Where are the stars of Home And Away now? A look at what soap legends Ray Meagher, Judy Nunn and Kate Ritchie are doing now
As I delve into the captivating lives of these extraordinary individuals who graced our screens through the iconic soap opera “Home and Away”, I am struck by their resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to their craft. Each one has a unique story to tell, a testament to the rich tapestry of experiences that make up the fabric of their lives.
Initially airing on Channel Seven in 1988, the show “Home and Away” focused on the Fletcher family as they moved from the city to the coastal town of Summer Bay.
Tom, along with his spouse Pippa, and their five foster kids – Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport, and Sally Fletcher.
Soon after purchasing the Caravan Park, they quickly formed friendships with Alf Stewart, Ailsa (the local shopkeeper), along with Neville and Floss McPhee, who were former carnival workers living in retirement.
In Australia, the Australian soap opera ranks as the second longest-running television show, trailing only Neighbors, which made its debut in 1985.
Among all shows, Home And Away has garnered the most Logie Awards. In recognition of its exceptional performance, it was enshrined in the Logie Hall of Fame back in 2015.
For several decades, a number of the initial cast members and their peers have continued with the show. Remarkably, the program has propelled numerous former actors into stardom and thriving media professions.
Instead of departing for the glamour of Hollywood to chase fame, certain individuals decided to leave acting behind permanently. Now, let’s see where these folks have ended up. (TopMob examines their current situations)
Roger Oakley as Tom Fletcher
Roger played the foster father Tom Fletcher from the soap’s pilot episode in 1988.
In simpler terms, he shared with New Idea that one of his most cherished moments on the show was spent with young Kate Ritchie. “We always had a bowl full of apples and bananas,” he said, “and cute Katie and I would often pretend the bananas were telephones, engaging in wonderful make-believe conversations.
In 1990, Tom’s character was written out of the series due to a tragic accident. He lost control of his car and suffered a fatal heart attack while driving.
In the year 2008, he made a reappearance as a spectral figure, showing up in a sequence where his foster daughter Sally (played by Kate Ritchie) went through a life-threatening situation.
This New Zealand-born actor has reached nearly five decades in the entertainment industry, and his most recent on-screen role was for the series “Winners And Losers” back in 2013.
Vanessa Downing as Pippa Fletcher
In the TV series, Vanessa portrayed Pippa, a compassionate foster mom, who cared for numerous children during her brief two-year run on the program.
After her screen spouse was written out of the series, Vanessa departed not long afterward to immerse herself in her passion for stage acting and build a legal career.
She graduated as a solicitor in 2006 and now happily balances a law career with her acting roles.
Over time, Pippa has made trips back to Summer Bay to celebrate significant events. For instance, she was there for the series anniversary in 2002, as well as for her foster daughter Sally’s (Kate Ritchie) wedding to Flynn Saunders in 2003.
Kate Ritchie as Sally Fletcher
Kate Ritchie played the role of Sally Fletcher on Home and Away for twenty years, from 1988 to 2008. She made a short comeback to the series five years later, in 2013.
After her famous character, Kate has continued her journey into the spotlight, featuring in Underbelly alongside Dieter, and building a prosperous broadcasting career at Nova 96.9.
She has one daughter, Mae, who she shares with her estranged husband, retired NRL player Stuart Webb.
46-year-old Nova radio personality subtly suggested last month that her on-screen character, Sally, might unexpectedly reappear.
She’s disclosed that producers have contacted her several times to arrange a comeback, yet hinted that she hasn’t definitively ruled out returning to the soap opera.
She informed the Herald Sun that [they] haven’t contacted her anymore, but they made it clear that their doors are always available for her.
Re-visiting that place with everyone and collaborating with those actors once more isn’t a prospect I am eager to embrace; the question is if it still holds relevance.
Kate expressed her doubts as to whether her character would mesh well with the more recent inhabitants of Summer Bay, or if it would continue resonating with the audience.
In simpler terms, she said that all the new audience members are unaware of who Sally is. With her current responsibilities as a parent and everything else life throws at her, taking on another job will be quite a challenge for her.
Alex Papps as Frank Morgan
Alex Papps played Frank Morgan on Home and Away between 1988 and 2002.
The actor went on to appear in Blue Heelers, The Saddle Club and Stingers.
2015 found me making quite the splash in the news, thanks to my creative contribution on the beloved children’s program, Play School. During one of our arts and craft sessions, I assembled a unique piece that left many social media enthusiasts comparing it to an item commonly known as a ‘bong’. But hey, art is subjective, isn’t it?
The creative project saw him inset a straw into the side of a plastic bottle.
Ray Meagher as Alf Stewart
Ray joined the soap as one of the very first characters Alf Stewart in 1988.
At the start of 2022, the actor extended his agreement to continue playing a leading role on “Home and Away” for the next five years.
He told the Scottish Sun he was finally persuaded by the producers to sign on to the show for six months – after first refusing their offer of a two-year contract.
He mentioned that he never set specific years as his goal or had any such plans. When people ask him why he stayed for so long, he doesn’t know what to tell them.
In simpler terms, I’d say, “It seems to me that the fundamental solution lies with our team members. We have an exceptional group, and some of them have been working here just about as long as I have.
In a recent interview, Ray criticised the soap for becoming less wholesome.
Instead of continuing with crime-focused plotlines, which have been prevalent for over a decade in Summer Bay, he proposed that the show has drifted too far away from its original 1980s essence.
Ray expressed that there remains an affection for the ‘River Boy’ character, as he referred to the latest rough-around-the-edges cast members during his conversation with TV Tonight.
In simpler terms, “That was an exceptional time, but I’m not entirely convinced it was as extraordinary as Summer Bay; at least, not to the same degree, according to my personal view.
Ray’s comment referred to the popular ‘River Boys’ storyline which was launched in 2011.
The storyline showcased a group of three rugged male figures, portrayed by Lincoln Younes, Steve Peacocke, and Dan Ewing, causing unrest in the peaceful town of Summer Bay.
Meagher, who’s played Alf since the series premiere in 1988, commended the skillful creators of the ‘River Boys’ story arcs.
However, he felt it contradicted the initial concept of the series, which focused on a family adopting foster children into a small seaside community.
As a lifestyle expert, I find nothing inherently problematic about the “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” narrative of The River Boys. However, I must admit that in my opinion, the storyline may have been a bit excessive – perhaps it could have benefited from being toned down slightly to strike a better balance.
Since 2018, Ray has served as a representative for the Australian mental health charity “Dancing With The Black Dog,” whose mission is to eradicate the social stigma associated with anxiety and depression.
Judy Nunn as Ailsa Stewart
Although Judy Nunn’s character Ailsa Stewart was written out of the soap opera in 2000, her impact on the show remains significant and prominent.
Ailsa, the practical spouse of longtime Home and Away star Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), consistently appeared on the famous soap opera from its debut in 1988 until her departure in 2000.
On Friday, the woman who once graced screens as an actress but now flourishes as a successful novelist, appeared on The Morning Show to publicize her newest literary work titled “Stories From The Otto Bin Empire.
Ailsa’s distinctive golden ringlets stood out while she conversed with hosts Kylie Gillies and Sam Mac.
During a chat with the show’s hosts, Judy shared that she often wrote books during filming breaks for the popular soap opera.
‘It sounds gorgeous, doesn’t it?’ Judy replied when asked to clarify the rumour.
In situations like funerals or weddings, if you’re part of the general public, you often find yourself smiling, nodding, and expressing emotions accordingly. However, your role is mostly that of a supporting character. At a funeral, you cry a lot, but essentially, you’re there as an observer.
‘Sitting around I found that very boring so that’s when I’d write a book,’ she admitted.
Beyond my work on the stage and screen, I’ve had the privilege of embarking on a lengthy and illustrious journey as an author as well.
1981 saw the publication of her debut children’s book titled “The Riddle of the Trumpalar”. She then transitioned to writing for adults, publishing “The Glitter Game” in 1991.
Ever since then, Judy has published a total of 19 books through The Glitter Game, and three of them – The Glitter Game, Centre Stage, and Araluen – have all topped the bestseller lists.
Her acting resume is just as remarkable, boasting television roles such as sons and Daughters, The Prisoner, and A Country Practice.
To clarify, Judy made history as she portrayed the character of Vicky Stafford, a bisexual journalist, in the daring daytime drama “The Box” on Network Ten.
It was there she shared Australian TV’s first lesbian kiss.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but marvel at her remarkable achievement – starring as Ailsa in a staggering 1313 episodes of the legendary soap opera, Home and Away!
Following Ailsa’s sudden and unfortunate death due to a heart attack in 2000, which occurred while she was with Alf, Judy temporarily returned to her character in the soap opera, now portraying an hallucination that appeared within Alf’s mind as he battled a brain tumor.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in 2018, Judy expressed her strong distaste towards the growing popularity of reality TV shows in Australia.
She expressed her disapproval to the media about reality TV series like Love Island and Married at First Sight.
She expressed her disdain by saying, “The amount of reality TV is overwhelming for me.” Alternatively, she might have stated, “I can’t stand all this reality TV that’s on now.
Cornelia Frances as Morag Bellingham
From playing Alf Stewart’s evil sister Morag Bellingham in Home And Away to becoming the fearful host of The Weakest Link, Cornelia Frances was undoubtedly Australia’s favourite TV villain.
In May 2018, at the age of 77, the seasoned actress deeply saddened her fans as she lost her long fight against bladder cancer and passed away.
With over 40 years of experience in the field, Cornelia made appearances on various TV shows, theater productions, and films during her remarkable professional journey.
From 1988 to 2017, she occasionally portrayed the character of Morag Bellingham, a wicked sibling to Alf Stewart, in the television series Home and Away.
Cornelia skillfully depicted the stern image of both the barrister and the judge, who displayed an evident contempt towards Summer Bay and its inhabitants, even extending to her own relatives.
Debuting on the soap in 1988, she became a recurring guest star for 30 years.
In the broadcast of episode 6,645, which took place on April 25, 2017, turned out to be her final acting performance on television.
In her last TV appearance in February 2018, she playfully referred to herself as a “tough character on screen” and expressed gratitude towards the producers for providing her with challenging roles that contributed significantly to her success.
In her initial acting career, Cornelia made her debut on screen in the 1960 film “Peeping Tom,” a production helmed by her uncle, Michael Powell.
A decade later, she made her move to TV, playing Georgina Clausen on Dynasty.
In the year 1976, she made a notable appearance as Sister Scott in The Young Doctors, a role that would later become widely recognized in television.
During an interview from her hospital room in February, she emotionally shared that she herself was a current patient at the very same hospital where she had filmed the TV series back in the 1970s.
In addition to her popular television performances, Cornelia was also the timid host of Channel Seven’s The Weakest Link from 2001 to 2002.
Norman Coburn as Donald Fisher
In the first episode of the series, the role of the primary villain, Headmaster Donald Fisher, was portrayed by actor Norman Coburn.
Later on, I found myself taking on the role of protector for the young runaway Angel, before she embarked on a romantic journey with Shane Parish.
Between 2005 and 2008, his character occasionally showed up on the soap opera. Later, he decided to retire and live a tranquil life on Bruny Island, which is located in Tasmania, Australia.
Emily Symons as Marilyn Chambers-Fisher
Emily is most well-known for playing Marilyn Chambers-Fisher on the soap from 1989.
Over the course of nearly ten years, she departed from the program and relocated to the United Kingdom. Subsequently, she joined the cast of the British soap opera Emmerdale and later became a part of the reality TV show Dancing on Ice in 2007.
Since 2010, Emily has been back in Home and Away, settling down in Australia for good, and she’s been a regular cast member on the series ever since.
Emily shares a son, Henry, with her ex-husband Paul Jackson who she split with in 2016.
Last June, during an interview on The Morning Show, Emily stated that her appearance in person differs from her portrayal on the program.
‘I do not look like this, that’s for sure,’ she said of her flawless onscreen appearance.
She went on, asserting that she is able to blend in effortlessly during her daily activities because she transforms significantly in person compared to how she appears.
She shared that she can shop without being approached, which is fine as no one recognizes her since she appears to be a disheveled, tired mother out shopping.
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2024-11-24 18:06