Jacqui Purvis, Luke Van Os, Matt Evans and Kirsty Marillier get into the festive spirit

 Young and free.

After a hard year at work, the young guns of Home And Away are ready to let their hair down and celebrate their – and their screen characters' – achievements.

Jacqui Purvis, who has navigated some of the hardest storylines this season as Felicity, says she has grown on and off screen. She also produced and starred in her own short film – the cherry on top of a stellar 2023.

It's been a massive year for me and I've had many highlights," she tells TV WEEK. "I also had to make a really big personal decision recently, and I was so scared of making the wrong decision that I put off making it. But I had to come to terms with the fact that I actually might make the wrong decision – and that's OK."

It's been a big year too for co-star and musician Matt, who plays Theo. He has another single, "As Good As It Gets", coming out in 2024.

"Balancing my schedule has been tough, but rewarding," Matt says. "The grind doesn't stop, but that's how I like it. Singing on H&A [as a member of band Lyrik] sparked my love for music again."

The four castmates, who are still relatively new to the show, have already forged a close bond. Jacqui and Matt, who both made their debut in 2021, are former housemates, while Luke and Kirsty who joined as brother and sister Xander and Rose in 2022, established a special connection from the start.

"We all get along really well," Luke says. "Kirsty and I are close and I spend time with Matt – usually getting a pub feed!"

Jacqui adds that "the cast have helped shaped me in some way".

For Kirsty, a highlight was working with Bert LaBonté, who played her on-screen father Samuel.

He's ridiculously funny in real life," she says of the screen veteran. "We got on like a house on fire."

Ready to unwind over the break, Matt is heading home to Perth, where he says a certain incident lives on forever.

"Falling in the pool fully clothed has definitely happened!" he says, laughing.

Melbourne-born Luke says his family gathering has an open-door policy. "Everyone is welcome – usually a lot of people who don't have families to share the day with anymore," he says.

And as far as unusual Christmas gifts go, he remembers one in particular.

"I've no idea why, but one year, my mum got me a real bowling pin. I like bowling, but not enough to justify the gift. I don't even know what to use it for? Door stopper?"

As for South-African born Kirsty, this year features "cocktails, trifle and a food coma". But her cherished family tradition is far more active.

"The Marillier volleyball tournament in the pool!" she says.