News and Spoilers > June 2007

BTTB has received exclusive news regarding the 20th Anniversary of Home and Away, starting in January 2008.

Current Script Producer Sarah Walker has this week finished her period in the role, plotting the stories right up until the end of the year, and next week the new Script Producer takes over to start plotting for the 20th year of the show.

With it being such an important landmark for the show, it was decided that the show should receive the best work possible, from someone who is passionate about the show and knows a lot about its history.

Therefore we are thrilled to announce that Seven Network Script Executive, Bevan Lee, will be returning to the role of Script Producer for the first 6 months of 2008.

Bevan was brought in way back in 1987 to completely rewrite the disasterous pilot episode of the show. He did so in only 3 weeks and the pilot aired in Sunday 17th January 1988. Bevan then stayed on as Script Producer for the first year and a half of the show. After an eight year gap he returned to the Seven Network in November 1996 as Network Script Executive, a role he has fulfilled the the last 10 years. As well as overseeing the scripts of Home and Away for all this time, he has also created such shows as Always Greener and All Saints.

Bevan's last stint as Script Producer of the show came in 2004, when he filled the role in order to take the show through a difficult period in between the stints of Coral Drouyn and Daniel Bennett, and during this time he was responsible for such stories as the Sarah Lewis saga and Kane's cancer battle.

Speaking of his upcoming stint back in the chair, it is clear that Bevan wishes to create a memorable year for all fans of the show:

I wanted to come back to pay honor to the show I love so much and plot material that will pay strong tribute to the first twenty years. I don't want to honor the 20th year in just one big event, I want to pay tribute throughout the entire year by referencing the show's history in as many ways as I can.

Bevan has promised to fans of the show that the 2007 Season Cliffhanger, will NOT involve anyone leaving, dying or being injured and that there is no physical jeopardy involved whatsoever. However this does not mean that we won't be in for a huge shock...

My material will start with a very startling cliffhanger at the end of this year that will make regular viewers re-evaluate something that they have always taken for granted about one of the characters in the show. This cliffhanger will turn the life of that character on its head and will lead to one of the major stories of 2008.

Unless I'm mistaken, this cliffhanger will makes the jaws of those who have watched the show from the beginning well and truly drop. And the story will lead to the return of many old faces to the show at various stages through 2008.

So will it turn out that Sally's real parents are still alive? Maybe Alf was adopted and isn't a true Stewart? Stay tuned to BTTB to be one of the first to find out!

Discuss the news with other fans of the show here.

According to Louis Walsh on an interview on Five Live, Dannii Minogue who played teenage rebel Emma Jackson in Home and Away for one and half years in the early 90's is to be one of four judges in the new series of X-Factor, with the show now featuring a 4th category, thought to be Under-16's.

Since leaving Home and Away, Dannii has had significant success on the dance circuit, whilst not quite reaching the heights of her sister.

The new series of X-Factor goes to air during the summer.

Welcome to yet another exciting edition of the Back to the Bay editorial.

So, what did May bring at Back to the Bay? Well, as promised, we revealed the results of Home and Away's Most Popular Villain. Angie Russell took the lead with time to spare, winning the poll almost 100 points ahead of our second most popular villain, Eve Jacobson It seems Angie's memory is far from forgotten, years after her dramatic exit from the bay.

Three of Home and Away's ex-Script Producers (Coral Droun, Daniel Bennett and Bevan Lee) were kind enough to provide their thoughts on our top 3 most popular villains, making the feature even more of an interesting read. Laurie Foell even took time out to express her delight at being voted #1. The poll was a great success, so thanks to everyone who voted.

Last month also saw many of our character profiles receive detailed updates (Johnny, Rocco and Sally), and even more receive brief updates to bring them in line with UK episodes. This month, we'll be bringing you even more profile updates, as we work towards our goal of ensuring all our profiles for current UK and Australian characters are detailed and up to date. Expect updates for characters such as Irene and Amanda to follow shortly, with more over the course of the month.

Last month, we asked you to submit questions to be set to Debra Lawrance, who played Pippa Fletcher/Ross on the show from 1990 onwards. Fingers crossed, June will see the results of that interview, so check back regularly for an in depth look at the woman behind one of Home and Away's best loved characters. And who knows, maybe we have more secret interviews under our sleeves. The only way you'll find out is by checking back. =P

Other upcoming updates in June include a selection of videos of Home and Away's opening titles from over the years, the final wedding video, the usual UK episode summaries and exclusive previews of Australian storylines, as well as some content so new we haven't even thought it up yet.

See you next month!

Chris