Home and Away star speaks out as two emotional exits are confirmed

 "This one was very real and raw."

Home and Away star Jessica Redmayne has spoken out following her character Harper Matheson's exit from the Australian soap. Sisters Harper and Dana Matheson (played by Ally Harris) left the show in scenes that aired in Australia this week.

Harper decided to leave Summer Bay and begin a new life with her son, Archie, and Dana, after being hunted down by her abusive ex-boyfriend, Beau.

Despite Beau being arrested by police, Harper knew she would never feel safe in the town and decided to start again somewhere new.

Speaking to TV Week, Jessica shared how "sad" it was to see Harper leave under these circumstances, but said she was "grateful" to have played the part since 2023.

It’s, of course, sad to see Harper go - especially on terms like these - but I’m grateful as Jessica the actor to have experienced the immense challenge," she explained. "I particularly love telling true stories, and this one was very real and raw."

Discussing the importance of the storyline, she continued: "This story is so devastatingly prevalent within our Australian communities as domestic violence in Australian families is at an all-time high.

"It was certainly difficult to embody a woman who has found herself in a psychologically toxic and physically violent relationship that she can’t escape."

Jessica went on: "Truthfully, it did leave me feeling uneasy as I left set each day. But that is the job of an actor, as it is paramount that these stories get told in Australian homes in order to shed light on the true dangers Australian families are facing from domestic violence."

She also heaped praise on her co-star Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene, describing saying goodbye to the character as a "career highlight."

On working with Ally, she added: "I’m incredibly lucky to call Ally my on-screen sister. That girl is so talented, and she taught me a lot.

"She kept me calm and we became a wonderful support system for each other. I couldn’t have done it without her."

Next year’s Home and Away will se Is a Home and Away wedding and love triangle on the way in 2027?

Heartbreakingly, Mackenzie suffered two miscarriages, and the pair haven’t yet found the strength to discuss whether to try another round of IVF.

 Next year’s Home and Away will see Mackenzie and Levi get engaged, but Imogen’s return and a bombshell crush from seven years ago will jeopardise their future together.

2026 has been a rare year in Summer Bay – there’s not been a single wedding, and we’re not expecting any before this year’s Season Finale.

2025 saw Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) and Eden (Stephanie Panozzo) finally get married, while April 2024 saw Leah (Ada Nicodemou) and Justin (James Stewart) tie the knot.

Before that, in 2023, Home and Away celebrated 8000 episodes with the wedding of Tane (Ethan Browne) and Felicity (Jacqui Purvis), after their failed attempt in 2022’s Season Finale.

Meanwhile. 2022 saw a bittersweet wedding for Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams) and Mia (Anna Samson), marrying at Northern Districts Hospital while Ari was on his deathbed.

2021 saw Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) and Christian Green (Ditch Davey) marry shortly before departing for London, while 2020 saw stalwart Alf (Ray Meagher) marry Martha (Belinda Giblin) for the second time, after the revelation that she’d faked her own death back in 1985.

In short, an annual wedding is a staple in the Summer Bay calendar – 2018 even had two sets of nuptials, as both Colby (Tim Franklin) and Chelsea (Ashleigh Brewer), and Brody Morgan (Jackson Heywood) and Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman) tied the knot.

But while 2026 has had two engagements, both were swiftly called off, making it the first year since 1998 without anyone making it down the aisle!

Jo (Maddison Brown) accepted Eddie’s (Stephen Madsen) proposal shortly after the crash which ended the 2025 season, but broke things off after discovering that he’d left the derailed train while she was still on it, and that Tane was actually the one to save her.

More recently, Dana (Ally Harris) proposed to Sonny (Ryan Bown) at the start of August, after Sonny accidentally missed her first attempt.

Yet while the pair had an engagement party and Dana even began planning their nuptials, they ended their relationship earlier this week as Dana departed the bay for a fresh start with sister Harper (Jessica Redmayne).

Now, normality looks set to return in 2027, with Mackenzie (Emily Weir) and Levi (Tristan Gorey) getting engaged – that is, if they can get over a few major speed bumps.

A photo from filming on 19th August, uploaded to the Home and Away Spoilers & Info Facebook group, revealed Mac and Levi’s engagement when actress Emily Weir was spotted filming a scene whilst wearing an engagement ring.

However, whether they’ll make it down the aisle remains to be seen, as Mackenzie is set for numerous bombshells in the first half of next year.

As we reported last month, Mackenzie and Levi’s relationship is set for a major upheaval when Levi’s ex-wife Imogen (Georgia Blizzard) returns with a young child!

Cardiothoracic surgeon Levi ended his relationship with wife Imogen some two years ago, after falling for Mackenzie when he was brought in to treat her heart condition at Northern Districts Hospital.

While Levi had been reluctant to start a family with Imogen, last year saw him and Mackenzie began trying for a baby, before resorting to IVF when Mac struggled to conceive.

With Imogen returning to Summer Bay with a young girl who looks around the age of two – and Levi spotted interacting with the girl during a scene on the beach – it seems almost certain that she’ll be breaking the news that she was pregnant when they split, and has been raising their child in secret.

You know it’s so easy for her to just waltz in here and tell me … [unclear] … family. How is any of this fair on me?” Mackenzie vents to close friend Tane.

Yet Tane seems disinterested in Mackenzie’s complaints, prompting her to check that he’s actually listening to her.

After a surprisingly curt response from Tane, which is difficult to work out in the YouTube clip, Mackenzie replies: “What was I supposed to do? Tell Levi [unclear] and just get over it?”

Yeah, you know what…” Tane starts.

“What?” Mac interrupts.

While Tane’s response can’t be heard in the clip, it clearly takes Mackenzie by surprise, as she replies: “Excuse me?”

After another cold response from Tane, Mac continues: “I am! I mean I’m trying to, but it’s very hard,” before adding, “I’m not doing this…”

While Mac looks set to struggle with Imogen’s return, it doesn’t look like Levi’s baby bombshell will be enough to end her their relationship, as scenes filmed last week revealed that Mackenzie is still planning her wedding.

However, that’s when the next bombshell arrives, and it could well explain Tane’s cold nature in the above scene.

Back in 2020, when Mackenzie was just embarking on her relationship with Ari Parata, she began developing feelings for his brother Tane, which almost brought her and Ari’s fledgling relationship to an abrupt end.

The pair even briefly shared a kiss in May 2021, as a drunk Mac rebounded after Ari broke up with her.

However, Tane was with Ziggy at the time and pushed Mackenzie away, before immediately admitting to Ziggy what had happened.

Since then, Mac and Tane have gone on to develop a close friendship, and it’s been years since the writers hinted at any lingering feelings between them.

After briefly dating Ziggy, Tane eventually married Felicity, before having a baby with Harper, and more recently getting into a short-lived relationship with newcomer Jo Langham.

Meanwhile, after the breakdown of her relationship with Ari, Mac went on to date Logan Bennett (Harley Bonner), before finally finding happiness with Levi.

Now, Home and Away looks set to re-explore Mac and Tane’s feelings some seven years later. The scene in question, filmed just last week, sees Mackenzie run up behind Tane, stopping him in his tracks as he tries to get away from her.

What are you doing? You said you’d try…” Mac can be heard saying in the clip uploaded to the R&F Adventures 2.0 YouTube channel.

As the scene continues, Mac stops Tane as he walks away, asking him: “What are you saying? That you’re gonna pull out of my wedding?”

After nodding, Tane explains: “Listen to me.”

After some dialogue which can’t be made out, he continues: “I can’t [unclear]. Everything’s changed, alright?  I can’t stand beside you at your wedding and put on a happy face!”

“Why? Why not?” Mackenzie asks, becoming increasingly animated.

Because I have feelings for you!” Tane explains loudly, as Mackenzie reacts with shock. “I have feelings for you, okay?

It’s clear that Mackenzie has no idea of Tane’s hidden feelings, as she puts her arm on him and tries to shut him down.

“Please, don’t do this. Don’t say this, don’t say this. Don’t!” she replies, and after the conversation briefly continues, Tane walks away.

What am I gonna say to Levi?” Mackenzie calls after him, before Tane tells her he doesn’t know, and she should just lie.

“You’re good at that!” he finishes before leaving Mac alone and shellshocked.

In a scene filmed later on the same day, Tane is seen sitting at the beach alone, before being approached by Mac.

What causes Tane’s feelings for Mackenzie to return isn’t yet clear, but could Mac turn to her former crush for emotional support – and perhaps more – after the revelation that her fiancé has a child with his ex-wife?

These scenes will air in early 2027, so we’ve got a little while to wait until we find out exactly what’s going down, but it looks like next year will be another dramatic one in Summer Bay.

Will Mac and Levi make it down the aisle?

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

Monday 7th September (Episode 8784)

Mali gives Lacey a fresh perspective. David panics. Levi puts Eden first.

Tuesday 1st September (Episode 8785)

Lacey confronts Amelia. Zane puts pen to paper. David is conflicted.

Wednesday 2nd September (Episodes 8786)

Zane’s anxiety spikes. Lacey lashes out. Leah doubts Marilyn’s choices

Thursday 3rd September (Episode 8787)

Eden wants to go home. David and Lacey lock horns. Cash is hit hard by reality.

Cash and Levi hatch a plan. Amelia and David get cosy. Eden struggles with keeping her distance.

Eden asks Levi for the hard truth. Sonny steers clear of Tane. Mackenzie joins the family feast.

Tane comes up with a plan to prove Beau has broken his AVO, while Dana tells Sonny that it’s over between them.

Beau (Blake Richardson) was finally arrested last week, after Harper (Jessica Redmayne) turned against him and confirmed that he had assaulted her.

Her statement added to the evidence already provided by Sonny (Ryan Bown), who admitted that Beau had supplied him with steroids before pressuring him into dealing the drugs through the gym.

However, Beau was subsequently released on bail, with an apprehended violence order preventing him from approaching Harper or returning to Summer Bay.

Harper and Archie have since remained at the Parata house with Tane (Ethan Browne), whilst Sonny has been given one final chance by Dana (Ally Harris), having promised never to touch drugs or lie to her again.

Next week, knowing how effective AVOs tend to be in Summer Bay, Tane is taking no chances and repeatedly checks that every door at home is locked. Harper understands his concern, but is desperate to regain some normality takes Archie for a walk.

Tane insists on accompanying them, and whilst walking near Flat Beach, Harper points out  that she can still see Beau’s whereabouts through the location-sharing app he pressured her into installing.

She briefly reconnects and finds him at his home in the city, but Tane’s alarmed that doing so may also have revealed her own location.

Harper believes Beau may finally be respecting the AVO and decides that she and Archie should return home the following morning.

However, her confidence disappears when she checks the app again and discovers that Beau’s phone is now in Summer Bay.

Harper immediately contacts the police, but they’re unable to act on the app alone, as the location of Beau’s phone doesn’t prove that he’s personally breached the order.

With officers unable to find him, Tane decides that Harper and Archie must leave the Bay.

Luckily, as ever, there’s another member of the Parata whānau on hand, as he arranges for them to stay at an empty property belonging to his cousin Matiu.

Dana is torn between accompanying her sister and remaining with Sonny, who’s suffering badly from withdrawal. Knowing that Sonny needs her support, she reluctantly stays behind.

Before Harper leaves, Tane suggests that they swap phones to prevent Beau from tracking her journey.

However, once Harper and Archie are safely away, Tane uses her phone to send Beau a message supposedly from Harper, pretending that she wants to meet and discuss their relationship.

While Tane attempts to draw Beau out of hiding, Sonny finds himself pulled back towards the drugs. After Dana leaves him alone to visit Harper, he returns to the gym and retrieves the steroids he had hidden there.

Sonny takes the pills home, only for Dana to arrive unexpectedly. As she demands to see what Sonny hurriedly concealed inside his bag when she walked in, a bottle of steroids falls out and smashes across the floor, confirming that he’s broken his promise already.

As Dana storms out, Sonny follows her outside and blames his relapse on the severity of his withdrawal, but she points out that he had plenty of time to reconsider during his trip to the gym.

Having stayed in Summer Bay to support him rather than leaving with Harper, Dana feels utterly betrayed.

Neither of them realise that Beau is sitting nearby in his car, watching their argument.

Once Dana has walked away, Beau lets himself into the pier apartment with the spare key and confronts Sonny.

He demands to know where Harper has gone, before revealing that he wants Sonny to retract his police statement and claim that he invented the allegations against him.

This time, Sonny refuses to be intimidated, condemning Beau for abusing Harper, arranging the attack on Remi (Adam Rowland) and drawing him into the steroid operation.

Beau threatens even worse consequences if Sonny testifies, but Sonny points out that his life has already hit rock bottom. With nothing left to lose, he vows to tell the truth in court.

After Beau leaves, Sonny disposes of his remaining pills, whilst Dana spends the night at Tane’s house.

Meanwhile, Beau takes the bait and agrees to meet ‘Harper’ the following morning. Tane informs David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) of his plan, allowing the police to take control of the operation.

Beau arrives at the meeting place carrying flowers, but immediately flees when Tane appears instead of Harper.

His escape is blocked by several police cars, and Tane wrestles him to the ground before resisting Beau’s attempts to provoke him into throwing a punch.

David arrests Beau for breaching the AVO, but Tane has one final warning for him at the station—if he ever approaches Harper or Archie again, he won’t involve the police.

When Beau objects to the threat, David dryly insists that he didn’t hear anything.

Although Beau is now behind bars, Sonny’s relationship is less easily repaired. Dana returns later that morning to collect her belongings and explains that the steroids are no longer the only issue—Sonny has lied so easily that she doesn’t believe she’ll ever trust him again.

Unable to see a way past his repeated betrayals, Dana tells Sonny that their relationship is over.

She takes her bags outside, where Tane is waiting with his car. Sonny follows and makes one final plea, but Dana tells Tane to drive, and he takes her to Harper’s safe house.

There, Dana tells her sister that she’s ended things with Sonny. 

Surprisingly, Harper encourages her to reconsider, pointing out that Sonny originally became dependent on steroids because he was desperate to recover from his injuries.

Back in Summer Bay, a heartbroken Sonny breaks down in front of Remi, convinced that he’s lost the woman he planned to marry.

Dana later asks Remi whether he genuinely believes his friend can change. Remi insists that Sonny wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her, prompting Dana to return home and agree that they can try to work through their problems.

However, Dana chooses to spend the night in Harper’s room and makes it clear that they still have a great deal to discuss.

Back at the safe house, Tane learns that Beau is being held on remand and that his latest threats have been added to the charges against him, with prosecutors intending to seek the maximum sentence.

Tane believes that Harper and Archie can finally return home, but Harper remains terrified that Beau will eventually be released.

After lying awake all night, she drops a bombshell on Tane—she can’t return to Summer Bay.

Meanwhile, Dana emerges from Harper’s room to find Sonny swallowing some pills and immediately assumes the worst. Has Sonny thrown away his final chance with Dana already?

Home and Away is available to stream from 6am weekdays, with double bill episodes airing from 6pm on 5Star.