Home and Away

*Home and Away*
Home and Away
	File:Home and Away Logo.jpg Opening Title Screen
Created by	Alan Bateman
Starring	See Cast below
Country of origin	Australia
No. of episodes	4336 (as of January 22 2007)
Production
Running time	approx 0:22
Original release
Network	Seven Network
Release	17 January 1988

Home and Away is an Australian week nightly half-hour television soap opera produced in Sydney by the Seven Network since July 1987. The show first went to air on Sunday 17 January 1988 with a two hour pilot and from then it premiered as a week nightly program the night after on Monday 18 January 1988 at 6pm before Seven News which then aired at 6:30pm. Home and Away has also aired at the 6:30pm timeslot however from 1992 the 7pm slot has been its stable time.

The show is broadcast on the Seven Network and its affiliates from Monday to Friday at 7pm in Australia and is exported to many countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, France, Norway and many Asian countries.

When the show began in January 1988 ratings were low but soon improved and gradually the show's popularity grew. Originally Home and Away focused primarily on Pippa and Tom who ran the Summer Bay Caravan Park and lived there with a succession of foster children, but eventually the show's focus broadened to focus on the lives and loves of the inhabitants of the rest of Summer Bay.

History

In 1985 the Seven Network axed the poor rating soap Neighbours after just 170 episodes on air. However at the time of the show being axed the Seven Network was unaware that Network Ten, a rival network, was in talks with the production team to return the soap in 1986 on a new network.

When Neighbours returned in 1986 the Seven Network had to sit back and watch the Ten Network turn the show into a massive hit in Australia and in October 1986 Neighbours first hit UK screens and from that day on has been a raging success in the UK.

In late 1986 the Seven Network’s head of drama at the time Alan Bateman was in charge of creating a new pilot that was in no way a copy of the now Ten Network’s Neighbours soap. After a short while Alan Bateman found his inspiration for a new soap pilot when he stopped in Kangaroo Point, a small country town in southern New South Wales, to buy ice creams for his family. While he was in town he got chatting to the local people and Alan discovered that the towns people were up in arms over the construction of a home for foster kids from the city.

This real live occurance was the benchmark for a new pilot having seen the degree of conflict which the plan for the new youth centre had produced within the community, Bateman recognised the drama which could be produced by this conflict and began to develop this basic division of opinion into a new soap opera.

Cast

See main articles:

Current cast members

Actor	Role	Status
Holly Brisley	Amanda Vale	2005-
Alexa Ashton	Kelli Vale	2007-
Patrick Brammall	Ethan Black	2007-
Tim Campbell	Dan Baker	2004-
Lyn Collingwood	Colleen Smart	1999-; recurring previously
Indiana Evans	Matilda Hunter	2004-
Mark Furze	Ric Dalby	2005-
Jodi Gordon	Martha Holden	2005-
Chris Hemsworth	Kim Hyde	2004-
Clarissa House	Beth Hunter	2004-
Amy Mathews	Dr. Rachel Armstrong Hyde	2006-
Lynne McGranger	Irene Roberts	1992-
Ray Meagher	Alf Stewart	1988-
Bobby Morley	Drew Curtis	2006-
Ada Nicodemou	Leah Patterson Baker	2000-
Paul O'Brien	Jack Holden	2005-
Ian Meadows	Rocco Cooper	2007-
Callan Mulvey	Johnny Cooper	2007-
Chris Sadrinna	Brad Armstrong	2006-
Jon Sivewright	Tony Holden	2005-
Jessica Tovey	Belle Taylor	2006-
Sharni Vinson	Cassie Turner	2005-
Rhys Wakefield	Lucas Holden	2005-

Recurring and going cast members

Actor	Role	Kate Ritchie	Sally Fletcher
Ben Guerens	Ash Nader
Amy Mizzi	Kit Hunter
Isaac Gorman	Ryan Baker
Cornelia Frances	Morag Bellingham
Nicholas Bishop	Peter Baker
Cooper Scott	V.J. Patterson
Trent Baines	Macca Mackenzie

Deceased cast members

Belinda Emmett, who played Rebecca Fisher/Nash from 1996 until 1998, died of cancer on 11 November 2006. When Emmett temporarily left the show in 1998 for cancer treatment, the role was recast, with actor Megan Connolly assuming the role. Connolly is also deceased, having died of a heroin overdose in 2001.

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.
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. Beth, Alf and Martha run the bar.
Summer Bay Super Bods - The gym is also located next to the Surf Club. Currently owned by Amanda Vale, and run by Tony Holden and Kim Hyde. Previous employees include Jesse McGregor, and Hayley Lawson .
The Beachside Diner - More commonly known simply as The Diner. Originally owned by Bobby Simpson and her best friend 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 Brad Armstrong 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.
Summer Bay High - The local co-ed high school. It is also used as a shelter 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. There is a small salt-water swimming pool at one end of the beach which is used occasionally.
The Police Station - Since the Zoe McAllistar saga began Summer Bay Police Station has been an increasingly popular setting for scenes. Peter Baker and regular character PC Jack Holden work there. Former officers include Nick Parrish and Joel Nash. Other police officials are recurring characters (PC Lara Fitzgerald, PC Ashton Nader, Detective Ken Harper and Senior Constable Darren McGrath) and regular viewers will know of their simple but recognisable characteristics i.e. good cop, bad cop.
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, Nurse Julie Cooper and physiotherapist Samantha Tolhurst. Former hospital employees include Dr. Charlotte Adams, Dr. Lachlan Fraser, the late Dr. Flynn Saunders, Dr. Kelly Watson.

Production & 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 3 to 4 months 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 at Palm Beach and at Long Reef Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches region. Filming normally takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays here.

Australian broadcast

Home And Away is broadcast in Australia on weekdays at 7:00pm. The show airs for 46 weeks each year (except for occasions where worldwide events take priority such as tennis and Olympic Games). Each new season begins on the second Monday in January (an exception to this was the 2006 season where it returned on the third Monday), and the season finale airs on the last Friday of the ratings period (usually the last Friday in November, although was not the case in 2006 as it was aired on the first Friday of December). 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 often comes first 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 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.

International broadcasts

United Kingdom

The show has more overall viewers in the larger UK market than it has in its home market, but a higher proportion of viewers in Australia, due to Australia's smaller population. All ITV regions showed the same episode each day however it was shown at different times, with the first oppourtunity to watch normally at lunchtime, followed by a teatime screening.

UK regions have historically had different timeslots for the programme. Most regions aired it at 5.10pm, however Central originally showed it at 6.30pm, later 6pm. Thames/Carlton/LWT screened episodes at 6pm, Border at 6.30pm, TSW/Westcountry at 3.25pm, before moving the series to 5.10 by 1993. 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.

The shift in the UK from ITV to Five damaged the programmes ratings; contract obligations kept it off air in the UK for a year and the smaller audience share five has is believed to contribute to the show achieving ratings significantly lower than those it enjoyed on ITV. five funds more than half of the production costs, and it is officially Five's second highest rated show.

As of 2006, in the UK, the show is broadcast weekdays at 6:00pm, (repeated 12.00pm the following weekday) on Five. The following episode is brodcast at 6.30pm on Five's digital sister channel Five Life.

In accordance with European Union regulations for shows of this time-length, only one ad break is inserted into the programme at approximately the halfway point. An omnibus edition aired on Saturday mornings when that week's episodes were all repeated. As of October 2005, there has been no airing of the omnibus, however Five will re-broadcast omnibus editions from October this year on its new digital channel Five Life.

Home and Away was first shown on Five on Monday, July 16, 2001. At this stage it was 50 weeks (250 episodes) behind Australia. Due to the breaks in transmission in Australia, it has been catching up in the UK ever since and is currently only 17 weeks behind. When the programme returned from its six-week break in Australia on Monday, January 15, 2007, UK viewers were only be 11 weeks behind.

Other international broadcasts

In New Zealand, the show used to be broadcast on TV 2 but now screens on TV3 on weekdays at 5:30pm, (repeated 10:30am on weekdays and an omnibus airs on Sundays at 10:15am). 1997 episodes were briefly shown on Prime TV at 3:30pm weekdays. NZ is 7 weeks behind Australia.

In Ireland the show is broadcast weekdays at 1:25pm on RTÉ One and repeated at 6:30pm on RTÉ Two regularly getting into the top 5 ratings for that week. It is approximately three months behind Australia. The show is now also repeated on RTÉ Two on Saturdays and Sundays (subject to no live sport etc.) with two episodes on Saturday and three on Sunday. Also in some cases double-episodes are seen on a Friday.

Estonia is quite behind various other countries. Currently episodes from 2002 are shown on Kanal 2 every weekday at 6:30pm. In summertime (June-August), two episodes are shown instead of one. Other countries that broadcast Home And Away include: Belgium on Kanaal Twee with a double broadcast on weekdays; Denmark; Iceland; Israel; Lithuania; Norway; Poland; Serbia; South Africa; Sweden; France.

The series is also broadcast in the following countries via the Australia Network: American Samoa; Cambodia; Cook Islands; East Timor; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Hong Kong; India; Indonesia; Japan; Kiribati; Laos; Macau; Malaysia; Maldives; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Pakistan; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Samoa; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Korea; Sri Lanka; Taiwan; Thailand; Tonga; Vanuatu; Vietnam.

Popularity

Home and Away has seen a resurgence in popularity since 2003, beginning with the Angela Russell storyline. "The Summer Bay Stalker" storyline in 2005 was another storyline that was wildly successful, attracting many new viewers to the show. The Stalker storyline was brought back in 2006, ending with an explosion at the wedding of the very popular couple, Jack Holden and Martha Mackenzie. Recently season finales have become more tragic and exciting therefore attracting a larger audience. The show also started airing more risky material in 2006 with storylines including drug use, violence and family love triangles, which proved to be popular with audience and a few times pushed the show which is normally rated G into a PG rating. In the UK the show is not rated but it has came out on DVD once with; Dani Sutherland's; Secrets in the city with episodes that originally aired in the 2002 season.

The show has often broken in to the weekly top ten most watched shows in Australia according to OzTam. The success of the show was seen at the Logie Awards of 2006 with the soap's actors winning many awards and Home and Away winning the award for outstanding Australian drama series.

The 2006 season finale aired December 1, 2006 and attracted a total audience of 1,220,000 making it the fifth most watched show in Australia on the day and the most watched soap on the day. In the UK, 2006 ended on Friday December 29th with Cassie confused between her feelings for Ric and Macca, whilst Emily's condition was worsening.

In Australia on Monday, January 15 2007 Home and Away returned for the season with an average audience of 1.53 million and peaked at 1.75 million for the night, which is up from its usually average nightly audience of 1.3 million. These figures are higher than Neighbours which attracts an average audience of 0.89 million viewers.

Theme Song

The new theme song for 2007 was recorded by Israel Cannan, who had previously appeared on the soap as 'bad boy' Wazza.

Version 1: Mark Williams and Karen Boddington (1988-1995)

Version 2: Doug Williams and Erana Clark (1995-1999)

Version 3: The Robertson Brothers (2000-2003)

Version 4: Also sung by the Robertson Brothers (2004-2006)

Version 5: Israel Cannan (2007-)

External links

Official

Fan Sites