Key Home and Away character to go missing in shocking 2026 season finale

 The soap is embarking on a dark storyline, but just how dark will it go?

Home and Away is once again leaving the studio to do on-location filming elsewhere in Australia for its 2026 season finale, which means that eagle-eyed fans have caught a glimpse of what the cast and crew have been up to.

It looks like we have an idea of what we can expect in the episodes leading up the soap's traditional festive break.

Via Back to the Bay, over the last few weeks, the show has been filming in the city of Orange, over 150 miles west of its home in Sydney.

Fans have allegedly seen missing person posters with Ruth 'Roo' Stewart's face on them, with the text stating that she was last seen heading back to Summer Bay from Swan Parade, Bayfield in a black Toyota.

Photos shared by fans show a cordoned-off police search area with a burn-out car, and actors James Stewart, Ada Nicodemou, and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor on set (while Ray Meagher and Emily Symons have also reportedly been seen).

Most concerning is that fans have seen an actor playing a coroner carry a dead body. Is this 'just' a disappearance storyline, or is the soap really killing Roo off?

The publication states that Georgie Parker has been spotted on set in recent weeks, which could suggest that this is her death storyline and the soap is just setting up another leave of absence for the actor to go and do some theatre projects.

But what if the soap has just had her filming flashback scenes, and this really is the end for the beloved character?

We might be waiting until October to find out.

Home and away Monday Episode 8759 13th Promo

 

Home and Away Episode 8749 9th July 2026 Part 3/3

Home and Away Episode 8748 9th July 2026 Part 2/3

Home and Away Episode 8747 9th July 2026 Part 1/3

6 huge Hollyoaks confessions revealed in game-changing double episode

 A dinner party turns chaotic...

Hollyoaks has done something a bit different in today’s special double episode, as Leah Barnes and Imran Maalik host a dinner party for their friends aboard their new swanky houseboat. But Frankie Osborne, Caleb Keane, Vicky Grant and Prince McQueen soon realise that there’s a very different reason for the gathering…

After a posh meal, Leah explains to the group that she's working with an American professor on a research project about the psychology of confession. She invites her friends to record themselves confessing their darkest secret to help her gather data and offers them each £100,000 if they participate.

The gang eventually agree to take part, with the assurance that the videos will remain totally anonymous. But Leah lies to everyone, as she later tucks into a bowl of popcorn as she watches everyone’s confessions – and is shocked by what she discovers…

1. Prince is in love

Prince’s initial confession is that after only being in love twice before in his life, he admits he's in head over heels again – but not with Vicky, with Leah. He explains that while his current girlfriend Vicky needs him, his true feelings lie elsewhere.

Prince recently saved Leah during a violent situation at The Loft, though he later told suspicious Vicky that he only has eyes for her. With Leah watching this secret declaration, will she do anything in response?

2. Caleb isn't in love

Caleb uses his time in the booth to talk about the impact of the recent car crash that left him unable to walk, fearing that he is now seen as the "lad in a wheelchair", like he was seen as the "kid whose mum died" during his childhood.

He admits that while he and Frankie recently dropped the l-word, he isn’t sure how he really feels about her but is willing to hold on to this relationship as everything else in his life feels uncertain. Will Leah use Caleb’s secret doubts about Frankie to his advantage?

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3. Vicky has a secret struggle

As Prince admits feelings for someone else, Vicky is incredibly candid in her own confessional. She talks openly about her struggles with not feeling enough, comparing herself to Leah and remarking that they are treated differently by others, not least because of the colour of their skin.

Vicky says out loud that she has a problem with food and how not eating makes her feel worthy and in control. She recognises that no one has spotted that she’s struggling but realises in the confession booth that this isn’t a healthy coping mechanism. Could this mark an important turning point for Vicky?

4. Prince is plotting a murder

Prince’s love confession isn’t the only thing he gets off his chest in the booth, as he also admits to something he’s been hiding for years. Since his twin brother Hunter’s death from dodgy drugs in 2024, Prince has had revenge on his mind.

He's spent every waking moment planning how to carry out the perfect murder and plotting to kill Warren – who supplied the deadly pills to Hunter. How does Prince intend to kill Warren, and will horrified Leah do anything to stop him?

5. Frankie is playing Leah

Frankie has been forced to keep some devastating secrets during her life, so she admits in the booth that she now has nothing left to hide. But she is the most suspicious about Leah’s experiment, so her confession is tinged with sarcasm, and she uses it to play a sneaky game.

As Frankie firmly believes Leah will watch the videos back, she addresses her directly and claims that Imran admitted he doesn’t really love her. While this could well be false, Leah doing anything about this revelation would prove she lied about the anonymity of the confessions. How will Leah approach this tricky situation?

6. Imran's secret remains hidden

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the episode is that Leah’s fiancé Imran also records a confession – but Leah chooses not to watch his and assumes that there’s nothing she doesn’t already know about him. As a result, viewers don’t get to watch Imran’s video either — but there’s every chance that he has a burning secret as well.

Is what Frankie says about Imran true after all, or could he be hiding something else that not even Leah knows?

EastEnders - Thursday 9th July 2026

 

First details of Home and Away’s 2026 Season Finale revealed

 

While we may be months away from Home and Away‘s final episodes of 2026, the first details have already emerged of this year’s big Season Finale.

Each year, Home and Away takes a break through late November, December and early January, with Aussie viewers typically enduring 6 to 8-weeks without the show over the festive season.

To keep viewers coming back in the new year, the writers usually craft a big end of year finale, often with a major catastrophe that leaves lives on the line.

Last year’s final episodes saw the train derailment that left Sonny (Ryan Bown) paralysed and Jo (Maddison Brown) trapped with severe injuries.

The incident happened on the way to the aptly named Off the Rails festival, where aspiring singer-songwriter Eddie (Stephen Madsen) was due to perform.

Countless Summer Bay favourites had jumped on the specially-commissioned train to the festival, and the accident occurred when the classic steam locomotive hit a number of bikes which had been left by kids who were graffitiing a train tunnel.

The previous year, the 2024 finale saw Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) wake up to find Eden’s (Stephanie Panozzo) then-boyfriend Tim (George Pullar) unconscious next to him after the pair were attacked by Tim’s patient Nerida Mullins (Ellie Gall).

While Home and Away‘s producers do their best to keep storylines under wraps, fans of the show often have other ideas.

To make the job more difficult, the show has been increasingly heading further afield for its finales and major events, with eagle-eyed fans often spotting them filming at picturesque locations across the country rather than in studio locations where it’s easier to keep things under wraps.

Tane’s involvement in Brax (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky’s (Bonnie Sveen) Western Australia storyline was revealed when fans spotted Stephen and Ethan filming together in the Perth CBD.

Before that, last year’s season finale was partially given away when the cast and crew headed to the the Lachlan Valley Railway Heritage Centre in Cowra, a four-hour drive from central Sydney, in the Central West region of New South Wales

Fans soon began speculating that a train journey would play a major part in the final episodes of the 2025 season – something which turned out to be correct.

in the last few weeks, many of the Home and Away cast and crew have departed for the city of Orange, some 254 km west of Sydney, and they’ve once again been spotted by local residents.

Seen on set were Ada Nicodemou (Leah), James Stewart (Justin) and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor (David), and additional information by an extra revealed that Ray Meagher (Alf) and Emily Symons (Marilyn) were also in attendance – and for good reason!

Who goes missing at the end of the year?

A major plot point of this year’s season finale has since been revealed, after a picture emerged from set, purportedly posted on Facebook by an extra.

A number of photos were uploaded to the Home and Away Spoilers & Info Facebook group, after fans uncovered a post made by an extra which revealed that “something terrible happens in Summer Bay and will be seen at the end of the year when Home and Away wrap for the year.”

One photo showed a ‘Missing Person’ poster distributed by Yabbie Creek Police, appealing for information on the disappearance of Ruth Stewart.

The poster explains that Roo’s last known whereabouts were Swan Parade, Bayfield, and that she was travelling back to Summer Bay in a black Toyota C-HR when she disappeared.

A hunt then gets underway, with photos on Facebook showing police and bush search and rescue operators scouring a remote area in search of Roo.

A series of photos also showed a burnt out car, with the extra revealing that another actor was playing a coroner who carried a dead body.

With police cars swarming the scene, Leah was seen carrying a bouquet of flowers as, she, Alf, Marilyn and Justin watched the events unfold.

Has Roo’s body been found in the car?

The last time we saw a missing poster on Home and Away was at the end of the 2023 season, when Eden (Stephanie Panozzo) disappeared after being abducted from the campsite where she and Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) were ‘enjoying’ a stressful camping trip.

On that occasion, Eden was found safe, but with the apparent discovery of a body in the burnt out car, it seems that someone won’t be so lucky as this year comes to a close.

Just what causes Roo to disappear, and who the body in the burnt out car is, remains to be seen.

Thankfully, Georgie Parker has been spotted on set in recent weeks, suggesting that Roo won’t be the one to perish in this year’s finale.

However, with Georgie frequently taking long breaks from the show to appear in theatre productions, could her disappearance see her off screen for weeks or months, leaving her friends and loved ones fearing for her safety for an extended period?

While the dates aren’t yet confirmed, it’s expected that this year’s finale will air in mid to late November.

Last year, Home and Away‘s final episode aired on Wednesday 19th November, with the show returning to Australian screens exactly two months later on Monday 19th January.

Here’s the full spoilers for next week’s Home and Away episodes in Australia:

Monday 13th July (Episode 8750)

David comes clean. Tane texts his ex. Jo misreads the situation. Remi feels like a third wheel.

Tuesday 14th July (Episode 8751)

Eden fears a great loss. Mackenzie’s patience wears thin. David struggles to join the dots.

Wednesday 8th July (Episode 8752)

Harper is torn. Dana sets Levi a friendly challenge. Sonny stoops to a new low. Remi babysits Archie for the first time.

Thursday 16th July July (Episodes 8753-8755)

Harper throws caution to the wind. Sonny faces an ultimatum. David’s big day is bittersweet. Beau changes the rules.

John buckles under pressure. David and Amelia strike a deal. Sonny does the unthinkable.

Levi makes a solid effort. Remi gets his groove back. Spirits are high at the Surf Club fundraiser.

Home and Away Episode 8746 8th July 2026

 

Home and Away confirms darker turn for Harper and Beau's relationship

 Will she see the warning signs?

Home and Away has teased trouble ahead for Harper Matheson, amid her risky new relationship with Beau Hammond. The pair first met in the gym and have been enjoying a whirlwind romance – but things are about to take a dark turn.

Viewers know that newcomer Beau has been selling drugs to local gym-goers, including Sonny Baldwin, who has been struggling with his recovery after the horrific train crash. Despite telling his doctors he would take it easy, Sonny has been pushing himself physically, and has become addicted to steroids.

Harper has remained blissfully unaware of her new flame's dodgy dealings, despite noticing the unusual amount of calls and texts he's been receiving. But according to TVWeek, she may soon realise that Beau is harbouring some shady secrets.

In upcoming episodes, Harper continues to enjoy her new romance, spending as many hours with Beau as she can. With Tane Parata on a trip with their son Archie, she makes the most of her time off from being a mum.

However, when Tane and baby Archie return to Summer Bay, it's clear that Harper has missed them and is excited to catch up. She declines Beau's offer for a romantic getaway, leaving him sour-faced by the rejection.

Tane learns about Harper's new man the following day, when he arrives at the house and finds a shirtless Beau. Giddy Harper gives him all the details while Beau keeps Archie occupied.

Later, an unconvinced Tane asks Cash Newman to help him give Beau the once-over and the pair have a sit down with the secret drug dealer. Unaware of his criminal activities, officer Cash gives his seal of approval.

However, things turn ugly when the pair leave and Harper is left alone with an angry Beau. He suddenly drops his nice guy act and accuses her of an interrogation.

Is his worrying shift in demeanour simply due to shyness, or has Harper uncovered a paranoid and dangerous side to her new flame?