A Decade Later: Brax and Ricky Make Their Triumphant Return to Home and Away for a Western Australia Spectacular
Sydney, 2025 — Nearly ten years after bidding farewell to Summer Bay, fan-favorite couple Daryl “Brax” Braxton (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky Sharp (Bonnie Sveen) are finally heading home — and this time, their return will be bigger, bolder, and set against the breathtaking expanse of Western Australia.
The Home and Away production team has officially confirmed that Brax and Ricky will return in 2026 for a “blockbuster week” of episodes, marking one of the most ambitious and emotional events in the soap’s 38-year history.
The Return That Fans Have Been Waiting For
For years, Home and Away viewers have pleaded for closure on one of the show’s most enduring love stories — and now, the wait is almost over.
Brax and Ricky’s return was announced across Seven Network’s official social channels, igniting an online frenzy as fans celebrated the comeback of the couple whose intense chemistry and tragic past captivated millions. Their storyline, which saw Brax go on the run and Ricky torn between love and loyalty, ended in 2016 when the pair left Summer Bay to start a new life together.
Now, a decade later, their reappearance promises to answer the question fans have been asking for years: Where did Brax and Ricky go? And are they still together?
According to producers, the new episodes will reveal “where life has taken them since 2016” and delve into how their shared history — marked by crime, redemption, and passion — continues to shape their present.
“This is a love story that defined an era of Home and Away,” an insider from the production team shared. “Bringing Brax and Ricky back isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about revisiting the emotional heartbeat of the show and giving the audience the payoff they’ve been waiting for.”
The Western Australia Setting: A First for Home and Away
Adding to the excitement, the 2026 special will be filmed entirely in Western Australia, marking the first time in the soap’s long history that the show has ventured into the state.
The partnership between Seven Network and Tourism Western Australia promises a cinematic experience unlike anything the series has attempted before. Producers have teased “high-stakes drama, sweeping landscapes, and deeply emotional storytelling” that will merge Home and Away’s signature intimacy with blockbuster-scale visuals.
Filming will take place across several iconic WA locations — from the rugged Outback plains to the pristine coastal cliffs — capturing the raw beauty of the region.
“Filming in spectacular Outback Western Australia is the icing on the cake,” said Stephen Peacocke, who first played Brax from 2011 to 2016. “This storyline is going to feel epic, but it’s also deeply personal. I think fans are going to see a side of Brax they’ve never seen before.”
Peacocke, who has since built an acclaimed international career with roles in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Five Bedrooms, and The Newsreader, said stepping back into Brax’s boots felt like “coming home to family.”
“I’ll always be grateful to Home and Away for launching my career,” he said. “When the producers reached out about revisiting Brax, it felt like the right time — not just for me, but for the fans.”
Bonnie Sveen’s Emotional Homecoming
For Bonnie Sveen, who portrayed Ricky Sharp from 2013 to 2016, the return carries equally powerful emotions.
“Bringing Ricky back wasn’t something I ever expected,” Sveen admitted. “But when I heard the storyline and realized it involved filming in Western Australia with Steve, it felt incredibly special. Exploring where Ricky and Brax are ten years on — how they’ve changed, what they’ve overcome — it’s a rare gift.”
Sveen, who stepped away from acting after starting a family, said the role of Ricky still resonates deeply with her. “Ricky was such a strong, complicated woman. She’s been through loss, motherhood, and survival. Revisiting her story now, with a decade of distance, adds a whole new depth.”
Behind the Scenes: An Event a Decade in the Making
Executive Producer Julie McGauran described the project as one of the most significant in Home and Away’s modern era.
“Brax and Ricky’s return after a decade is something fans have dreamed about for years,” McGauran said. “They left a mark on the show that’s never truly faded. This special event will honor that legacy while delivering the kind of drama, romance, and danger that Home and Away does best. There will be plenty of surprises along the way.”
Filming begins October 2025, with an expanded production crew traveling to Western Australia for an extended shoot. The episodes will air in early 2026 on the Seven Network in Australia and on Channel 5 in the UK.
To celebrate, Seven has announced a global fan initiative: one lucky UK viewer — along with a guest — will be flown to Western Australia to visit the set and watch filming in person. The competition announcement alone sent social media into overdrive, with “#BraxAndRickyReturn” trending within hours.
A Love Story Reignited
When Brax and Ricky last appeared on-screen, they had escaped a lifetime of turmoil — but their love story was far from peaceful. Brax, once the feared leader of the River Boys gang, had faked his own death, lived on the run, and returned to save Ricky from danger before finally choosing to leave the Bay for good.
Their reunion in 2016 was bittersweet: they left together, but unresolved questions lingered — could Brax truly change? Could Ricky forgive the chaos that had defined their love?
The upcoming Western Australia storyline is said to revisit those emotional scars. “It’s about reckoning,” a member of the writing team teased. “Brax and Ricky have built a life together, but ghosts from the past never stay buried for long.”
Sources close to production hint at a powerful, cinematic storyline that mixes romance, danger, and redemption, staying true to the high emotional stakes that made the couple so iconic.
Legacy and Impact
For Home and Away, this event isn’t just about reviving old faces — it’s about reconnecting with the show’s roots. Brax and Ricky’s original arc, filled with heartbreak, loyalty, and forbidden love, helped redefine the series for a new generation of viewers.
Their return in 2026 is expected to serve as both a celebration of Home and Away’s enduring legacy and a bridge to its future, potentially introducing new characters tied to their lives outside the Bay.
As production gears up, anticipation is already sky-high. “This will be one of the biggest moments in Home and Away history,” McGauran promised. “It’s a reunion, a reckoning, and a love story that refuses to die.”
A Decade Later, the Bay Still Calls
For millions of loyal fans, the sight of Brax and Ricky under the Western Australian sun will be more than nostalgia — it will be catharsis.
After a decade apart, Home and Away’s most passionate duo is coming home — to settle old scores, rekindle old flames, and remind viewers why their story remains one of the most unforgettable in Australian television.
When the Outback meets the Bay, sparks — and emotions — are bound to fly.
The special Brax and Ricky event airs in 2026 on the Seven Network and Channel 5.