Home and Away’s behind-the-scenes secrets revealed

 

Beloved Australian soap Home and Away may have been running for over 34 years, but there are still a few secrets that the show maintains to keep the magic alive. If you’ve ever wondered just what happens behind the scenes of the soap, read on.

Is Summer Bay real?

The television program Summer Bay is fictitious, and it is recorded all across Sydney and New South Wales. North Palm Beach in Sydney is actually the show’s recognizable beach. The beach, several homes, Alf’s Bait Shop, and the Surf Club are just a few of the exterior and outdoor scenes that can be found in Palm Beach. On the seashore, however, it proudly proclaims Summer Bay Surf Life Saving Club, with “A Stewart” listed as a club patron. If you go to the actual surf club there, you’ll see the sign for North Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

The majority of the show’s interior sequences are filmed in Channel 7’s Redfern studio, which has previously startled viewers. After cast member Luke Van Os posted about the sets on his TikTok account, a fan commented, “Soooo you are telling me it’s not a real house?” Another admirer chimed in, “That’s what I thought too, I’m stunned!”

The Caravan Park and the Stewart residence are both in Kenthurst. The Summer Bay home is interestingly the only one that has “still been seen on television since the pilot episode.”

How much do Home and Away extras get paid?

Non-speaking extras are used to fill out scenes at the beach, at restaurants, cafes, and schools. In order to make the situation more genuine, they are frequently made to pretend to speak. Fitzy & Wippa were told by a former Home and Away extra that she makes about $350 for a 10-hour day. The $35 hourly rate is far greater than the federal minimum wage, and because extras work such long hours, they frequently receive catered meals.

How do I become an extra on Home and Away?

Fans of Home and Away can work as extras on the program by signing up with a Sydney extras agency. Since they have been providing extras to the show for years, Voom Management claims to be “constantly seeking a wide variety of actors and extras.” The service claims that people of all ages and appearances are welcome.

Who are the longest-serving Home and Away characters?

Joining a Sydney extras agency will allow fans of Home and Away to appear on the show as extras. Voom Management, which has provided extras to the show for years, claims to be “always seeking for a wide variety of actors and extras.” Every appearance and age category are welcome, the firm claims.

Coming in second with over 29 years is Lynne McGranger – aka Irene Roberts – who has starred on the show since 1993. The third longest-serving star is Ada Nicodemou, who plays Leah Patterson. Ada started in March 2000 and has been on the show for over 22 years.

Why does Home and Away take a break over the summer?

Home and Away is known for having outrageous cliffhangers before taking an extended break over the Australian summer. The show usually films around 230 episodes per year, with Channel Seven filming at least five days a week for 46 weeks a year, which can be a pretty intense working schedule. While fans complain about missing their daily Summer Bay fix, the cast and crew are given much-needed time off around the Christmas period. Home and Away will resume on January 9, 2023.

Why does the Home and Away cast change so often?

When they first sign on with the show, the majority of Home and Away’s cast members are given three-year contracts. After that, whether they continue or not depends on the writers, cast, producers, and audience. Younger stars typically don’t stick around for a long time because many of them have their sights set on other performing opportunities or desire to get into Hollywood. Even if a character is killed off, the door is typically left open for them to return. Actors frequently express good memories of working on the soap opera and refer to the staff as “family.”