Home and Away viewers have been eagerly awaiting the return of fan favourite stars and real-life couple Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor in 2025. It was announced in October last year that the pair would be reprising their roles as Ziggy and Dean for a “top-secret” storyline after they left the series in 2023 to move to the UK.
Following much anticipation, Channel Seven finally confirmed on Friday morning that the duo will make their explosive return to Home and Away from Monday, March 10. However, they won’t be coming back to Summer Bay.
Instead, a teaser for the upcoming TV event shows that Home and Away will take place in Queensland for the first time ever. Sophie and Patrick’s scenes were filmed last year on location in the Whitsunday region of tropical north Queensland, including Airlie Beach, Daydream Island, Bowen and Proserpine.
What do we know about Ziggy and Dean’s return?
The teaser sees Levi (Tristan Gorey) surprise Mackenzie (Emily Weir) with a trip to Queensland to reunite with her half-brother Dean. The former River Boy was last seen on screens in March 2023 when he, his partner Ziggy and their baby girl Izzy left Summer Bay to move to the Sunshine State so he could be closer to his son Jai.
While Ziggy is excited to see Mackenzie and Levi, Dean is less enthused to meet his half-sister’s new partner and believes he can’t be trusted because he cheated on his ex-partner.
The two men repeatedly butt heads, with Dean making it clear to Levi that they will never be mates, before things take a dramatic turn when Ziggy and Mackenzie are taken captive by two escaped prisoners.
The pair must then put their differences aside and work together to try and save their girlfriends’ lives before it’s too late.
Fans react to dramatic trailer
Fans took to social media on Friday to express their excitement over Sophie and Patrick’s long-awaited return, with one person writing: “This is looking so cool! Amazing. Missed Dean and Ziggy!”
“I love protective Dean can’t wait,” another added, while a third said, “Hope they are back for more than this episode”.
“I have waited for this for soooo long! Can’t wait for it to hit our screen! Love Dean and Ziggy. Please return full-time to the show!” someone else replied.
Sophie said in a statement alongside last year’s announcement that she would be returning to the show that it “feels so good to be home”.
Patrick added: “I can’t wait for the action, and for fans to see this storyline play out.”
