For the first time in its 38-year run, Home and Away has headed to Western Australia, kicking off filming on a special storyline that reunites two of the show’s most beloved characters – Brax and Ricky.
The episodes, produced in partnership with Tourism Western Australia, will showcase some of the state’s most striking landscapes, from Perth to the Coral Coast and the red dirt of the outback.
It’s a strategic creative move that doubles as a showcase of WA’s natural beauty, while reigniting nostalgia for long-time fans.
The return of Brax and Ricky
Fans were delighted back in August when it was revealed Stephen Peacocke and Bonnie Sveen would reprise their roles as Darryl ‘Brax’ Braxton and Erica ‘Ricky’ Sharpe – one of the show’s most popular on-screen couples.
Speaking with Mediaweek, Peacocke admitted to feeling a few nerves about stepping back into such an iconic role. “I’m a bit nervous,” he said. “I get nervous all the time. There’s never a day I come home and think, I’ve nailed that.”
Brax and Ricky were last seen driving out of Summer Bay in 2016. Now, a decade later, the new episodes promise to finally answer the question that’s lingered ever since: where did life take the pair?
Reflecting on the timing of his return, Peacocke added, “I didn’t even realise it had been 10 years, but as a kind of marker since leaving the show, it felt like the right time. It was a pretty popular storyline and a popular character that I played, so they thought it’d be great to catch up with him – to see where he’s at now that there’s a bit of water under the bridge.”
Peacocke added that the entire event felt like a homecoming of sorts. “I love playing that character so much, and I love the crew and the people I was working with,” he said.
Despite a decade of experience across film and television, he admitted he still feels a healthy dose of self-doubt on set. “I look at younger actors and really admire how confident they seem, because most of the time we’ll finish a take and the director will say it’s fine, and I’ll still be asking, ‘Are you sure that worked?’” he laughed.
Still, he’s determined to give fans the reunion they’ve been waiting for. “There’s an audience that really wants to see this, and I just want to make it as good as it can be, and I’m sure it will be.”
While storyline details remain tightly under wraps, the production marks a milestone for Seven, with Home and Away filming in Western Australia for the first time.
The partnership with Tourism Western Australia positions the long-running drama as both a cultural export and a visual ambassador for the state.