News and Spoilers > November 2006

Channel Seven have announced that Cameron Welsh is to assume the role of series producer for Home And Away.

Cameron has been both an actor and a director on the show and his move to the role of producer places him a unique position.

He has a long standing association with the programme, having played regular cast member, Mitch McColl, for nearly 18 months before stepping into a director’s role with the programme in 2000.

His other directors credits include Channel 7’s popular medical drama, All Saints. He replaces Julie McGauran, who has successfully produced the series for the past five years.

Belinda Emmett, who played the character of Rebecca Fisher/Nash between 1996 and 1999 has died of cancer, aged 32.

Born in 1974, she got the role of Rebecca Fisher in 1996. It was whilst playing Rebecca that she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

She married Rove McManus in January 2005, before dying in Sydney on the 11th November 2006.

Coincidentally, the fourth and final actor to play Rebecca, Megan Connolly, who deputised for Belinda whilst she underwent treatment for her cancer, also died, dying from a heroin overdose during September 2001.

It is Belinda is the first Home and Away opening credit star to die, thought this can't be confirmed as we there is very little info to be found about certain actors from the earlier year.

Home and Away series producer Julie McGauran has quit the Seven Network to join Southern Star Entertainment, where she will develop new drama projects for free-to-air and pay TV.

Julie has been Home and Away's producer for the past five years, and since taking over from Russell Webb, who previously held the position, McGauran has now overseen the production of more than 1000 episodes of the hit Seven drama.

"I've loved working on Home And Away and I want to use the knowledge I've obtained there to develop and create different dramas," she says.

Before joining Home and Away, Julie also worked as part of the All Saints production team, produced Behind The Scenes of the Blue Heelers Live-to-air episode. She also produced the Back To The Bay series for the UK's Channel Five.

At Southern Star, she'll work closely with producer John Edwards (Love My Way).

Julie's departure is the latest in a string of changes within the Home and Away production team. Former Script Producer Daniel Bennett recently stepped down from his position, and has taken up a job with another network.

Whilst Bennett's replacement has already been decided, there is no word yet on who will take over the now vacant Series Producer position.