Home And Away Christmas In The Bay

Some of the show’s stars share their festive traditions.

- Holly Richards

Getting five Home And Away stars together for New Idea’s exclusive summer picnic photoshoot is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

Just like the rest of us, it’s a mad rush to the end of the year for the popular actors and actresses, with filming wrapping for the year just shy of Christmas Eve.

So it’s no surprise, that on this sunny Sydney day, Ada Nicodemou, Sophie Dillman, Olivia Deeble, Ray Meagher and Jackson Heywood are relishing the chance to catch up.

It’s tricky to snap a shot of the five all looking at the camera as they laugh and joke around, pulling crackers and playing totem tennis.

‘What do you get when you cross an elephant and water?’ Olivia reads aloud from the joke in her Christmas cracker.

‘Swimming trunks!’

As everyone else groans, laughs and rolls their eyes, it’s clear there is a special bond between them all.

‘It really is like a family,’ Jackson, who plays Brody Morgan, explains.

‘You have to have each other’s backs in this industry.’

Olivia, 15, adds: ‘I see these guys more than I see my parents! We are so close off set as well as on set.’

Giggling with her castmates as Olivia juggles some grapes, Sophie, who joined the cast this year as Ziggy Astoni, says working so closely together for 46 weeks of the year has made for some strong bonds.

‘Everyone is really close and it’s really fun doing these shoots, because you get to see everyone outside of work,’ she says.

‘Because we’re so busy, I don’t get to see people I don’t have scenes with all the time!’