Home and Away 168455 226072332 2008-07-16T18:29:15Z Bykergrove 5455091 {{Articleissues|refimprove=May 2008|copyedit=May 2008}} {{Infobox Television | show_name = Home and Away | image = [[Image:Home and Away Logo.jpg|295px]] | caption = 2007 - ''present'' opening credits | show_name_2 = | genre = [[Soap opera]] | creator = Alan Bateman | writer = | director = | creative_director = | developer = | presenter = | starring = See [[Home and Away#Cast|cast]] | voices = | narrated = | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = Home and Away - Luke Dolahenty | endtheme = Home and Away - Luke Dolahenty | composer = | country = [[Australia]] | language = [[English language|English]] | num_seasons = 21<!--This has been confirmed by the Seven Network; please refrain from changing to 20 as it is incorrect and reflects upon the site as poor research.--> <small>[Current 2008 Season]<small> | num_episodes = 4685 [as of [[18 July]] [[2008]]] | list_episodes = | executive_producer = John Holmes | co_exec = | producer = [[Cameron Welsh]] | supervising_producer = | asst_producer = | co-producer = | editor = | story_editor = | location = | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = 22 minutes <small>[Approx.] | network = [[Seven Network]] | picture_format = [[PAL]] ([[576i]]),<br>[[1080i]] ([[HDTV]]) | audio_format = | first_run = | first_aired = [[17 January]] [[1988]] | last_aired = present | preceded_by = | followed_by = | website = http://www.homeandaway.com.au | production_website = | imdb_id = 0094481 | tv_com_id = 1580 }} '''''Home and Away''''' (also commonly abbreviated in writing to '''''H&A''''') is a [[Logie Award]]-winning [[Australia]]n [[soap opera]] that is produced in [[Sydney]] by the [[Seven Network]] since July 1987. It premiered on [[17 January]] [[1988]] and is now one of the longest-running series on Australian television. The show initially focused on the characters of [[Pippa Ross|Pippa]] and [[Tom Fletcher (Home and Away)|Tom Fletcher]] who ran the Summer Bay Caravan Park and lived there with a succession of foster children, most notably their adopted daughter [[Sally Fletcher|Sally]] ([[Kate Ritchie]]), but the show has expanded and now focuses on the Stewart family along with the rest of the residents of [[Summer Bay]]. Home and Away is the most successful television series in Australian history, having won 31 Logie Awards since 1988. It took this title at the 2008 Logie Awards where the show won an impressive four awards. == History == [[Image:TheDiner2.jpg|thumb|left|260px|The Surf Club's Outside Eating Area]] In 1985 the [[Seven Network]] axed the poorly-rating soap ''[[Neighbours]]''<ref name="tvweek">[http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=157712 "Home and Away"]. ''tvweek.ninemsn.com.au''. Retrieved [[October 31]] [[2007]].</ref>, but they were unaware that [[Network Ten]], a rival [[television network]], was in talks with the production team to air the soap on their network in 1986. When ''Neighbours'' returned to television on Network Ten in 1986, it initially attracted low ratings.<ref>Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 1-86403-191-3 p 208</ref> The Network worked hard to publicise ''Neighbours''<ref>Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 1-86403-191-3 p 208-9</ref> and their hard work was paid off when its popularity grew, by the end of 1987 it was attracting high ratings in Australia.<ref>Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. ISBN 1-86403-191-3 p 231</ref>In October 1986, ''Neighbours'' started to broadcast in the UK, where it began to attract strong viewing figures. In late 1986, Network Seven's head of drama, [[Alan Bateman]] was tasked with creating a pilot for a soap opera that was in no way a copy of ''Neighbours''. Bateman soon found his inspiration when he stopped in [[Kangaroo Point, New South Wales]] on a family outing. Chatting to locals, Bateman discovered that the townspeople were angered over the construction of a home for foster children from the city. Seeing the degree of conflict the plan for the new youth centre had produced within the community, Bateman recognised the drama that could be generated by this situation and began to develop it as the basis for the new soap opera.<ref name="Home and Away">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A25436685 "Home and Away"]. ''bbc.co.uk''. Retrieved December 8, 2007.</ref> ==Storylines== The soap originally centered around [[Pippa Ross]] ([[Debra Lawrance]]) and foster children, right up until Pippa's departure in 1998. Notable foster children include [[Bobby Marshall (Home and Away)|Bobby Simpson]] ([[Nicolle Dickson]]), [[Sophie Simpson]] ([[Rebekah Elmaloglou]]), [[Carly Lucini]] ([[Sharyn Hodgson]]), [[Steven Matheson]] ([[Adam Willits]]), [[Shannon Reed]] ([[Isla Fisher]]), [[Justine Welles]] ([[Bree Desborough]]), and one of the longest-serving cast members, [[Kate Ritchie]] who has grown up on screen as [[Sally Fletcher]]. The Stewart family was also featured since the series' premiere. Town veteran [[Alf Stewart]] ([[Ray Meagher]]) lived in the bay with his daughter [[Roo Stewart]] ([[Justine Clark]]) and sisters Celia ([[Fiona Spence]]) and [[Morag Bellingham|Morag]] ([[Cornelia Frances]]). He married [[Ailsa Hogan]] ([[Judy Nunn]]) in 1988 and this couple was a mainstay in the show up until Ailsa's death in 2000. From 2000-2004 the show centered around the highly dramatic Sutherland family, who provided many storylines, including a mine shaft collapse, long-lost children, switched-at-birth babies, a sexual assault, criminal charges, and fake miscarriages. 2003 saw the emergence of the Hunter family and the eventual merging of these two families through the marriage of [[Rhys Sutherland]] and [[Beth Hunter]]. Since the divorce of Rhys and Beth, the Sutherland-Hunter clan has seen its numbers dwindle in the Bay; [[Matilda "Mattie" Hunter|Matilda Hunter]] ([[Indiana Evans]]) is the sole remaining member. In 2004, the show returned to its roots with [[Sally Fletcher]] and her now late husband [[Flynn Saunders]] ([[Joel McIlroy]]) fostering children at Sally's childhood home; Summer Bay House, in a similar arc to how Pippa once fostered Sally herself. The fostered children included Alf's long-lost grandson [[Eric "Ric" Dalby|Ric Dalby]] ([[Mark Furze]]) and orphan [[Cassie Turner]] ([[Sharni Vinson]]). 2005 saw Summer Bay in the clutches of the ''Summer Bay Stalker'' and Sally was later kidnapped by Zoe (aka Eve Jacobsen). Zoe was revealed to have a connection to Sarah Lewis, a psychopath who had the year before shot and killed Summer Bay local [[Noah Lawson]] ([[Beau Brady]]) and then herself. Zoe later returned in 2006 to wreak havoc on [[Jack Holden]] ([[Paul O'Brien]]) and [[Martha Mackenzie]]'s ([[Jodi Gordon]]) wedding, injuring many but was killed herself. In early 2006, Flynn died from skin cancer, with Alf Stewart moving in to help run the Caravan Park. Sally later found love with [[Brad Armstrong]] ([[Chris Sadrinna]]). In the 2006 season finale she was stabbed; a culmination of Sally fostering a young teen, Rocco, whose family had connections to gangs and who pressured him to rid Sally from their lives. By the end of 2006, Jack and Martha had also separated. As 2007 drew to a close, [[Dan Baker]] ([[Tim Campbell (actor)|Tim Campbell]]) departed Summer Bay (Dan was later killed offscreen in February 2008), Brad Armstrong left Summer Bay for a teaching job in Tasmania along with his half-sister Tamsyn and her mother Heather McCabe, while Jack and his new love Sam were wed, despite there being unresolved feelings between Jack and Martha, his ex-wife. Meanwhile, Ric's relationship with Matilda was all but over after newcomer Viv Anderson, who successfully lured Ric from her, fell pregnant with Ric's child. Matilda found out at Jack and Sam's wedding, and told Ric to stay out of her life for good. In 2008, [[Sally Fletcher]] ([[Kate Ritchie]]) who has been in [[Summer Bay]] for 20 years departed with daughter Pippa.[[Lucas Holden]] ([[Rhys Wakefield]] left for university, [[Cassie Turner]] ([[Sharni Vinson]]) also left with Sally & Pippa. [[Sam Holden]] ([[Jessica Chapnik]]) helped Summer Bay villain [[Johnny Cooper]] get back on his feet and ended up murdering him, she also committed suicide and made it look like murder.[[Drew Curtis]] ([[Bobby Morley]]) left Summer Bay.[[Jazz Curtis]] ([[Rachel Gordon]]) returned on a recurring basis but left again in May 2008. ==Cast== {{main|List of Home and Away characters}} === Current cast members === {{main|List of current Home and Away characters}} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Actor !! Character !! Duration |- | Esther Anderson || Charlie Buckton || 2008- |- | Charlotte Best || Annie Campbell || 2007- |- | Rebecca Breeds || Ruby Buckton || 2008- |- | [[Conrad Coleby]] || Roman Harris || 2007- |- | [[Lyn Collingwood]] || [[Colleen Smart]] || 1988-1989, 1997, 1999- |- | [[Indiana Evans]] || Matilda Hunter || 2004-2008 |- | [[Mark Furze]] || Ric Dalby || 2004-2008 |- | [[Jodi Gordon]] || Martha Mackenzie || 2005- |- | [[Luke Jacobz]] || Angelo Rosetta || 2008- |- | [[Tessa James]] || [[Nicole Franklin]] || 2008- |- | [[Todd Lasance]] || Aden Jefferies || 2005, 2007- |- | [[Lincoln Lewis]] || Geoff Campbell || 2007- |- | [[Amy Mathews]] || Dr. Rachel Armstrong || 2006- |- | [[Lynne McGranger]] || [[Irene Roberts]] || 1992- |- | [[Ray Meagher]] || [[Alf Stewart]] || 1988- |- | [[Ada Nicodemou]] || Leah Patterson-Baker || 2000- |- | [[Paul O'Brien]] || Jack Holden || 2005- |- | Paul Pantano || Elliot Gillien || 2008- |- | [[Jordan Rodrigues]] ||[[Jai Fernandez]] || 2008- |- | [[Jon Sivewright]] || Tony Holden || 2005- |- | [[Josh Quong Tart]] || Miles Copeland || 2007- |- | [[Jessica Tovey]] || [[Belle Taylor]] || 2006- |} ===Recurring cast members=== {{main|Recurring characters of Home and Away}} {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Actor !! Character |- | [[Bob Baines]] || Martin Bartlett |- | [[Oliver Davis]] || Oliver Phillips |- | Felix Dean || V.J. Patterson |- | [[Cornelia Frances]] || Morag Buckton |- | David Downer || Ross Buckton |- | Paul Gleeson || [[Larry Jefferies]] |- | [[Christie Hayes]] || [[Kirsty Phillips]] |- | Lisa Hayson-Phillips || Nurse Julie Cooper |} ===Notable former cast members=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Actor !! Role !! Duration |- | [[Simon Baker]] || James Healey || 1994 |- | [[Chris Egan]] || [[Nick Smith (Home and Away)|Nick Smith]] <small>(#2)</small> || 2000-2003 |- | [[Isla Fisher]] || [[Shannon Reed]] || 1994-1997 |- | [[Melissa George]] || [[Angel Parrish]] || 1993-1996 |- | [[Daniel Goddard]] || Eric Phillips || 1994-1995 |- | [[Bec Hewitt]] || [[Hayley Lawson]] <small>(#1)</small> || 1998-2005 |- | [[Heath Ledger]] || Scott Irwin || 1997 <small>(guest)</small> |- | [[Justin Melvey]] || Harry Reynolds || 1999-2001 |- | [[Tammin Sursok]] || [[Dani Sutherland]] || 2000-2004 |- | [[Kate Ritchie]] || [[Sally Fletcher]] || 1988-2008 |- | [[Naomi Watts]] || Julie Gibson || 1991 |} ===Deceased cast members=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Actor !! Role !! Duration !! Year of death !! Source |- | [[Megan Connolly]] || [[Rebecca Nash]] || 1998 <small>(temporary recast)</small> || 2001 || |- | [[Gwen Plumb]] || Doris Peters || 1988 <small>(guest)</small> || 2002 || |- | [[Belinda Emmett]] || [[Rebecca Nash]] || 1996-1999 || 2006 || |- | [[Richard Morgan (actor)|Richard Morgan]] || Donahue || 1989 <small>(guest)</small> || 2006 || |- | [[Heath Ledger]] || Scott Irwin || 1997 <small>(guest)</small> || 2008 ||<ref name="News.com.au">[http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23095476-948,00.html "Heath Ledger's autopsy results 10 days away"]. ''http://www.news.com.au''. Retrieved [[February 19]] [[2007]].</ref> |} ==Production and 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. There are an average of eight weeks between shooting and airing the program. All interiors for the show are filmed at [[ATN-7|Seven Sydney]]'s [[Epping, New South Wales|Epping]] studios. The exterior scenes are filmed on location mainly at [[Palm Beach, New South Wales|Palm Beach]] and at Fisherman's Beach, [[Collaroy]] in Sydney's [[Northern Beaches (Sydney)|Northern Beaches]] region. ==={{AUS}} on ''[[Channel Seven|Seven]]''=== [[Image:JodiGordonfilming.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Jodi Gordon]] and Ben Guernens during filming]] ''Home and Away'' is broadcast in Australia on weekdays at 7:00 p.m. The show airs for 46 weeks each year (except for occasions where worldwide events take priority such as the [[Olympic Games]]). It is unknown whether the [[2008 Olympics|Bejing 2008 Olympics in China]] will continue with this tradition or change it. Continuing is quite possible, because when the show airs in [[Australia]], it is 5.00pm in [[Bejing]], meaning that the olympics is more than likely to be playing at that time. However, as well as a possible break off, it is also possible that the schedule may change, and [[Home and Away]] may temporarily air in a different slot for the duration of the Olympics, before returning to its normal slot thereafter. Each new season usually begins on the second Monday in January, and the season finale airs on the last Friday of November (the 2006 season started and finished one week later than this schedule). The 2008 season began on [[January 28]] with episode 4561. The show rates extraordinarily well and is consistently the highest rating programme in its time slot, usually receiving between 1.3 and 1.8 million viewers per episode (nightly). In special circumstances, storylines have the ability to attract a national audience of well over 2 million. Since [[Kate Richie]]'s depature from the soap, viewiership has decreased slightly. H & A now averages 1.2 million a night. ==={{BEL}} on 2BE=== The show has been showing in [[Flanders]] (northern [[Belgium]], with [[Dutch language]] subtitles) since [[Kanaal Twee]] ([[VTM]]'s commercial sister channel, renamed [[2BE (TV channel)|2BE]] in 2008) opened in 1995. Episodes currently being shown aired in Australia in September 2006. The show originally aired once a day at 6.30pm (5.30pm GMT and 4.30am Sydney), but since January 2008 airs twice a day; currently each 25 minute episode first shows at 5.55pm (4.55pm GMT and 1.55am (3.55am between October and March) Sydney) and is repeated the next day about 1.30pm (12.30pm GMT and 9.30pm Sydney (late March/Early April-late October) in some cases the time in Sydney could be 11.30pm (Late October/Early November- late March). The next episode scheduled to run is episode 4346 which aired in [[Australia]] on [[5 February]] [[2007]] and in the [[UK]] on [[April 20]] [[2007]]. === {{IRL}} on ''[[RTÉ One]]'' and [[RTÉ Two]]'' === In Ireland, the national state broadcaster RTÉ has shown the programme since its inception. In Ireland, the show airs every day of the week, but there are no new episodes on Saturdays or Sundays. New episodes air at 1.25pm-1.55pm most weekdays, but on special occasions such as Christmas, episodes have been known to start airing as early as 11.15am. The Omnibus unlike the way [[Five (channel)|Five]] airs it is played over two days. The 2008 season commenced in Ireland on [[4 March]] at 1.25pm on [[RTÉ One]]. It is 7 weeks (35 episodes behind Australia), it was originally 6 weeks 1 day (31 episodes) to start with, but due to [[Five]] having the rights to premiere the show in [[Europe]] and them taking 3 days off, it has meant that [[RTE]] will also be behind. Dublin City University students set up their very own Home and Away society in 2006 which garnered a huge response from DCU students. One of the societies biggest achievements was meeting Ray Meagher who plays one of Summer Bay's most important residents, Alf Stewart.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ==={{NZ}} on ''[[TV3 (New Zealand)]]''=== Episodes of Home and Away currently screen in New Zealand on Channel 3 weekdays at 5:30pm (with replays on 11am the following morning, and a week's worth of omnibus from 10:15am on Sunday). Current New Zealand episodes are 6 weeks (30 episodes) behind Australia. [[New Zealand]] is currently 6/7 episodes ahead of the [[UK]], (1 for Cable and the other for analogue), meaning that when the show returns for the first time ever, the [[UK]] will be ahead of [[New Zealand]] by 2-3 episodes, whereas [[Ireland]] will be approximately a week behind [[New Zealand]] instead of 3 weeks behind. [[New Zealand]] episodes from [[21 July]] onwards will now be 8 weeks (40 episodes) behind Australia due to it being off air for the 2 week holidays and replaced by [[The Simpsons]], however this is the first time Home and Away has had a break during the school holidays. ==={{UK}} on ''[[ITV]]'' and ''[[Five (channel)|Five]]''=== <div id="toc" style="float: right; margin-left: 2em; font-size: 95%"> '''Five and Fiver's current schedule:''' {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan=2 | Day ! [[Fiver (channel)|Fiver]] ! colspan=2 | [[Five (channel)|Five]] ! Fiver |- ! 10.30am<sup>[[#fn †|†]]</sup>!! 2.15pm !! 6.00pm !! 6.30pm<sup>[[#fn †|†]]</sup> |- | Monday | style="background:#FFEEEE" align="center" | E | style="background:#FFFFEE" align="center" | A | style="background:#FFFFEE" align="center" | A | style="background:#EEFFEE" align="center" | B |- | Tuesday | style="background:#FFFFEE" align="center" | A | style="background:#EEFFEE" align="center" | B | style="background:#EEFFEE" align="center" | B | style="background:#EEFFFF" align="center" | C |- | Wednesday | style="background:#EEFFEE" align="center" | B | style="background:#EEFFFF" align="center" | C | style="background:#EEFFFF" align="center" | C | style="background:#FFEEFF" align="center" | D |- | Thursday | style="background:#EEFFFF" align="center" | C | style="background:#FFEEFF" align="center" | D | style="background:#FFEEFF" align="center" | D | style="background:#FFEEEE" align="center" | E |- | Friday | style="background:#FFEEFF" align="center" | D | style="background:#FFEEEE" align="center" | E | style="background:#FFEEEE" align="center" | E | style="background:#FFFFEE" align="center" | A |- | Saturday | colspan=5 align="center" | Omnibus edition on Fiver<sup>[[#fn †|†]][[#fn *|*]]</sup> |- | Sunday | colspan=5 align="center" | No episodes (new or old) air |} *{{fnb|†}} Timeshifted by an hour on Fiver+1 *{{fnb|*}} Times vary </div> [[Home and Away]] first appeared on British Screens on [[ITV]] (now known as [[ITV1]]) in 1989. It remained on the channel for the first 11 and a half years of its British history, showing episodes 1-2840. The last episode on [[ITV]] aired on [[Thursday]] [[June 8]], [[2000]]. [[Five]], the [[BBC]] and [[Channel 4]] were at a table meeting in [[February]] [[2000]] to discuss the future of the show on [[United Kingdom|British]] television. The show's contract with [[ITV]] ended four months after this discussion because they had been outbid by [[Five]], who subsequently acquired [[Neighbours]], from the [[BBC]], seven years later. The Hiatus had began at 5.35pm on [[Thursday]] [[June 8]], [[2000]] after episode 2840 had finished its daily repeat. At the time, [[ITV]] were 9 episodes behind Australia, hence the reason for the regular breaks at Christmas and Easter. The Hiatus had finished at 6.01pm on the evening of [[Monday]] [[July 16]], [[2001]] when [[Five]] had began showing episode 2841. Episodes were broadcast 50 weeks (250 episodes) behind the [[Seven Network]], where episode 3091 had been shown that day. As there was a two-week break in Australia for the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] and a seven-week break the following Christmas and New Year, the episodes broadcast in the UK were 59 weeks behind their original airing date. Each episode was repeated on [[Five]] the following day at 12.30pm, although this later changed to 12pm. There have only been 14 instances when the show hasn't been shown on [[Five]]. In order to catch up with Australia, it was broadcast on [[Five]] every weekday (including during the Christmas and New Year period) for 303 consecutive weeks from [[Monday]] [[July 16]], [[2001]] (episode 2841) until [[Friday]] [[May 4]], [[2007]] (episode 4355). Subsequently, it hasn't been shown on Bank Holidays or during the Christmas and New Year period. The next date no episodes are expected to be aired on is on [[August 25]] [[2008]] to make way for special ''[[Bank Holiday]]'' programming. No episodes were shown on the following dates: 2007: [[Monday]] [[May 7]]; [[Monday]] [[May 28]]; [[Monday]] [[August 27]]; [[Monday]] [[December 24]]; [[Tuesday]] [[December 25]]; [[Wednesday]] [[December 26]]; [[Thursday]] [[December 27]]; [[Friday]] [[December 28]]; [[Monday]] [[December 31]]. 2008: [[Tuesday]] [[January 1]]; [[Friday]] [[March 21]]; [[Monday]] [[March 24]]; [[Monday]] [[May 5]]; [[Monday]] [[May 26]]. [[Monday]] [[August 4]]-[[Monday]] [[August 25]] (inclusive), [[Monday]] [[December 22]]- [[Wednesday]] [[December 31]] (inclusive) 2009: [[Thursday]] [[January 1]], [[Friday]] [[January 5]] [[*]] Note 1: The reason as to why the show is taking it's first summer break of three weeks (the same reason as it was in New Zealand, also) is because of the production team taking that amount of time out of filming for their summer (winter in Australia & New Zealand) break. It is not known if [[Five]] will be removing ''[[Neighbours]]'' for that reason [[*]] Note 2: The show is being taken off on [[December 19]] and returning on [[January 5]] as it had done last year to avoid loss of viewers over the christmas period. It is likely that transmissions of ''[[Neighbours]]'' will be affected by this, also. [[Home and Away]] was first shown on Five Life (now [[Fiver]]) on [[Monday]] [[October 16]] [[2006]], the day after the channel's launch. It began with episode 4212, which was first shown on [[Five]] the following day and repeated the day after. This episode was shown in Australia on [[Tuesday]] [[June 20]], [[2006]]. By this time, [[Five]] was 85 episodes (17 weeks) behind Australia, whilst Five Life (now [[Fiver]]) was 84 episodes behind. The final lunchtime repeat, to be broadcast on [[Five]], was on [[Friday]] [[February 8]], [[2008]]. The following episode, shown later that day in the 6pm teatime slot, was only broadcast once. When [[Five]] began showing [[Neighbours]] on [[Monday]] [[February 11]], [[2008]], the lunchtime episode changed its timeslot from 12pm to 2.15pm and it was the first of the episode's two daily transmissions on [[Five]]. The repeat was shown in the teatime timeslot for the first time later that day at 6pm. Episodes currently being shown on [[Five]] and [[Fiver]] in the UK and are approximately six weeks behind Australia with [[Five]] 29 episodes behind and [[Fiver]] 28 episodes behind. If these breaks in transmission had not occurred, [[Five]] would be only 15 episodes behind (3 weeks) and Fiver 14 episodes behind. The reason why [[Five]] has had these breaks is so viewers don't have to wait too long for the 2009 season. According to a [[BBC]] news report found in [[July 17]], [[2001]], the return of [[Home and Away]] had given [[Five]] its best audience to date at the time. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1443511.stm</ref> ===Elsewhere in the world=== During the 1990s, [[Home and away]] was a runaway hit in [[Canada]] and saw audience figures that [[Neighbours]] would never see over there. However, it doesn't show there anymore, likewise with the [[USA]], which just like [[Neighbours]], [[Home and away]] had only lasted for 6 weeks because of competition from other afternoon soaps such as [[The Bold and The Beautiful]] and [[Days of our Lives]] Due to phenomenal public demand, Canadian television networks are locked in a battle for current broadcasting rights. This ultimately means that Home and Away will return to television screens across Canada in the not too distant future. Similar discussions have also been occurring amongst the major U.S. networks. It has been suggested that a commercial relaunch of the show throughout North America is on the cards following its consistent primetime success in Australia. The Seven Network has welcomed this support announcing that expansion into the international market will allow for a larger production budget (and ultimately better viewing). ==Theme song== [[Image:Homeandawayfilming.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Indiana Evans]], [[Mark Furze]] and the crew during filming]] The theme's lyrics have remained the same since the pilot episode, but have been gradually reduced in length to keep newer versions of the song at a shorter length. The theme was [[Home and Away (theme song)|released as a single]] in the UK in 1989 and peaked at #73 on the UK single charts. <ref name="song">[http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=16783 "Home And Away single"]. ''www.chartstats.com''. Retrieved [[October 31]] [[2007]].</ref> The single track includes the opening and closing themes and an additional saxophone section. Since the launch of the 1995 version of the theme tune, extracts from the second verse of the full-length soundtrack have been used to close the show, as opposed to an edited version of the opening song which was used until this point. The theme was shortened in 1996, and again in 2004. The current theme was recorded by 20-year-old actor and musician Luke Dolahenty. Originally, [[Israel Cannan]] sang the theme in early 2007, but due to complaints from fans, Network Seven decided to re-record it, making it the shortest running theme song in the program history. In the first part episode of the two-parter where [[Sally Fletcher]] left Summer Bay in 2008, an softer Piano instrumental of the theme was played. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Version ! Artist ! Duration |- | [[Home and Away#Version 1|1]] | Mark Williams & Karen Boddington | 1988-1995 |- | [[Home and Away#Version 2|2]] | Doug Williams & Erana Clark | 1995-1999 |- | [[Home and Away#Version 3|3]] | [[The Robertson Brothers]] | 2000-2003 |- | [[Home and Away#Version 4|4]] | [[The Robertson Brothers]] | 2004-2006 |- | [[Home and Away#Version 5|5]] | [[Israel Cannan]] |2007 |- | [[Home and Away#Version 6|6]] | Luke Dolahenty |2007 - ''present'' |} ==Merchandise== Books & Annuals: {| class="wikitable sortable" !Name !! Release Date/Year !! Type Of Annual/Book |- |Home and Away Annual || 1989 || Annual |- |Home and Away Special || 1989 || Annual |- |Home and Away Annual || 1990 || Annual |- |Home and Away Special || 1990 || Annual |- |The Official Home and Away Annual || 1992 || Annual |- |Home and Away Annual Authorized Edition || 1992 || Annual |- |Home and Away: Behind The Scenes || 1989 || Book |- |The [[Frank Morgan (Home and Away)|Frank Morgan ]] Story || 1989 || Book |- |The [[Carly Lucini| Carly Morris]] & [[Steven Matheson]] Stories || 1989 || Book |- |The [[Bobby Marshall (Home and Away)|Bobby Simpson Story]] || 1989 || Book |- |The Matt Wilson Story || 1989 || Book |- |Home and Away: Carly's Crisis || 1989 || Book |- |Home and Away: Bobby & Frank || 1989 || Book |- |Home and Away: 2 In 1 || 1990 || Book |- |Home and Away: Dangerous Ride || 1989 || Book |- |Family Matters || 1990 || Book |- |Home and Away Volume 1: Summer Bay Blues || 1990 || Book |- |Home and Away Volume 2: Scandal At Summer Bay || 1990 || Book |- |Hearts Divided (Novel) || 2003 || Book |- |Dani On Trial || 2004 || Book |- |Prisoner No. 2549971 || 2004 || Book |- |A Place In The Bay || October 2004 || Book |- |The Long Goodbye || November 2004 || Book |- |Mayday || June 2005 || Book |- |Second Chances || September 2005 || Book |} DVD, VHS & Soundtracks: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name !! Release Date/Year !! Type Of Annual/Book |- | Classic Home and Away|| 1993 ||VHS |- | Home and Away: The Official Summer Bay Special|| 1996|| VHS |- | Home and Away: Secrets And The City || 2003 || VHS/DVD |- | Home and Away: Hearts Divided || 2003 || VHS/DVD |- | Home and Away: Romances <small>(Includes Pilot Episode)<small> || 2005 || DVD |- | Home and Away: Weddings || 2006 || DVD |- | Home and Away Hits || 2002 || Soundtrack |- | Home and Away Hits 2 || 2003 || Soundtrack |} Other: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name !! Release Date/Year !! Type Of Annual/Book |- | Fan Cards || 1988 - present || Cards |- | The Game Of Home and Away || ??? || Board Game |- | Home and Away The Magazine: Issue 1|| 1993 - 1994 || Magazine |- | Home and Away Calendar || 2005 || Calendar |} == Awards and accolades == {{main|List of Home and Away awards}} ''Home and Away'' has been nominated for, and won numerous awards throughout its twenty year broadcast history. Most notably, the show has won 31 [[Logie Award]]s making it the most successful television series in Australian history. [[Image:SurfClubSign.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Surf Club Sign]] === Australian Nominees and awards === === Digital Spy Soap Awards === The first set of nominations the [[UK]] has nominated for ''Home and Away'' 2008 were the [[Digital Spy]] Soap awards. ''Home and Away'' was up for 12 out of 14 awards- the most in the UK ''Home and Away'' has ever been nominated for. However, ''Home and Away'' obtained no awards. Here are the categories ''Home and Away'' was elected for. * Best Soap- beaten by ''[[Eastenders]]'' * Best Actor- [[Ray Meagher]], (Alf) (nominee)- Beaten by [[James Sutton]], ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' * Best Actress- [[Kate Ritchie]], (Sally) (nominee)- Beaten by [[Jo Joyner]], ''Eastenders'' * Best Single Episode- Disaster at Sea, (aired in UK October 2007- the episode where Brad is turned down by Sally, and the boat disappears) - Beaten by ''Eastenders'' * Storyline of the year- Kelli's revenge (nominee)- Beaten by ''Hollyoaks'' * Best on screen Partnership- Martha and Jack (nominee)- Beaten by ''Eastenders'' * Villain of the year- Kelli Vale (nominee)- Beaten by ''[[Coronation Street]]'' * Best Newcomer- Jazz Curtis (nominee)- Beaten by ''Eastenders'' * Best child actor- [[Ed Wills]] (Rory Tolhurst) (nominee)- Beaten by ''Hollyoaks'' * Sexiest Male- [[Mark Furze]] (Ric Dalby) (nominee)- Beaten by ''Eastenders'' * Sexiest Female- [[Jodi Gordon]] (Martha) (nominee)- Beaten by ''Hollyoaks'' * Best Exit- [[Kim Hyde]] (Chris Hemsworth) (nominee)- Beaten by ''Hollyoaks'' === British Soap Awards === ''Home and Away'', for the 7th year (out of 10), has not been nominated for any awards at the [[British Soap Awards]]. ==Classic showings in the [[UK]]== Although, ITV are allowed to show episodes 1-2840 (episodes which aired between [[January 17]], [[1988]] and [[May 30]] [[2000]] in [[Australia]]), [[ITV]] had only decided to play. During the year-long absence of new episodes during the move, [[ITV]] had decided to fill the void by airing 2 episodes per day on sister channel [[ITV 2]], from late 2000, with classic episodes from 1996-7 airing. [[Home and away]] on this channel was given a slightly earlier slot than what it had enjoyed on [[ITV 1]] (where it was 1.25pm-1.55pm most days ([[ITV]] always aired early as they didn't want a ratings war with [[Neighbours]] as the results of Daytime TV were already low) of 1.00pm-2.00pm, 5 days a week. When new episodes recommenced airing on [[Five]] on [[July 16]], [[2001]], [[ITV 2]] had a completely new revised schedule, and had [[Home and away]] gradually removed from it by early 2002. [[Living]] had then purchased the rights to air the show. However, on both [[Living]] and it's timeshift channel, the show was not fareing well in its mid-morning and mid-afternoon slots (when it was repeated.) (episodes from 1988-1991 were used on this channel and later episodes from 1996-1998), and bosses had decided to put the episodes on at 1.30AM. This had completely dropped numbers even more, as most viewers would be in bed at that time. [[Living]] then decided to axe the show, but then in [[2003]] Teen Channel [[Trouble]] had picked it up. It wasn't enjoying the same ratings it was having with classic [[Hollyoaks]] episodes, and therefore was ditched in a short amount of time. In [[2007]], [[Five Life]]- (now known as [[Fiver]]) began reairing episodes 2841+ (they are not allowed any prior to that as they are still in contract to [[ITV 1]]). Episodes ceased airing on [[December 28]] [[2007]] as with airing 2 episodes per day, it was calculated that within a 3 year timeslot these "classic" episodes would be up-to-date with the present storyline. The episode they finished with was the 2001 season finale. It is not known when the show will be returning, but it is likely to be returning at some stage in 2009 with the 2002 premiere. ==Sources and References== {{Reflist|2}} * [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094481/ IMDb page] [[Category:Australian television soap operas]] [[Category:Seven Network shows]] [[Category:1988 Australian television series debuts]] [[Category:Television shows set in New South Wales]] [[fr:Summer Bay]] [[ga:Home and Away]] [[he:קרוב רחוק]] [[nl:Home and Away]] [[no:Home and Away]] [[nn:Home and Away]] [[simple:Home and Away]] [[sv:Home and away]] [[vls:Home and away]]