Shock exits, surprise returns and several new faces: Home and Away set to send temperatures soaring in 2025
Home and Away fans are in a frenzy over what’s in store for Summer Bay next season.
And it seems that a new group of River Boys are set to feature in a fresh storyline in the New Year.
On set pictures from the Home and Away set leaked to the internet show Nicholas Cartwright’s policeman character Cash making what appears to be an arrest.
And it also appears there might be a ‘River Girl’ in the new group of characters.
Fan site Back to the Bay shared that actress Sophea Pennington could be joining the cast as a character called Lacey.
Yahoo fuelled speculation over the young newcomer joining the beloved soap after reporting that a number of Home and Away cast members are following her on Instagram.
Home and Away fans are in a frenzy over what’s in store for Summer Bay next season. And it seems that a new group of River Boys are set to feature in a fresh storyline. On set pictures from the Home and Away set leaked to the internet show Nicholas Cartwright’s policeman character Cash (pictured) making what appears to be an arrest
Fan site Back to the Bay shared that actress Sophea Pennington could be joining the cast as a character called Lacey. (Pictured)
The Home and Away Spoilers and Gossip fan page recently shared that actors Rob Mellyonarie and Adam Peck will co-star as two of the new River Boys.
The ‘River Boys’ were first introduced to Summer Bay as a gang of criminals in 2011.
Their antics created havoc in Summer Bay and fuelled storylines over several seasons.
Meanwhile, other cast changes for Home and Away in 2025 include Kirsty Marillier, whose character Rose is set to make an exit in the upcoming season.
Marillier will soon appear on stage in a new production of Picnic at Hanging Rock, based on the famous novel, at the Sydney Opera House in February.
Former Home and Away favourite Patrick O’Connor is also set to make a surprise return to the soap after exiting the series alongside his real life sweetheart Sophie Dillman.
The pair who played on-screen couple Dean and Ziggy left the high rating soap in March 2023.
O’Connor confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that he and Dillman would be appearing as part of the River Boys storyline.
He revealed that new scenes have already been filmed in far North Queensland.
Home and Away actor Ethan Browne, who plays the character of Tane in the long running soap, appears to set to return next season. (Pictured)
The spoiler, which was posted to a Facebook Home and Away group, shows Cash in his police uniform alongside his police car and an unidentified character
‘There’s a bit of River Boy action, there’s a bit of road trips with them,’ O’Connor told the publication.
‘I think it’ll be good to see where Dean is now, where they’re at now with their babies living away in Queensland, is all I’ll say.’
Also tipped to join the cast as a new character in 2025 is Amanda Bishop, best known for her Julia Gillard send-up in the ABC 2011 sit-com At Home with Julia.
It comes after Home and Away fans breathed a sigh of relief after the 2024 season ended a cliffhanger that had Nicholas Cartwright’s character Cash facing possible criminal charges.
New photos leaked from the Summer Bay set revealed that Cash survived his ordeal.
The spoiler, which was posted to a Facebook Home and Away group, shows Cash in his police uniform filming scenes alongside his police car and an unidentified character.
Also seen in the snap is Home and Away actor Ethan Browne, who plays the character of Tane in the long running soap.
Browne can be seen standing in a singlet with the new character watching the crew film the scene.
In the season finale Cash was seen waking up next to the lifeless body of his enemy Tim (played by George Pullar).
Cash’s ex-fiancée Eden, played by Stephanie Panozzo, had warned him that Tim’s former client Nerida (Ellie Gall) felt slighted and was out for revenge.
Meanwhile, fans took to social media with theories about the storyline that might develop in next year’s season.
Viewers noticed that Nerida appeared in a promo shot which appeared to feature her character in handcuffs at a police station being booked by Officer Rose Delaney (Kirsty Marillier).
Some claimed the photo provided a major clue that her mysterious character was involved in Cash’s predicament.
‘Definitely Nerida in handcuffs,’ one follower wrote.
‘Maybe that girl is one of the people arrested,’ a second suggested and a third chipped in: ‘That is Nerida definitely.’
The iconic Australian drama series has developed a reputation for its suspenseful and gripping cliffhangers.
