Old Friends Return

Look who’s back in the Bay!

Look out!! Blast from the pasts headed this way! Some old friends come back to the Bay this week, and their familiar faces are sure to trigger plenty of memories for long-time Home and Away fans.

First up is the original Mum of the Bay, Pippa Fletcher. Do you remember actress Debra Lawrence, who filled the shoes of the foster mum with the heart of gold for eight years on the show? That’s right, from 1990 – 1998 Debra played Pippa (after first actress Vanessa Downing left the show), one of the original cast members who bought disadvantaged kids into her home with husband Tom Fletcher (played by Roger Oakley).

Over the years Pippa fostered and cared for many memorable kids, including Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport, Sophie Simpson (fostered) and our own Sally Fletcher (adopted). In fact, it’s Sally who brings Pippa back to the Bay – Brad in invites her to what he thinks will be their engagement party – unfortunately for Brad, Sally turns him down. Will she accept his proposal? Only time will tell…

Like Sally, the resilient Pippa faced much tragedy during her time in the Bay, losing two husbands, Tom (stroke) and then Michael Ross (drowned), before leaving with a handsome man called Ian Routledge to head off overseas. Luckily Debra hasn’t been so unlucky in real life – she met current hubbie Dennis Coard when he was (drumroll please) cast as her husband on the show, Michael Ross! That’s right, the on-screen sweethearts become off-screen lovers, who married in 1992 and have two children they adore.

After Home and Away, Debra played the guest recurring role of Reverend Grace Curtis, (Tom Croydon's ill-fated wife) on Blue Heelers, a show hubbie Dennis also appeared on from time to time. Debra and Dennis are also heading over to Ireland to do a play about Ned Kelly (Debra plays Ned's Mum while Dennis plays Judge Redman Barry). The Kelly family were originally from Ireland, so it looks like they’re re-tracing their roots!

Another familiar face returning to the Bay next week is the harsh but fair Donald Fisher, played by Norman Coburn, one of the other original characters from when the show started. As local principal of the high school, long-time fans will remember Mr Fisher’s vendetta to get local bad girl Bobby Simpson behind bars – only to discover she was his daughter! Donald had other children Alan, Rebecca and Byron Fisher, was divorced from Barbara Stewart and Marilyn Chambers and finally engaged to June Reynolds.

After leaving the Bay, Norman Coburn has been enjoying living on a secluded farm in Tasmania and being involved with the local theatre scene there. He has recently written a play which he’ll also be performing in, harking back to his roots as a theatre actor in Sydney before starting with Home and Away.

Both Norman and Debra say how much they love being back in the Bay and catching up with their old mates Ray and Kate. When asked about the main differences being back on the show, Norman commented that the show was far more glamorous these days and the storylines deal with current issues in an in-depth way, different from when the show started. In the past the show was more focused on the underprivileged – kids whose wings needed fixing so they could fly away – whereas now the focus has shifted from this. Both actors can’t wait to get involved in some juicy storylines so stay tuned to see what they get up to!

There are so many actors and actresses we’d like to see back on the show – Kristy and Kane, Tash and Robbie, even Johnny and the Boys! Who would you like to see back in the Bay? Write in and tell us who and why on homeandaway@seven.com.au Remember, we can’t make it happen, but there’s no hurt in hoping, right!?

Alison: I would just love to see Curtis (Shane Amann), Jack (Daniel Ammann) Travis (Nic Testoni) Selina (Tempany Deckert) & Shannon (Isla Fisher) I loved them all but these people I’d love to see return. Even Marilyn.

Laura: I was just reading the article on your website about the return of Pippa and Donald Fisher. It is fantastic that these regular people return to the show periodically. Although I am only 25 years old I do remember the days when Pippa and Michael used to be in it and good old Principal Fisher. You asked for some ideas of other characters to return to the show. The main people I would love to see return is Tasha and Robbie. They had such a strong bond and the acting between the two of them was wonderful to see. I would also love to see the return of Hayley (and baby) and Jesse. Keep up the fantastic work that you all do and please make sure that Martha and Jack get back together!!!

Jasmin: It would be great to see Scott, Hayley, Robbie and Tash return to the Bay. Matilda is all alone now, no family around, she's still grieving the loss of her mother. It would be nice for the two brothers to come with their families and give her a bit of comfort even if only for a week or two.

Jessica: Some people that i would love to see back in the bay would be Hayley and Will.

Kat: I'd like to see these following People return: Kane and Kirsty... Because you could get in a great storyline about where they were and what they were up to... I'm a huge fan of their characters, I thought they were great... I'd Also love to see Jade, Selina, Dani, Gypsy and Kit (even though she just left...). They were In my opinion a great bunch of characters, UK Five Life Episodes have made me realize how much I miss 'em... PS. Any Chance of bringing Chloe back from the dead?! :P Jokes.

Racheal: I'm really happy to see Pippa back in Summer Bay. I'd love to see Kirsty and Kane Phillips back in the bay. I really do miss them, they were the a really great couple. They will be parents by now, I'm sure their doing an amazing job at being parents which I'd love to see. Please bring them back to the bay.

Hannah: I would love to see Kirsty, Seb, Jade and Nick back as they were four that where like the luc, maddie, ric and cassie and they always get funny scenes. I think it would be great because they could reunite on the show and remember the good times they had.

Jess: I would like kirsty and kane back in the bay because i would like to see what mischief they will get up to. Every one will get a huge shock.

Aimee: I would really like henry, tasha and robbie to come back even if its just for a month or something.

Sara: Hello, you asked which old charcters we would like to see return, I would love to see Hayley(Bec as Hayley), Scott, baby Noah, Tasha, Robbie, baby Ella, Josie,Jesse. I really miss this characters especially Hayley and Scott, and I would love to see Bec as Hayley again.

Nikki: I'm sure that you are probably going to get a lot of these, but there is no hurt in trying. I would love to see the following characters return, in the order of preferance. 1. Max Sutherland, I adore this character more than any other character. He was so different from other kids/early teenagers on the show. He was so charming, and I loved watching him grow up. His character would be a great choice of a return because now he has more characters his age, and has a history with a few characters from the current cast, such as Colleen and even Matilda. Sebastian was also very talented, even at a young age. He did emotional scenes better than most adults on the show, especially when Dylan left and when Colleen was diagnosed with cancer. He was also great at comedic scenes, and would be great to have on the show again. I'd also love to hear if he ever heard from his father again. 2. Seb Miller, In my honest opinion, Seb was best in his early years. He did great one-liners and had a great entrance into the bay. I would love to have a character who was permanently parilyzed and I feel so much could be done with his character. 3. Jade Sutherland, the underused Sutherland. Kate Garven was fantastic at portraying Jade. Her storylines were often rushed, but she acted brilliantly in whatever she was given. The twinswap storyline was focused more on Kirsty, but it shown (yet again) what Kate was capable of and that the wrong twin was focused on. I'd love to see how her relationship with Kit has changed since she left (as she was supposedly staying with her). I'd also love to hear about her character. I am curious whether she decided to get to know the DeGroots or stayed in touch with the rest of the Sutherlands. I only listed the characters that I might have a chance at returning, but I'd love to hear a reply if there is even a chance that these characters may return. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I'll continue to view Home and Away.