James Stewart & Sarah Roberts 'We're Engaged!'

Unable to tear their eyes off each other, Home and Away stars and real-life lovers, James Stewart and Sarah Roberts are on cloud nine. Their beaming smiles and knowing glances, and a very telling diamond on Sarah’s ring finger, give it all away. On Nov. 30, at their favourite restaurant – the same place they had their first date – James, or Jimmy as he’s known to friends, proposed.

- Ali Cromarty

“It was the last day of spring,” Sarah, 34, recalls exclusively to New Idea, holding Jimmy’s hand.“Sarah’s birthday is Dec. 4, but I wanted to make it a surprise” James, 43, explains. “Some good friends said, ‘keep it simple’. So, I was sitting in this Italian restaurant and I was sweating, but I kept it simple – which made it more real.”

In fact, Sarah was convinced Jimmy had something planned for their New York Christmas trip, so when he popped the question, she was shocked. “You tricked me,” she teases. “I didn’t see it coming this soon. When the box came out I thought, ‘Maybe it’s a birthday bracelet’ but Jimmy was nervous, a bit sweaty, and his eyes were watery. I knew something was up.”

How long were you planning the proposal?

James About six months. [My daughter] Scout is watching movies with princesses marrying princes, so it was a gag for a long time where she’d say, “When are you going to do that? You better do it quick dad! You’re going to lose her!” And one day I was like, “Do it!” So I spoke to my mum and she was like, “why the … haven’t you done it yet?!”

Sarah I love his family.

So how did you react?