Have to wonder if all the WA / Brax and Ricky storyline and hype was worth it. While the third highest rating of the season last night’s episode was only 40,000 higher than the previous Monday and still 170,000 behind ACA at 7pm. I suspect Seven might have hoping for more, though consolidated will help as usual.
I don’t think they are up to the points where it’s more of the WA episodes. That’s probably later this week or next week. So I think it will be those ratings that 7 will hope increases
Was it the full opening tonight or short version?
The short version tonight.
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How much does Home & Away grow by in consolidated ratings?
I assume they probably get quite close to ACA 7 days later.
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Just have a look at last monday/Tuesday ratings
Home and Away goes west – and wins
Special WA event boosts audience 12%, biggest audience in four years
The first week of the special Western Australia episodes of the Seven Network’s Home and Away has been a hit with viewers, with the much-loved show boosting its audience 12% year-on-year and recording its biggest week since February 2022.
The WA event, which centres on the highly anticipated return of Brax (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky (Bonnie Sveen) to Australia’s #1 local drama series after a 10-year break, drew an average national total TV audience of 948,000, up from 850,000 in the same week in 2025.
The number of viewers on 7plus soared 97% to 253,000.
Compared to the previous week, Home and Away was up 7% in total TV and up 14% on 7plus.
The audience of the WA episodes, which were made in partnership with the WA Government through Tourism Western Australia, this week was up 13% on Home and Away’s 2025 season average, including a 75% jump on 7plus.
Seven’s Director of Content, Scripted, Julie McGauran, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that viewers have embraced this week’s episodes of Home and Away, delivering the show’s biggest ratings week in more than four years. Working with Tourism Western Australia to bring the powerful storyline of Brax and Ricky’s return has been a highlight for our production team. Filming in Western Australia allowed us to showcase the state in all its natural beauty, taking Home and Away’s already incredibly high production values to another level.
“This week’s episodes struck a perfect balance of gripping, emotional drama and important social themes, creating must-watch Australian television for fans here and around the world. And there’s so much more to come!”
Western Australian Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, said: “It’s fantastic to see Home and Away’s Western Australian episodes off to such a strong start, with our State truly stealing the spotlight.
“All the things that make Western Australia special – our stunning landscapes, relaxed lifestyle, and unique experiences – have now been showcased to audiences across the country, reinforcing WA as a premier holiday destination and inspiring future travel to our State, with greater exposure still to come as the episodes air internationally.
“This forms part of the WA Government’s broader economic diversification strategy to attract more visitors to Western Australia, boost our tourism sector, and support local businesses and jobs.”
Production of the WA episodes took place in October last year at some of the state’s most spectacular locations, including Elizabeth Quay in central Perth, Bullara Station near Exmouth, and in the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, featuring the idyllic coastal town of Coral Bay, and the dramatic landscapes of Charles Knife Canyon, Yardie Creek, Turquoise Bay and Shot Hole Canyon in Cape Range National Park.
Home and Away’s WA event continues next week.
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Today’s Stellar liftout in News Corp papers features a photoshoot and interview with Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor (paywall). They studied acting at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane where Patrick was one year ahead of Sophie. However, Sophie joined the soap a year before Patrick.
Home and Away’s average audience this week (947,000) was the highest so far this year. Helped by 2 x one million results but hampered by being on 7Two in 2 markets on Thursday. The result was almost 160,000 higher than last this week last year.
Compared to other weeks (excluding ep 2 and 3 on Thursday) it was just ahead of the first week back that averaged 942,000.
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It must be on par with Irene’s leaving week.
A behind the scenes look at the filming of the soap at Bullara Station in WA’s north west coast last October. The article mentions that Austin Cutcliffe played the son of Brax and Ricky.
Do they still use old shots of the house from outside? Or is never seen anymore?
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They stopped using old shots of the house well over a decade ago now ever since it was rebuilt and they updated shots with the new house
Wentworth star Nicole da Silva joins the cast of Home And Away
Like so many Australians, Nicole da Silva saw Home And Away as a dinnertime staple during her childhood.
“I remember that peak time in the ’90s with Shane and Angel and Bobby… all those characters,” she tells Stellar of the roles played by Melissa George, Dieter Brummer and Nicolle Dickson. “I grew up on that.”
And while da Silva admits she hasn’t watched the show for many years, Stellar can reveal that she’s already begun filming scenes for her new role, debuting later this year.
Taking on the new role of Dr Amelia Carlisle has required the actor to adjust not only to the rapid-fire pace of shooting a soap opera but also to mastering a lot of medical terminology.
Edit 13/4
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Surely Home & Away is thinking about which other former stars they can bring back, following the success of Brax & Ricky.
Maybe a Kate Ritchie storyline in 2027?
Fitzy and Wippa always tease Kate about going back but she never seems that keen. I think she wasn’t that happy with her storyline in the last return.
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Last week was Home and Away’s highest rated week of the year with 965,000 to make the top 10 - even outrating Idol’s GF Part 1. It was amazing result considering the show was not broadcast on the main channel in all markets on Thursday and we are just heading into the higher rating autumn and winter seasons. By comparison, across all of last year, the highest rated week had 905,000.
The show also did well to rank 3rd in BVOD, only beaten by MAFS. It also ranked slightly higher in 25-54 to be 9th.
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