Sally Rapp's shocking exit; Home and Away stars now live secret lives.

**Home and Away Reboots on UK Channel 5Drama, Bringing 1988 Episodes to New Viewers**

For UK audiences, the long‑running Australian soap Home and Away will become a binge‑watch treasure trove on Channel 5’s new drama strand, 5Drama. Starting October 21, the broadcaster will air every episode from the show’s debut in 1988 to the present day.

The move follows a growing appetite among British viewers for nostalgic serials, and it offers a chance to see how the series’ characters and storylines evolved over the decades.

Actor Ray Meagher, who has appeared in every episode since the very first one in 1988, said, ‘It’s fantastic to know that Home and Away is continuing to find new audiences in the UK, and now viewers can go right back to the beginning on 5Drama.’ Actress Emily Symons, who joined the show as Marilyn Chambers in 1989, added, ‘It’s so special to think that UK fans can revisit the very beginning of Home and Away on 5Drama…’ The channel’s decision comes as the show’s theme music, ‘You know we belong together, you and I forever and ever,’ continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

## Background & Context

Channel 5’s newly launched drama service, 5Drama, will begin its Home and Away marathon on October 21, offering the network’s first full run of the Australian soap from its inaugural episode in 1988 to the present.

The decision comes after a growing interest in nostalgic serials among British viewers, who have long imported Australian dramas for home viewing. By airing every episode in order, the channel gives fans a chance to see how the series’ characters and storylines evolved over the decades.

Home and Away first aired in 1988 on Australian television, quickly gaining a devoted audience. Its opening theme, ‘You know we belong together, you and I forever and ever,’ set the tone for the beach‑side drama that would later find a foothold across the globe.

The show’s early years introduced iconic characters such as Alf Stewart, Marilyn Chambers, and the Foster family.

By re‑broadcasting the entire series, 5Drama is not only catering to nostalgia but also giving new viewers a chance to discover where Summer Bay’s long‑running storylines began. The channel’s strategy reflects a broader trend of reviving classic shows for streaming and linear audiences alike.

Fans can now binge the original 1988 launch and trace the evolution of beloved characters into the present day.

## Early Cast Members Then and Now

Nicolle Dickson portrayed Bobby Simpson, a rebellious foster child who clashed with the Fletcher family. After a dramatic speedboat accident that led to her character’s death in 1992, Dickson left the show and married real‑estate agent James Bell in 1990.

She later turned to accounting, appeared on Australian Celebrity Survivor, and reaffirmed her marriage vows with Bell in 2015 while living in New South Wales.

Roger Oakley played Tom Fletcher, the down‑to‑earth foster dad who ran the caravan park with wife Pippa. After a heart‑attack death in 1990, the character was written out and later revisited in 2008.

Oakley, a veteran of Australian TV series such as Sons and Daughters and The Flying Doctors, now works as an actor, director and voice‑over artist. Vanessa Downing, who portrayed Pippa Fletcher, left the show after Tom’s exit and later became a lawyer specializing in immigration law while still acting on stage.

Alex Papps, the original heart‑throb Frank Morgan, departed in 1989 for The Flying Doctors and later hosted children’s programs such as Play School.

Justine Clarke, who first auditioned for roles including Carly and Bobby before landing Roo Stewart, left Home and Away in 1989 to pursue film and television projects; she is now best known as a presenter on ABC’s Play School and for her music career.

Sharyn, who played Carly Morris and her twin sister Samantha, stepped away from acting to become a natural therapist and childcare worker in New South Wales. Judy Nunn, cast as Ailsa Stewart, left the show after her character’s death in 2000 and has since written twenty adult‑fiction books, selling over a million copies in Australia.

Norman Fisher, who portrayed Summer Bay headmaster Donald Fisher, retired from acting in 2013, moved to Bruny Island in Tasmania, and made a brief return in 2019.

## Legacy of Home and Away in the UK

Kate Richie, who played Sally Fletcher from the show’s start, has built a media career beyond acting. She co‑hosts Nova FM’s drive‑time show Fitzy, Wippa and Kate and has appeared as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent.

In 2010 she married rugby league star Stuart Webb; their daughter Mae was born in 2014, but the couple separated in 2019 following a domestic incident.

Adam Willits, cast as Steven Matheson, returned to Summer Bay in 1995 as a teacher after the foster kid’s earlier run. He left the spotlight in 2014 to pursue a career in insurance and now lives with his wife Jenny and their child. While he keeps a low profile, his early work remains a memorable part of the show’s history.

Peter Vroom portrayed Lance, a slow‑witted comedy character who had a brief romance with Marilyn Chambers. After leaving Home and Away in 1990, he joined the army and later returned for guest stints.

In 2007 he stepped away from acting entirely and now runs a meditation‑teaching practice, sharing his work on the YouTube channel TheResoluteMind.

For fans of Home and Away, 5Drama’s marathon offers a unique window into the soap’s beginnings while celebrating the diverse careers its early stars have pursued.

As the network delivers every episode from 1988 onward, viewers can trace how a small Australian town captured hearts worldwide and how those who helped build it have evolved beyond the screen.