Home and Away star Sarah Roberts reveals disappointment over Willow's exit

 "I didn’t want to go."

Former Home and Away star Sarah Roberts has opened up on her exit from the soap five years ago, revealing she "didn’t want to leave at all". Roberts played Willow Harris from 2017 to 2021, before the character departed Summer Bay for Queensland.

Speaking on her Cracking On podcast with fellow Home and Away alum Sam Frost, Roberts revealed that it was the soap's producers who decided her time was up.

I was told there was nowhere for my character to go," she revealed. "At the time, I was pretty Debbie Downer about it. [The] honest truth was I didn’t want to go, but hindsight is a gift, and I’m not just saying that."

Roberts said playing Willow "wasn't just a job" for her, adding: "A lot was tied up in those four years that I was on the show.

You know, I got married, I raised a stepdaughter who I called my own daughter. Home and Away did become my family

The actress married her co-star James Stewart, who plays Justin, in 2019, with the couple splitting in 2024. During that time, Roberts had also lost her brother Karl to brain cancer and experienced two miscarriages.

Roberts said she was left "grieving" everything she'd lost, explaining: "All these things were kind of just dropping off, you know. So, I guess when I think about, 'Did I want to leave Home and Away or did I want to stay?' For me, that question is so loaded.

"Because when I think of the show, I think of everything that I went through during that period that I was on the show as well as behind the scenes."

She continued: "And no, a lot of the stuff that happened to me during that time, I didn’t want to happen."

Roberts described the period as "like the end of an era and a huge closing of a chapter” when her time on-screen was done.

However, Roberts said she is now "glad" that her Home and Away exit happened when it did because it's allowed her to explore new opportunities.

I get to challenge myself, I get to play new characters, work with different actors, I get to film like real stunt scenes and play complex characters that have these great arcs," she went on.

"[I'm] not saying that the characters on Home and Away didn’t - and I loved my time on the show - but [now] I’m challenged, and I’m growing.

"I love to grow, and I get to do this podcast… and go after new opportunities all around the world. So you know, it all worked out for the best, I guess."

Since exiting Home and Away, Roberts has appeared in Wolf Like Me, Scrublands, Colin from Accounts and Return to Paradise.

Home and away Thursday 12th November 8841 Promo

Home and Away 8840 Episode 11th November 2026

 

Home and Away receives criticism for leaving out LGBTQ+ characters in 2026

 "There’s lots and lots of ways to do it."

Home And Away has recently received criticism for not featuring LGBTQ+ characters in its episodes.

In an interview with TV Tonight, TV historian Andrew Mercado said he feels soaps have a responsibility to reflect current times and issues, including LGBTQ+ stories.

Home and Away doesn't currently have any LGBTQ+ characters in the show, while representation in the past – with characters like Willow Harris, Alex Neilson and Ty Anderson – has only been brief.

Mercado reasoned that if a programme airs five nights a week, production has a responsibility to include elements of everyday life such as the LGBTQ+ community.

He hopes that this would give viewers a wider education on life – mirroring how reality TV allowed fans to see homosexuality in real life, aiding acceptance from society.

Taking a stance against Home and Away, he told the publication that he wished one of the "surfies" would be "gay" to just see the response within the Summer Bay community.

Mercado added: "There’s lots and lots of ways to do it. I just don’t think they’re using their imagination, and they just sometimes put us in just to tick a box.

“To me, you can take a lot more chances because, as (Number 96 creator) David Sale says, ‘the audience is always far more sophisticated and clever than you give them credit for.’"

He went on: "Even I have a really good relationship with Channel 7 these days, but someone at Channel 7 is looking at Home and Away….. now the last running regular Australian drama, and someone is going, ‘Don’t put a gay character in. It might upset someone in the audience. We can’t afford to lose anything.’

"And to me, the show would be a lot more interesting if there were some gays in it."

Mercado accused the soap of "churning out the same boring stories year after year", and accused producers of not "using their imagination" when it comes to representation on screen.

David goes rogue as he launches his own search to find Roo. As she sits alone in the bush, will she be found in time?

 This week on Home and Away in Australia

Roo (Georgie Parker) has been missing for weeks now, since she vanished on the way home from Merimbula, where she’d spent the past months staying with mum Martha.

Alf (Ray Meagher) began to worry about his daughter when she didn’t arrive at Summer Bay House as planned, but he was relieved to get a text from her explaining that she was having car trouble and would be back soon.

What he didn’t see was that the message was actually sent by a mysterious man – Phillip Osmond (Michael Sheasby), the same man who would later assist in the search for Roo.

Alf was forced to report his daughter as missing when she failed to return, and David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) and his colleagues began to scour the area nearby to where Roo was last seen.

It wasn’t long before they found a disturbing sight – Roo’s car burnt out in a remote area, with a body in the boot.

With all signs pointing to the body being Roo’s, her friends and family were forced to confront the fact that she was likely dead.

At a beach vigil surrounded by his friends, Alf finally began to accept what he’d tried so hard to deny, that Roo may be gone for good.

However, when the DNA results eventually came back after an agonising wait, they confirmed that the body wasn’t Roo’s!

Police then began a desperate search for Roo, with Justin (James Stewart) joining the search and rescue teams scouring the remote bushland near to where Roo was last seen.

However, in tonight’s episode, Justin explained to Sonny (Ryan Bown) that police were considering calling off the search, not able to use their limited resources on a woman they already doubt is still alive. 

However, Justin couldn’t bring himself to break the news to Alf.

As the two met at Salt, Alf expressed that he was holding on hope that Roo was out there somewhere, and that he knew the police would find her.

In tomorrow’s episode, David breaks the news to Alf that his superiors have decided to call off the search.

Alf can’t believe it, exclaiming to Leah (Ada Nicodemou) that it seems illogical for the police to stop searching “when the missing person is still missing.”

Unless someone can show me Roo’s cold, dead body, there’s no way I’m giving up on her.”

Alf soon takes his anger out on David, asking him why he’s giving up.

David tells Alf that it wasn’t his decision, but Alf isn’t having it: “Stuff the brass, mate. There’s a time for the rule book, and a time to show a bit of guts.”

I thought you were made of better stuff than this,” he concludes as he storms off.

I thought you were made of better stuff than this,” he concludes as he storms off.

Leah pleads with David too, heading to the police station where she insists that Roo is still out there and that they need answers.

Taking Alf and Leah’s words on board, David heads to the bush to go searching for Roo himself, telling Amelia that if it was one of his own daughters lost out there, he wouldn’t rest until he had answers.

Alf and David have a mutual respect and a genuine friendship,” Jeremy Lindsay Taylor recently told TV Week. “Both are stoic men, hard on the outside but, when it comes to their daughters, they are gentle and loving and devoted.

“As Alf’s fears and frustrations grow, so does his temper towards David and his inability to find his daughter. David understands and sympathises. He feels the pressure of letting down a mate.”

Now, TV Week has confirmed that Roo is still alive – she’s spent the past week alone in the bush, shivering and alone.

As David heads out into the bush in his civvies, desperately scouring the area for any signs, he’s still struggling to find her.

As David heads out into the bush in his civvies, desperately scouring the area for any signs, he’s still struggling to find her.

David] prides himself on being a great cop,” Jeremy explains. “His personality won’t allow this feeling to remain for long.”

Not far away, as night draws in, Roo has made herself a makeshift fire to keep warm. She’s starving, and terrified that her attacker is going to come find her.

Will David find her in time?

Thankfully, teaser spoilers for upcoming episodes have revealed that David’s heroism pays off and he manages to find her alive, but he’s left with a big question – “What is Roo hiding?”

With the body of a woman in the back of Roo’s burnt out car, David recently had to consider the possibility that Roo might not be the victim in this mystery, but rather the perpetrator.

In the second episode of this Thursday’s triple, “Roo is struggling to deal with her trauma.”

Will she be able to explain how the body came to be in her boot, and why her car was burnt out?

And will David finally realise that Phillip was involved?

In next Tuesday’s episode, he re-examines the seemingly helpful neighbour, before making “a disturbing discovery” next Wednesday.

In next Thursday’s triple bill, “Roo’s cornered by a murderer,” and it’ll be a race against time for David to catch the killer before he takes revenge on Roo!

Here’s the full spoilers upcoming Home and Away episodes in Australia:

Wednesday 11th November (Episode 8840)

Mackenzie and Levi share their engagement. Lacey’s been ghosted. David calls off the search.

Thursday 12th November (Episodes 8841-8843)

Jo’s conduct hearing approaches. Alf’s efforts to find Roo hit a roadblock. David’s heroism pays off but what is Roo hiding?

Roo is struggling to deal with her trauma. Amelia delivers a confronting diagnosis. Courtney and Mali navigate new waters.

Richie’s lies are getting harder to sustain. Mali is looking at Courtney through new eyes. Remi uncovers a secret.

Monday 16th November (Episode 8844)

Abigail says the ‘L’ word to Richie. Richie spirals over his lie. Cash and Eden are forced apart.

Tuesday 17th November (Episode 8845)

Eden and Cash are reunited. Jo is overwhelmed with guilt after getting off lightly. David re-examines Phillip.

Wednesday 18th November (Episode 8846)

David makes a disturbing discovery. Lacey supports her sister. Jo starts to spiral.

Thursday 19th November (Episode 8847-8849)

Courtney steps up for Mali. Roo’s cornered by a murderer. David’s hot on the case.

Eden’s isolation is far from lonely. Mali and Courtney question their feelings. Richie’s running out of lies.

Richie comes clean. Eden goes downhill. Cash is locked out.

EastEnders' Vinny to face new cheating scandal – but there's a big twist

 Gina gets suspicious.

EastEnders’ Gina Knight leaps to a huge conclusion next week, and tells Penny Branning that her boyfriend Vinny Panesar is having an affair!

When Gina spots Vinny engaging in some suspicious behaviour, she immediately spills the beans to Penny, and they decide to investigate what he’s up to. They track him down to Knight Fusion, and are shocked to find him having a cosy chat with another woman…

The delicious irony is that Vinny is totally innocent, and it’s Penny who’s withholding the secret that could blow their world apart," says our Walford insider.

"Gina believes he’s cheating, and when she sees him meeting with a mystery woman, she marches over and throws a drink over him. The commotion almost derails what’s actually going on, and the subsequent lie leads Vinny to seriously reassess his future."

The woman Vinny’s meeting is actually an investor, who he is trying to bring on board with the business. Penny is mortified when she realises that she and Gina have it so wrong, so when the investor wrongly assumes she and Vinny are engaged, she goes with it.

Penny is feeling pretty rotten about doubting Vinny’s fidelity, especially as she secretly knows her baby son Ethan could be Harry’s biological child!

Worse still, she hasn’t let Gina know that she and Harry slept together around the time of Ethan’s conception, and feels dreadful about lying to her best mate.

In a way, if Vinny had been doing her wrong, Penny might have felt less terrible about her own secrets and lies," reckons our snoop.

"Instead, she’s forced to tell another lie to get them out of this particular scrape. The problem is that once they pretend to be engaged, the news spreads fast – and soon their nearest and dearest are very excited about the impending wedding!"

As Penny despairs about the misunderstanding and the couple are forced to come clean to their disappointed relatives, Vinny has a realisation. He’s never been happier and wants to take his relationship with the mother of his little boy to the next level.

But as Vinny dreams of proposing to Penny for real, he has no idea that the woman he wants to spend his life with has been lying to him for months…

Hollyoaks spoilers for next week 16 to 18 November 2026

 What's coming up in the village?

Next week on Hollyoaks, Abigail and Dee Dee decide to run away together as the grooming plot intensifies, while Ste comes face to face with Imran following his kidnap ordeal.

Here’s our round-up of 9 big moments to watch out for. You can also check out our collection of 19 spoiler pictures from next week's episodes.

 Dee Dee continues to spiral

A fight breaks out between Dee Dee and Trina when they learn who got the lead in the new play at Hollyoaks High. Following the incident, Tony grows frustrated with Dee Dee’s recent behaviour and snaps at her.

Meanwhile, at a school staff meeting, Abigail makes digs at Sienna but soon makes a hasty exit after receiving a worrying call from Dee Dee.

 Sienna reports Abigail

Abigail brings Dee Dee back to the flat. Drunk, Dee Dee confesses that she’s struggling with her feelings for Abigail. Unbeknownst to the pair, Sienna overhears them having a heated discussion.

The next day, Tony is worried about Dee Dee staying out all night. Sienna puts his mind at ease by telling him that Dee Dee was with Abigail. Tony is relieved by the news, but Sienna is deeply concerned and reports her discovery to Nancy.

Related: Best streaming services

 Abigail and Dee Dee plan to run away

Abigail surprises Dee Dee by suggesting they leave to start a new life together in France.

Meanwhile, the Hutchinsons are in crisis mode following recent events. Dee Dee tries to calm their fears by promising to sort herself out and tells them she has a drama therapy session later.

Later, Ant reveals to Kathleen-Angel about Dee Dee’s struggles. As Dee Dee packs her bags, Kathleen-Angel drops by and clocks her friend’s suspicious behaviour.

 Abigail and Dee Dee leave the village

As Abigail and Sienna continue to clash, Abigail prepares her cover story and tells Cindy she’s going to stay with a friend.

Abigail is relieved when Dee Dee commits to their plan and the pair leave the village together. They shop for disguises as Kathleen-Angel desperately tries to contact Dee Dee.

Abigail rushes Dee Dee towards the ferry terminal. Will Abigail succeed in taking Dee Dee away from her friends and family?

Ste has a decision to make

Finally free after his kidnap ordeal, Ste is pressured by Lucas, Leela and James to give a statement to the police and they remind Ste that Imran will be back in the village once he’s discharged.

Ste takes matters into his own hands and sneaks into the hospital. Ste demands Imran meet him on the boat when he’s out.

 Ste confronts Imran

After he is discharged, Imran and Ste have a tense showdown. Imran is defiant and insists that Ste needs to be punished for what happened to Ella. How will Ste react?

 Caleb and Frankie clash

Things have been tense for Caleb and Frankie following Frankie’s suspicions about the anti-depressant found in Caleb’s system, and the on-off couple are left on shaky ground again following a new argument.

As Jack and Pearl make preparations for their wedding, Caleb arrives to make amends with Frankie.

 Sienna has a proposal

With Christmas fast approaching, Sienna has an idea for how best to spend the big day.

She summons Warren, Mercedes and Theresa together to suggest that, considering their overlapping family tree, they should have Christmas dinner together. Will they agree?

Leah checks in on Vicky

Following Vicky’s recent heath scare, Leah decides to check on her after hearing that Vicky has been struggling. How will Vicky respond to the gesture?