Home and Away

7:00pm – Monday, January 30 on Seven

This week on HOME AND AWAY:

Monday, January 30 – Ep 5441

Irene suffers heart failure.
Bianca wants April to promise to stay away from Heath.
Dex struggles to define his relationship to April.
Geoffrey King offers Heath a deal to get Angelo’s out of debt.

Tuesday, January 31 – Ep 5442

Heath gets caught up in a dodgy deal with Geoffrey.
Brax fears he’s going to lose Angelo’s.
April wants to keep seeing Heath in secret.

Wednesday, February 1 – Ep 5443

Brax is questioned over some stolen goods.
Brax makes a desperate decision to prevent losing Angelo’s.

Thursday, February 2 – Ep 5444

Alan propositions Sid in regards to the assault charges.
Sasha attempts to strike a deal with Stu.
Romeo is tentative about his new career.

Friday, February 3 – Ep 5445

Harvey threatens to close down the Resort if he wins the election.
Romeo is at a crossroads in his new career.
Xavier admits his feelings for Sasha.
Dex makes a decision about his future.

7:00pm – Monday, January 23 on Seven

- 2012 SERIES RETURN

Monday: Charlie is found unconscious after being shot and Sid is confronted by Alan, Stu’s father.

The Big Bang Theory (Premiere), 7.30pm, Nine
Sheldon becomes jealous and considers taking his relationship with Amy to the next level when Stuart from the comic book store asks her out on a date.

Home and Away (Return), 7pm, Seven
Charlie is found unconscious after being shot and Sid is confronted by Alan, Stu’s father.

The Biggest Loser Australia, 7pm, TEN
Join the Biggest loser trainers as they travel the country to collect this year’s contestants. The trainers each spend a day in the lives of their team members before heading back to camp.

A Current Affair, 6.30pm, Nine
Host Tracy Grimshaw is back as this program covers the realms of politics, crime, human rights, science, technology, celebrities and entertainment.

South Park, 10pm, SBS
What begins as an innocent game between the boys turns serious when Cartman joins the US Border Patrol. Not surprisingly, Cartman turns out to be really good at stopping Mexicans from crossing the border.

With Home and Away returning to Seven next Monday January 23 at 7pm, 7TWO will again air its Sunday morning “catch ups”, playing all five episodes of the week in one hit on Sunday January 29, from 9.30am.

The catch up timeslot should remain constant throughout the year, giving viewers either an alternative time to watch Home & Away or diehard fans the chance to watch episodes again.

Home & Away returns to Seven 7pm Monday January 23, and continues weeknights. Catch up Sundays 9.30am from January 29 on 7TWO.

Sonia Kruger co-hosted Dancing With The Stars Australia since the very beginning; from the first season in 2004 right through to the most recent eleventh season in 2011. In 2012, she will not be returning.

As this hostess, who has gained mixed criticism for her role on the show, moves on to host the Nine Network’s reboot of Big Brother, a massive void has been created that needs to be filled.

As much as I didn’t personally like her; her departure presents the same problem to Dancing with the Stars as Mike Goldman does to Big Brother- she is a common factor throughout the entire franchise. Daryl Somers was just this before he quit in 2007 but with Sonia staying on, there was at least one other familiar face staying on to pass the torch.

Helen Richie and Todd McKenney are also stalwarts, but their profiles on the show are not nearly as big as Krugers was, despite any controversies surrounding the judging table.

But needless to say; this show has survived many high profile exits. Those of Daryl Somers, Paul Mercurio and Mark Wilson did little to dent the show (well, Daryl’s exit was certainly poison for the show’s eighth season) and I have little doubt that with the talent Seven has, there is any immediate threat to the show as a result to her departure.

But who would be best?

Names thrown forward already include X Factor judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Model Rachel Finch is also being considered.

Out of these two, Natalie seems like the more perfect decision. She has proven herself as a formidable host and on a dance show as well; hosting all three seasons of TEN’s So You Think You Can Dance Australia from 2008- 2010.

But adding Rachel Finch will ensure that Seven isn’t saturating their talent in any way. Having Natalie on X Factor as well as Dancing will mean she will be on a Seven talent show for more than half the year. Home and Away stars may get away with over exposure, but Kyle Sandiland’s stints on both Australia’s Got Talent and X Factor drew some criticism which may be heightened for Natalie.

Rachel Finch however may be Seven’s perfect counter attack to Nine’s decision to appoint model Jesinta Campbell as a personality. But can she host? Hmm…

There are also other options. Why not utilise Zoe Ventura? Her and Dan presenting together may give Wild Boys fans a bit of salvage. Plus it isn’t as if she’s doing anything abroad?

Esther Anderson is another option. Either she is leaving Home and Away or she has considered it, if rumours are to be believed. Either way, she may be looking for a bit more work before trying her luck overseas. This would be a perfect opportunity for her to improve her resume.

Or how about Jackie O?…Nobody, no, not a good idea? OK.

Who do you think should co-host this show? Should Seven pull a Nine and steal a personality elsewhere?

Home and away is set to return for it’s 2012 season at 7pm, Monday January 23, 2012 on Seven.

2012 will be the show’s 25th year on air.

With the Australian Open playong from January 16-29, tennis fans have no need to fear that the 6pm News, Today Tonight and Home and Away getting in the way will get in the way of any of the action, as the Tennis will continue on 7TWO during the times Seven airs these shows.

Home and Away. 7pm Weeknigts on Seven, from January 23, 2012.

Esther Anderson, who plays Charlie Buckton on the ever popular Home & Away is leaving Summer Bay.

Anderson will wrap up her scenes on the Channel Seven series next month after four years in the role.

Like other past Home & Away stars such as Ryan Kwanten and Tammin Sursok, Anderson is heading to LA to try her luck.

Home & Away airs on Seven, weeknights, 7pm with the 2011 finale airing Friday November 25.

Lincoln Lewis is set to join Neighbours as a marine biologist, in a guest role, for four weeks.

Lewis, who previously starred on Home and Away as Geoff Campbell, will head to Port Douglas to film his scenes, where he encounters Ashleigh Brewer’s character, Kate Ramsay.

Lewis’s character, Dominic Emmerson, will meet Kate, while she is having an “eat, pray, love” moment and finds him to be the distraction she has been looking for.

“I’ve wanted to be on Neighbours since I was a little kid and finally it has happened,” Lincoln said. “I’m filming in Port Douglas and working with Ashleigh Brewer and Stefan Dennis, it doesn’t get any better.”

Lewis and Brewer have previously worked together in children’s series The Sleepover Club when they were aged 12.

Lewis is currently starring in Australian television mini-series Underbelly: Razor on Channel Nine Sundays.

Neighbours scenes with Lewis are expected to air early 2012 on Eleven.

As the storm gets worse, the resident of Summer Bay are spread over various locations. An evacuation centre has been set up at the school by Gina, Miles and Bianca, but with water leaking through the ceiling… it’s not looking as safe as they thought. Colleen is being her usual self and terrifying everyone by screaming that they are all in danger; she can feel it! Casey is in a bad mood, and in turn is taking out his frustrations on Ruby. The two bicker about him dropping out of school for most of the episode (while mopping a never ending stream of water down the school stairs), until Ruby makes a joke about the River Boys and Casey takes it to heart. Casey tells her she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore, because they are over. 

Romeo manages to get Harvey to the safety of his 4WD, but his path is blocked by fallen trees and branches. As he tries to reverse out of there, he spins his wheels and nearly ends up over the edge of a cliff. Romeo carries Harvey out of the car, manages to somehow pull the 4WD up and out of the cliff’s edge, carries Harvey back into the car and gets them both to the hospital. What a hero. Alf and Roo are pleased they made it back, as is Indy; who was sure she had lost Romeo to the storm. Dennis is impressed with Romeo and Alf’s brave efforts, and tells Romeo that when the new Marina opens, he will be sending all his charter business their way. Nice.

VJ is at the school evacuaition centre with Miles, but is so worried about his Mum being alone at the diner that he too braves the storm to be with her. Elijah who is also trapped at the diner, is left in the awkward position of being with his ‘old’ family for a while. He sees Leah in pain, but she shrugs it off. As the night goes on, Leah seems to be getting worse, before she reveals that she is bleeding and scared that she is losing the baby.

Back at the school, Bianca begins to see a new side to Heath as he tends to his daughter Darcy. That is, until Tegan shows up and takes her back out into the storm. Good parenting by both parties. Bianca tries to talk to Heath, but he snaps at her, telling her to get out of his face.

All of a sudden the lights go out, and Gina, Miles and Bianca begin to usher everyone to a different part of the school. As the leaking water worsens, Heath sees that Bianca is in danger, and runs to her. Casey and Miles look on as part of the ceiling collapses on top of Heath and Bianca, trapping them underneath the rubble.

On the upside, worse things have happened to Bianca over the past few weeks. I would say being trapped under a river boy (and by this I mean actually underneath him) would probably be a highlight for her

Well the storm has officially rolled into Summer Bay tonight; complete with torrential rain, dark and stormy skies, lightening, and some fairly average special effects!

Romeo is pressured by Dennis into taking the Blaxland out into the storm to win the charter Roo set up for him. After having been told off by Alf for even thinking about going out in such weather, Romeo holds his ground and tells Dennis it’s too dangerous for all of them. Dennis is not impressed, and hits Harvey up with the idea instead. Harvey doesn’t need much convincing, and jumps at the chance to take the clients out. Assuring Roo that they will be out and back before the storm makes an impact; she decides to head out with them.

Now I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking this in a sarcastic way… The whole heading out on a boat in the middle of the biggest storm the place has ever had… really smart move on everyone’s part! Sure enough, once Alf finds out Roo is on the boat, they check in at the surf club to hear a ‘Mayday’ call from the boat they are on. Romeo and Alf jump into the car to brave the storm themselves and save the stupid people who decided that a boat ride was a good idea.

Now while the storm is running rampant, the residents of Summer Bay are listening to their radios (and the warnings to stay indoors). So for some unknown reason, nearly everyone seems to be out running around and chasing after people. Weird that. Sid and Dexter are on the lookout for Sasha, Sasha and her brother are wandering the streets, April is closing up the diner, Xavier is trying to get back home to John, Romeo and Alf are out looking for Roo, and Indy is out looking for Romeo! What a mess!

Sasha and her brother struggle to find shelter, and do the only normal thing they can think of…break into someone else’s house. Luckily for them, the house they picked to wander into was the same house John Palmer was face down on the floor of. Sasha panics and rings Sid, who talks her through it and sends an ambulance round to collect John. Strangely enough he forgets to ask why she is at their house, and as soon as the ambulance has taken John to hospital, Sasha begins stealing all their stuff. Nice girl that one. Xavier comes home and catches her in the act, but she manages to push him off her and run out the door (Yes Xavier, this does mean you just got beaten up by a girl).

Romeo and Alf rush to the aid of the Roo and the others, who seem to have somehow managed to get themselves shipwrecked in the National Park? Also weird. Alf rescues Roo and Dennis, who are both shaken up, but ok. “All of a sudden the boat tipped over, and there was water everywhere…” Really Roo? Did you actually expect anything less? Romeo goes back on his own to find Harvey, and when he finally does, he manages to find himself and his 4WD just short of heading over a cliff. Looks like there will be lots more stormy drama tomorrow night!

On a side note, What I like most about this storm is that it has finally made the people of Summer Bay close their windows and doors! Hooray!