.



Bevan has promised fans that nothing dramatic will happen in the 2007 season finale, but he said that "My material will start with a very startling cliffhanger at the end of this year that will make regular viewers re-evaluate something that they have always taken for granted about one of the characters in the show. This cliffhanger will turn the life of that character on its head and will lead to one of the major stories of 2008.



Unless I'm mistaken, this cliffhanger will makes the jaws of those who have watched the show from the beginning well and truly drop. And the story will lead to the return of many old faces to the show at various stages through 2008."



In a later interview with Jesus, Bevan revealed that the character who will be involved with the 2007 season finale will be Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie). There were rumours that with Brad Armstrong (Chris Sadrinna) leaving the show at the end of 2007, Sally would be departing from the show as well. But Bevan clearly stated that Brad's departure has nothing to do with Sally but it is still unknown when Kate will still want to stay on the show! He said "As is always the case with the show, characters come and go so that the central core group can have fresh stories. Brad was always viewed on the landscape of Summer Bay as a long term guest rather than as a character stretching in to an indeterminate future."



As great as Chris and his character have been for the canvas of the show, Brad's departure is part of putting Sally in to a position that is more suitable for the Christmas cliffhanger revelation that propels her and other characters in to one of the major story arcs of 2008.



The way Brad leaves the show is very positive and satisfying and does not close the door on this character's return in the future to Summer Bay.



This special occasion will began with Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) celebrating his 20th birthday. Here is what Bevan revealed to Summer Bay Journal "When Home and Away returns in 2008 after the usual Christmas break, it will be the show's 20th birthday. The episode itself takes place on Ric's birthday and will open TIGHT on an image of a cake that reads 'TWENTY GOOD YEARS'. It's actually Ric's birthday cake, but also a nudge and promise to fans that this entire year is going to focus enormously on paying homage in various ways to a glorious twenty year run. Twenty years and as healthy as ever - we're all so proud of that."



Cast



Main cast members



Actor Role Status

Ray Meagher Alf Stewart 1988-present

Kate Ritchie Sally Fletcher 1988-present

Lynne McGranger Irene Roberts 1992-present

Lyn Collingwood Colleen Smart 1988-1989, 1997, 1999-present

Ada Nicodemou Leah Patterson-Baker 2000-present

Indiana Evans Matilda Hunter 2004-present

Tim Campbell Dan Baker 2004-present

Mark Furze Ric Dalby 2004-present

Sharni Vinson Cassie Turner 2005-present

Jodi Gordon Martha MacKenzie 2005-present

Jon Sivewright Tony Holden 2005-present

Paul O'Brien Jack Holden 2005-present

Rhys Wakefield Lucas Holden 2005-present

Amy Mathews Rachel Armstrong 2006-present

Jessica Tovey Belle Taylor 2006-present

Bobby Morley Drew Curtis 2006-present

Chris Sadrinna Brad Armstrong 2006-2007 (Exits December)

Charlotte Best Annie Campbell 2007-present

Lincoln Lewis Geoff Campbell 2007-present (Currently Recurring)



Recurring cast members

Actor Role

Jessica Chapnik Sam Tolhurst

Norman Coburn Donald Fisher

Damian De Montemas Henk Van Minnen

Cornelia Frances Morag Bellingham

Rachel Gordon Jazz Curtis

Isaac Gorman Ryan Baker

Todd Lasance Aden Jeffries

Debra Lawrence Pippa Ross

Lincoln Lewis Geoff Campbell

Chloe Marshall Pippa Saunders

Jack Richard Rory Tolhurst

Cooper Scott VJ Patterson



Most recent episode

Country Episode no. Channel aired on Time Date Australia 4500 Seven Network 7.00pm September 7, 2007

New Zealand 4468 TV 3 5.30pm September 5, 2007

Republic of Ireland 4439 RTE 2 1.25pm September 5, 2007

United Kingdom 4443 Five 6.00pm September 10, 2007

United Kingdom 4444 Five Life 6.30pm September 10, 2007

Belgium 4148 Kanal Twee 6.30pm September 5, 2007



Departing & Upcoming cast members



Upcoming

Actor Role Status

Gabrielle Scollay Tam Armstrong Debuts September 2007

James Mitchell Jonah Abraham Returns September 2007

Luke Carroll Role Unknown Debuts October 2007

Simone McAullay Vivian Anderson Debuts October 2007

Lara Cox Marie (Surname Unknown) Debuts Late 2007

Scott McGregor Role Unknown Debuts Late 2007



Departing

Actor Role Status

Rachel Gordon Jazz Curtis Departs October 2007

Chris Sadrinna Brad Armstrong Departs December 2007

Jessica Chapnik Sam Tolhurst Departs October 2007(temporary recast) (Guest)

Jack Richard Rory Tolhurst Departs October 2007(temporary recast) (Guest)



Deceased cast members

Actor Role Duration Year of death

Megan Connolly Rebecca Nash (#4) 1998 (temporary recast) 2001

Gwen Plumb Doris Peters 1988 (guest) 2002

Belinda Emmett Rebecca Nash (#3) 1996-1999 2006

Richard Morgan Donahue 1989 (guest) 2006

Stan Zemanek Ken Taylor 1989 (guest) 2007



Before they were stars



Due to the relatively high profile of the show, most actors and actresses who appear on the show find that their profile is heightened, at least for a short period, though most ultimately eventually slide back into relative obscurity. However a minority of the cast have subsequently gone on to achieve success that dwarves their success on Home and Away.



Heath Ledger, who played guest character Scott Irwin in 1997, was subsequently nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. Naomi Watts, who played paraplegic Julie Gibson in 1992, also went on to achieve an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Cristina Peck in 21 Grams as well as Ann Darrow in the 2005 remake of King Kong. Guy Pearce, who also appeared in the show and on Neighbours, has starred in numerous successful films, including Memento, The Count of Monte Christo and The Time Machine. Isla Fisher who played Shannon Reed between 1994 and 1997 has subsequently gone on to appear in films such as Wedding Crashers and Scooby-Doo.



Tammin Sursok, who played Dani Sutherland; Justin Melvey, who played teacher Harry Keller and Daniel Goddard who was guest character Eric Phillips have all gone on to appear in US soaps The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful respectively.



Others have achieved success in US drama series such as Julian McMahon, who played Ben Lucini, went on to star in Nip/Tuck and Charmed; Melissa George who landed roles in Alias, Friends and the 2005 film,The Amityville Horror. Chris Egan went onto appear in Empire after leaving the show in 2003 whilst Ryan Kwanten, who played lifeguard Vinnie Patterson, went on to appear in Summerland



Craig McLachlan was already well known from his role on Neighbours, but went on to achieve continued success since leaving his Home and Away role. Justine Clarke, who played Roo Stewart in the first two years of the soap, has been a presenter of Play School since 2005. Andrew McFarlane and Alex Papps, who have both had roles on Home and Away, are also presenters of Play School.



Bec Hewitt, Tammin Sursok and Dannii Minogue have all attempted to launch music careers with Dannii being the most successful, achieving 11 straight number one's on the UK Club Chart. She became a judge on 4th series of the UK talent show The X Factor



Celebrity guest appearances



Over the years a few famous faces have appeared in Home and Away. The first of these was John Farnham in 1988 where he visited an ill Sally. Frente! appeared and performed a concert in 1993. Whilst filming his travelogue series, Full Circle with Michael Palin, Palin played a British surfer who interrupted a serious conversation between the recently engaged Donald Fisher and Marilyn Chambers. Kostya Tszyu visited Summer Bay in 1997 at a fundraiser organised by Justine Welles.



In the run up to the 2000 Olympic Games, held in nearby Sydney, a number of Australian athletes had cameo roles including Ian Thorpe. During a visit to London in 2001, Nick Smith met UK band Atomic Kitten and at his book launch, Donald Fisher was asked by TV critic Tina Baker to sign her copy of his book. Later that year, Dani Sutherland managed to attract five members of The Wallabies to appear at drugs awareness event she had organised.



Josie Russell organised for Paulini Curuenavuli to appear at Pippa Saunders christening in 2004. In 2005, tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, who had recently become engaged to Home and Away actress Rebecca Cartwright had a cameo role where he play a customer in the diner that took an interest in Cartwright's character Hayley Lawson. David Koch, a presenter of Sunrise has filmed a small role and which will air in September 2007.



Current Living Arrangements



As of 8 September 2007



Summer Bay House * Alf Stewart * Sally Fletcher * Ric Dalby * Cassie Turner * Pippa Saunders



Caravan Park * Colleen Smart * Morag Bellingham



Beach House * Irene Roberts * Belle Taylor * Annie Campbell



Hunter/Holden House * Tony Holden * Lucas Holden * Matilda Hunter * Geoff Campbell



Patterson/Baker House * Leah Patterson-Baker * Dan Baker * VJ Patterson



The Diner Flat * Martha Holden



The Pad (formerly the Holden House) * Rachel Hyde * Brad Armstrong * Jack Holden * Sam Tolhurst * Rory Tolhurst



Penthouse (formerly Amanda's mansion) * Jazz Curtis * Drew Curtis



Locations



Aside from the residents' houses Summer Bay has several well-known locations including: * The Surf Club - As with many real life Australian beaches Summer Bay has its own Surf and Lifesaving Centre. Over the years as well as serving its purpose as a centre for sea and land rescues it has been a place for the young people of the Bay to relax and socialise. Town meetings are often held in the Surf Club. It has also been used as a polling station and a private party/formal venue and has housed various food outlets. Several characters have been trained as lifeguards over the years and surf competitions take place occasionally. The real life location is in the coastal town of Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches in NSW. Latitude 33°35'27.06"S Longitude 151°19'29.27"E * Noah's Bar - Located in and joined to the Surf Club. Originally intended to be a business venture between newly-weds Noah Lawson and Hayley Lawson, the bar was renamed after Noah's tragic death and changed hands after Hayley's move to France with Scott Hunter. The only known licensed premises regularly shown on the show, it is also used for private functions. Martha Mackenzie, Cassie Turner and Alf Stewart run the bar. * Summer Bay Super Bods - The gym is also located next to the Surf Club. Currently owned and run by Tony Holden. Previous employees include Jesse McGregor, Hayley Lawson and Kim Hyde. * The Beachside Diner - More commonly known simply as The Diner. Originally owned by Bobby Simpson and her best friend and aunt Ailsa Stewart, currently by Leah Patterson-Baker and Irene Roberts, although Alf still owns half the building, with Leah owning the other half. It was gutted by fire in 2000 due to Colleen Smart pouring a drum of oil, which she mistook for water, on a raging fire. The diner was forced to move location. Above is a two-bedroomed flat where Martha currently lives. The Diner is the first port of call for any residents of the Bay who wish to have a "choccy milkshake", laid-back dinner or take-away. The diner also has an upstairs flat which is currently home to Martha Mackenzie. * Summer Bay High - The local co-ed high school. It is also used as an evacuation centre in extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes and has been the scene of a hostage situation. Most of the younger characters attend the school, and many of the adult characters have worked there as principals, teachers, admin staff and counsellors. These include Donald Fisher, Sally Fletcher, Irene Roberts, Amanda Vale, Tony Holden, Shauna Bradley, Brad Armstrong, Dan Baker and Noah Lawson. * The Beach - The beach is an important part of the Bay and several major storylines have revolved around it. It is the main outdoor location, often used for casual encounters between characters. It also serves to showcase the looks of the cast, who are often seen wearing beachwear. * The Police Station - Since the Zoe McAllister saga began Summer Bay Police Station has been an increasingly popular setting for scenes. Regular character PC Jack Holden works there. Former officers include Peter Baker, Nick Parrish, Joel Nash, Ashton Nader, Kim Mitchell, Detective Inspector Mike Carter and PC Pia Corelli. Other police officials are recurring characters (PC Lara "Fitzy" Fitzgerald, Detective Ken Harper and Senior Constable Darren McGrath) and regular viewers will know of their simple but recognisable characteristics. * Northern Districts Hospital - Illnesses, accidents and emergencies have seen many characters brought to the hospital for treatment. Current hospital employees include characters Dr. Rachel Armstrong and Nurse Julie Cooper. Former hospital employees include Dr. Charlotte Adams, Dr. Lachlan Fraser, the late Dr. Flynn Saunders, physiotherapist Samantha Tolhurst, Dr. Kelly Watson and Hugh Sullivan. * The Garage - First seen in 2006 although scenes are rarely shown here. Ric Dalby works here.



Filming in the United Kingdom



A few episodes of Home and Away have been filmed in the United Kingdom.



In 1998, Selina Roberts and Steven Matheson who had left the Bay a year previous made a call to Irene Roberts and were seen for the remainder of the episode.



In 2001, a storyline where Donald Fisher had his book Letter to Byron (in honour of his late son, Byron, who died in infancy) published, saw him, along with Hayley Smith and her brothers Will and Nick and their foster mother, Irene taking a trip to London. Whilst in London, Donald met up with his estranged wife Marilyn Fisher (Emily Symons) and gave the audience some closure to their marriage. British pop group Atomic Kitten made a cameo.



Production and broadcast schedule



The show is filmed five days a week for 46 weeks of the year. The crew is given a four week holiday at Christmas and a two week break for recuperation mid-year. A normal shooting day is 7:00am to 6:00pm, but can go later if shooting goes over time. There are an average of 8 weeks between shooting and airing the program. The interior shots are filmed at a permanent set for the show in Seven Sydney's Epping studio. The exterior scenes are filmed on location mainly at Palm Beach and at Fisherman's Beach, Collaroy in Sydney's Northern Beaches region. Location filming normally takes place early in the week, though occasionally demanding schedules mean they can be on location for 4-5 days a week.



Australian broadcasts



Home and Away is broadcast in Australia on weekdays at 7:00 p.m.. The show airs for 46 weeks each year (except for occasions where worldwide events take priority such as the Olympic Games). Each new season begins on the second Monday in January, and the season finale airs on the last Friday of the ratings period, at the end of November (the 2006 season however, started, and thus finished, one week later than normal).



The show rates very well in its timeslot, receiving between 1.1 and 1.5 million viewers per episode. The show's main rival is Temptation on the Nine Network, which usually comes second in this timeslot. In this timeslot Network Ten screens, at various times of the year, programs such as the Big Brother Australia Daily Show, The Biggest Loser, or repeats of The Simpsons, which usually come third in ratings behind networks Seven and Nine.



During the broadcast there are three ad-breaks and immediately following the broadcast of each episode there is a short promotional trailer for the next episode.



Repeat episodes of the series were broadcast between 1999 and 2002, with a one-year break in 2000. The first 623 episodes (except for Episode 469, which was overlooked when Seven were showing the tennis in September 2001) were shown in this run, before it was taken off in May 2002, and so far has never returned. Restrictions due to contracts with actors who appeared in the early days of the series prevent the Seven Network from showing repeats of Home and Away, or releasing DVD sets.



United Kingdom broadcasts



The show has more overall viewers in the UK market than it has in its home market, but Australia, because of it's lower population, has a higher proportion of viewers than the UK.



The series commenced at 17.15 on Saturday 11 February 1989 (17.05 Sunday 12 February in LWT and Yorkshire regions). UK regions have historically had different timeslots for the programme. Most regions aired it at 5.10pm, however Central and Anglia originally showed it at 6.35pm, later 6pm. Thames and Granada then moved the show from 5.10pm to 6pm, Border at 6.30pm. TSW at 3.25pm from Wednesday 20 September 1989 after they had completed Sons and Daughters (6:30pm from 1992) before their successor Westcountry Television moved the series to 5.10pm in 1993. TSW's scheduling was controversial. In 1991 the lunchtime showing was 1.20pm with the repeat following at 3.25pm. TSW persisted with the 3:25pm slot for a long period (apparently to avoid having to schedule two quiz shows consecutively), despite the fact many of Home and Away's teenage followers would still have been at school at this time. By early 1992 TSW's argument was extremely hollow as they had five half hour Australian soaps follow each other from 1.20pm on some days - Home and Away, A Country Practice, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors and then the Home and Away repeat. All regions screened at 5pm from March 1999.



In the UK episode from 1993 onwards were sometimes censored for content. Two episodes were dropped in their entirety, one due to similarities to the Dunblane massacre, another due to similarities to the James Bulger kidnap & murder.



In 1999, ITV2 began broadcasting an omnibus on Saturday Mornings and by 2000, episodes aired in the UK were aired only one week after first showing in Australia. However, the shift in the UK in June 2000 from ITV to Five damaged the programme's ratings, as contract obligations kept it off air in the UK for a year.[citation needed] Also, Five having a smaller audience share than ITV contributed to the show achieving ratings significantly lower. Five funds more than half of the production costs, and it is officially Five's second highest rated show.



In accordance with European Union regulations for shows of this time-length, only one advertisement break is inserted into the programme at approximately the halfway point. An omnibus edition (when the week's episodes were repeated back-to-back) aired on Saturday mornings, until October 2005, and from October 2006 Five Life, a digital channel that started broadcasting on 2006-10-15, began airing the omnibus.



Home and Away on Five



From 16 July 2001, starting with the 2841st episode, Five aired a new episode of Home and Away at 6.00pm every weekday evening, with the episode repeated at 12.30pm, later 12.00pm, the following day, or in the case of a Friday episode, the following Monday afternoon. Furthermore, an omnibus aired on the Saturday from July 2001 to October 2005. It originally aired in an afternoon slot, then an early morning slot, before it was dropped from the schedules, later being picked up by Five Life.



On May 7, 2007 this was/will be the same on May 28, 2007 and August 27, 2007, no episode was/will be aired on Five for the first time since it started showing the show. Since Five have aired episodes continuously, whilst in Australia Channel Seven take a six week break over December and January, Five caught up from over a year behind and are currently only 11 weeks and 2 days in arrears. Although as off August 28, 2007 this will change to 11 weeks 3 days behind as Five are commissioning a film instead. No new/recent repeat episodes will be broadcast across the five network, but see Five Life for more details.



Home and Away on Five Life



In October 2006, Five launched two new digital TV channels, Five Life and Five US. As part of the plan to gain viewers, Home and Away aired at 6:30pm, a day ahead of the normal Five schedules. Home and Away on Five Life rates well, with audience figures between 500,000 and 800,000. An omnibus of the episodes aired that week is shown on a Saturday.



From May 21 2007, Five Life also started repeating episodes from the 2000 season of Home and Away, starting from Episode 2841, as they do not own rights to any episode previous. They air between 10.00am and 11.00am, meaning that 10 episodes are aired each week.



On May 7, May 28 and August 27, 2007, no new episode was aired on any Five channel. However on the latter two dates, themed afternoons were aired on Five Life. These were Weddings and Sally and Flynn's relationship respectively.

Home and Away, the Australian based soap opera is awesome! When my life seems bad i just take a look at all thier lives with murders, fires, fights and ruined marriges and it all seems alot better. Home and Away has alot of good role models for young boys and girls all over the world. Theres... Cassie, who when was being abused by her boyfriend sought help. Ric, who has picked himself off the ground after being kicked out of school by getting an apprenticeship in mechanics. Belle who wont let ANY boy treat her badley. As for the adults, they teach us all valuable lessons in life. Dont lie, cheat or steal because you WILL get caught. Anyone who hasnt yet seen Home and Away should watch it. Youll find entertainment in Summer Bay.

I love Home and Away!!

Home and Away is what makes Australian TV so bad. It is an embarrassment to the network that airs it, it is an embarrassment to the people who work on it; but it is probably an even bigger embarressment to the one million Australian viewers who tune in every night to watch this unrealistic, poorly written, poorly acted, poorly directed show.



It is a waste of time, and nothing more than daytime television merely put on prime time, because the Australian networks are forced to air a certain amount of Australian shows per week (on prime time TV.)



Do not even consider watching this show.

Well i have to say that Home & Away is going downhill. I used to watch this show and i quite enjoyed it as well however i believe that this show is just all over the place. If i stop watching the show for a week everything seems to change and it is really hard to get back into. The show is set in a small aussie town and seems highly unrealistic. It is full of enough drama to last you 10 years as well. Like what happens in their day to day life would be what happens in like a few months for me.

Ive been watching home and away since i was a baby, with my family! And ive been hooked ever since. I absolutely love home and away, its a "not so secret obsession" that i have, every weeknight at 7:30. I love the drama and the suspence that home and away leaves me with at the end of each week and the romance is so cute :) I was a big "Kachel" (Kim and Rachel) fan, but the writers killed the romance of and sent Kim of to the city with another woman, but i still love the show heaps!

Home and Away is just as my classification of it says: absolutely fabulous. The storylines are great with lots of suspense and cliffhangers and the cast work well together. There is only one bad thing: they kill really good characters off. Beth died!! :( The show still rocks though so I can not complain too much! The setting is great too with all the great scenery, and I love how you get ferequent shots of the beach. It makes you want to go there so much just seeing the beautiful beaches there and the tranquility of the place. Home and Away really shows the whole community of Summer Bay as the cast are spread over all the different places in the town creating a wide background on which to set the storylines. It's simply a great show.

This soap is on every night from 6.00 pm and you can also catch the next episode staraigt after at 6.30 pm. My opinion of this film is that it it shows the different charactoristics the charactors have this soap is great because if i cant wait to watch the next episode i can watch it straight after of five life. A good thing about this soap is that it it shows different scenes every night. A bad point about this soap is there simpley isnt anything bad about it.

i cant believe that beth died...she was good in it and poor Mattie,Kit,Tony,Jack and Lucas..



Tony had already gone through losing his first wife and now he has lost Beth.i nearly cried when i seen this episode it was sad..Beth was a Friend to everyone in the Bay!



I feel sorry for Mattie the most because she is only 16 and she didnt get as much time with her mam as Kit,Robbie and Scott did,because they are older than her they had loads of time.I no Robbie is only 18 bu that is stil longer.



anyone agree with me?? write to mex