News and Spoilers > April 2007

Home and Away star Tim Campbell will be appearing with his 'Dancing with the Stars' partner Natalie Lowe on John Rowe's Lounge Room Live at Sydney's Seymour Centre on Wednesday 9th May.

Tim and Natalie will be talking about their time on 'Dancing with the Stars' and there will be gossip from the set of Home and Away aswell as Tim's behind the scenes rundown on the Logies. Tim will also be singing live with the band on the evening.

If you are interested in going to see it, and get up close and personal with the stars, the details are as follows:

John Rowe's LOUNGE ROOM LIVE
Wed 9th May
8.30pm
Seymour Centre Sydney
Tix: $25 adult, $20 concession
Bookings: 9351 7940

People of all ages are welcome and you're sure to be in for a good time!

Many thanks to John for getting in touch and letting us know! For more information visit www.johnrowe.com.au

Home and Away's Kate Ritchie (Sally) will replace Tereasa Livingstone as a host in the upcoming second series of Seven's karaoke competition, It Takes Two, in her first major TV role away from the Summer Bay set. Grant Denyer will return as Kate's co-host.

Kate's first television presenting role comes just months after she began a radio hosting role with Nova FM, co-hosting their drive time show in Sydney and Melbourne - The Akmal Show with Kate Ritchie.

Being based in Sydney, the co-host gig will mean Kate will have to fly to Melbourne each week where the series of filmed, a chore she is quite used to after appearing on the show as a contestant in the previous series.

It's been a big year for Kate who is again nominated for the Gold Logie, the winner to be announced next Sunday, May 6th. Betting agency CentreBet currently place her as the second favourite to win the Gold, behind Rove McManus.

It Takes Two premieres Tuesday, May 8th, replacing Dancing with the Stars.

Despite coming joint first with the judges, a fantastic score of 72, and being the runaway favourite with the bookies, Tim Campbell and his partner Natalie Lowe were voted off Dancing with The Stars last night and will not be appearing in the grand final next week. The judges and the audience did not quite believe it. Tim has been spectacular throughout the series.

Bobby Morley (Drew) is to appear on the second series of Australia's "It Takes Two" programme. The show pairs up celebrities with professional singers/singing coaches and gets them to perform weekly in order to impress a panel of judges and the general public and avoid elimination.

The first series saw Home and Away stars Mark Furze (Ric), Kate Ritchie (Sally) and Judy Nunn (Ailsa) take part, though the series was eventually won by model Erika Heynatz.

Bobby will be singing with Jade MacRae. MacRae and her partner Michael Bevan were the fourth couple to be eliminated when the first season aired last year.

The show is currently in pre-production, and will begin on May 8th 2007.

The start of the 2007 season brought with it a brand new version of Home and Away's famous theme tune, sung by Israel Cannan. However, it was badly received by many of the show's fans, who disliked the theme's new vocal arrangement.

Thus, after just three months on the air, the theme tune was re-recorded, with new vocals by 20-year-old actor and musician Luke Dolahenty.

The new arrangement hit Australian screens today, and is reminiscent of the original version of the show's theme tune, with many of our forum members noting the similarity between the voices of Mark Williams (singer of the 89-95 theme) and Luke Dolahenty.

So far, the theme has had a lukewarm reception by members of our forum, but the majority seem to agree that it's an improvement over the version it proceeds.

Home and Away star Gyton Grantley (aka James Dalton) aims to take a seat on Virgin Galactic when it launches in 2008. The project, headed by Richard Branson, transports travellers 100km above the earth and allows them to experience weightlessness.

However, that's not all. In a bizarre plan of action, he wants you to pay for his flight! He's set up a website, Send Gy To Space, with which he aims to raise the money to pay for the $200,000 ticket.

Not all the money goes directly to him though. The website claims that 10% of the ticket cost, and any excess money donated, will be given to the Starlight Foundation, which helps to bring joy to sick children.

"I belong there, in the stratosphere. Circling the earth in zero gravity and being at one with the cosmos" says Grantley, who claims to have dreamed of being an astronaut since he was a little boy.

Following negative viewer feedback, the vocals to the Home and Away theme song have been revamped for the second time this year.

The current version of the theme song, performed by Israel Cannan, lasted less then three months after receiving a largely negative response from fans, with the majority of members on our forums disliking the new vocal arrangement.

Following a review by the production team and Seven management, the theme song has been re-recorded with new vocals. However, producers have decided to stick with the same style of a solo young male singer.

The new version is sung by 20-year-old actor and musician, Luke Dolahenty and will be heard on air for the first time from next Monday in Australia.

Discuss the changes here.

Cameron Welsh and Julie McGuaran, the current and the former series producer for Home And Away were married last week in Sydney. They met when Cameron was playing the role of Mitch in the late 1990's. Cam then went on to be first a director, and now the series producer. Julie is working for Southern Star as a producer. The rest as they say is history. Kate Ritchie was a bridesmaid and most of the cast attended.

We reported on Saturday that Jodi Gordon and Paul O'Brien would be appearing at Martin Place this Easter Monday. Jodi had to pull out, but Sharni Vinson (Cassie Turner) took her place. They were interviewed on the Sunrise programme, before going outside to meet their fans. View the full article for pictures.

Jodi Gordon (Martha) and Paul O'Brien will be at Martin Place, Sydney on Monday, with Seven's Sunrise programme. Join them there for a free 'sausage sizzle'.

Have you met a Home and Away cast member? Do you have pictures of your meet or a story to tell? Contact us on chris@backtothebay.net.

For all fans in the UK who want to see what Anthony Phelan (who played Ken Smith) is up to nowadays, he has the part of a 'Police Interviewer' in 'Murder in the Outback' to be shown on Sunday evening at 9pm on ITV1.

Since leaving H&A, Anthony has had many parts in various dramas and films, including playing the voice of 'Kaminoan Prime Minster Lama Su' in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

Produced by ITV and Granada International, it stars Joanne Froggatt (Corrie, See No Evil: The Moors Murders) in an adaptation of the events surrounding the murder of Peter Falconio in the Australian outback back in 2001. It tells the story from the eyes of his girlfriend Joanne Lees who faced the traumatic ordeal in which Peter disappeared, aswell as having to relive it during the trial.

The part of Peter Falconio is in fact played by Laurence Bruels, who may be remembered by long term fans of H&A as starring as Irene's nephew Nelson McFarlane back in 1995.

The drama also stars Australian actor John Wood, who won the 2006 Gold Logie for his part in Blue Heelers, and a cameo from Mike Bullen (writer of Cold Feet and Life Begins) as a TV Producer

Your favourite Home and Away stars have been helping out with the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, which aired on Seven across Victoria.

Chris Hemsworth, Bobby Morley, Sharni Vinson, Tim Cambell and Jess Tovey took part in the show, reading out donations made by the Australian public. Jodi Gordon was also announced to take part, but had to pull out due to other commitments.

Pictures in the full article.

We're a little late at reporting this, but Home and Away has been nominated in numerous categories at this year's TV Week Logie Awards, with a total of 8 nominations for the show and its stars.

TV WEEK GOLD LOGIE - Most Popular Personality On TV
Natalie Blair
Rachael Carpani
John Howard
Simmone Jade Mackinnon
Rove McManus
Bert Newton
Kate Ritchie
John Wood

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Most Popular Actress
Natalie Bassingthwaighte (Neighbours, Network Ten)
Natalie Blair (Neighbours, Network Ten)
Rachael Carpani (McLeod's Daughters, Nine Network)
Simmone Jade Mackinnon (McLeod's Daughters, Nine Network)
Kate Ritchie (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

TV WEEK SILVER LOGIE - Most Popular Actor
Brendan Cowell (Love My Way, W Channel)
Mark Furze (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
John Howard (All Saints, Channel Seven)
Aaron Jeffery (McLeod's Daughters, Nine Network)
Paul O'Brien (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR NEW FEMALE TALENT
Jolene Anderson (All Saints, Channel Seven)
Brooke Hanson (What's Good For You, Nine Network)
Michelle Langstone (McLeod's Daughters, Nine Network)
Amy Mathews (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Jessica Tovey (Home And Away, Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR NEW MALE TALENT
Dustin Clare (McLeod's Daughters, Nine Network)
Ben Lawson (Neighbours, Network Ten)
Bobby Morley (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Chris Sadrinna (Home And Away, Channel Seven)
Andrew Supanz (All Saints, Channel Seven)

MOST POPULAR AUSTRALIAN DRAMA
All Saints (Channel Seven)
Blue Heelers (Channel Seven)
Home And Away (Channel Seven)
McLeod's Daughters (Nine Network)
Neighbours (Network Ten)

Only voting for the Gold Logie is currently taking place, with voting for the other awards having already ended. Kate Ritchie was up for a Gold Logie last year, but lost out to John Wood. Could this year be her year in the spotlight? It's up to the Australian public to decide.

To vote for Kate, call 1902 559 587, or send the word 'Kate' to 199 888 22.

Well, April Fool's day has passed and the website is still standing. Let's look back at March and forward to April.

Ex-Home and Away star Beau Brady (Noah) has reportedly split from his fiancee Natalie Blair, star of rival soap Neighbours. The Herald Sun states that the pair quietly separated in January, and that their split was confirmed by a Neighbours spokeswoman on Friday.

The pair reportedly split due to Beau's decision to move to Los Angeles to pursue his career. This is Beau's second broken engagement, after Bec Cartwright ended their relationship to be with Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt.

Isla Fisher (Shannon Reed) has revealed she's expecting a child with her fiance, Sacha Baron Cohen. Fisher, who has starred in films such as Scoobie Doo and Wedding Crashers since leaving the show, confirmed the news to friends a few days ago.