Home and Away

Who are the 5 characters that will appear in the next season that will shock the audience?

Posted on by Jessica

Here is a professional magazine-style news article based on the latest, confirmed Home and Away updates and the 5 shocking characters set to shake up the next season.

Five Shock Characters Set to Explode Onto Home and Away Next Season

Summer Bay is bracing for one of its most dramatic years yet. According to the latest production leaks, casting announcements, and behind-the-scenes reveals, Home and Away is preparing to unleash five characters whose arrivals — or returns — will send shockwaves through both the Bay and its global fanbase.

From dangerous new teenagers with dark behaviour patterns to the return of two of the biggest icons the series has ever produced, the upcoming season is shaping up to be a true turning point.

Below is a full breakdown of the five most shocking characters confirmed for the new season, based on all current industry reporting.

1. Eliza Sherwood — The Disturbed New Arrival Who Isn’t What She Seems

One of the most heavily discussed new introductions is Eliza Sherwood, a foster teen whose arrival coincides with a mysterious fire that destroyed her previous home. Early press materials describe her as “troubled, unpredictable, and hiding a past no one is prepared for.”

Set photos and storyline teasers indicate she will:

  • steal medication from hospital staff
  • threaten fellow teens in the Bay
  • manipulate adults to gain power
  • and potentially become entangled in a major upcoming criminal plot

Eliza is being positioned as a season-long ticking time bomb, with producers suggesting her arc will lead to one of the biggest cliffhangers of the year.

2. Lacey Miller — The Rebellious Outsider Who Sparks a Family War

Lacey, who recently debuted, is confirmed to play a much larger, darker role in the next season. Her history with a dangerous gang leader continues to trail behind her, placing Summer Bay residents in unexpected danger.

Her storyline will intensify as her family enters the Bay, exposing long-hidden secrets:

  • tension with her father, Sergeant David Langham
  • jealousy and rivalry with her sister Jo
  • unresolved trauma from her former life

Lacey is expected to headline a major youth-driven storyline that intersects with police corruption, loyalty tests, and a shocking betrayal.

3. Jo Langham — The Sister With a Secret Agenda

Jo’s arrival is already causing friction, but insiders confirm she will become one of next season’s biggest shock players.

While initially presented as a caring older sister, Jo reportedly carries:

  • a hidden past involving serious wrongdoing
  • a strained relationship with her father
  • a secret that could destroy her family’s reputation

Writers are preparing Jo for a long-term arc examining family dysfunction, loyalty fractures, and moral collapse. Early reactions from cast interviews suggest Jo may become a surprise antagonist.

4. Sergeant David Langham — The Lawman With a Dark Past

Newly introduced police sergeant David Langham is not just another uniform in the Bay. Producers confirm he will take centre stage in a storyline mixing law enforcement, family breakdown, and unresolved guilt.

Upcoming episodes hint at:

  • David clashing with long-standing Bay residents
  • strained loyalty when his daughters become suspects in an investigation
  • revelations about his past police conduct

Industry reporters describe him as “one of the most morally complex characters the show has added in years”, suggesting his presence could reshape the police-driven plots in 2026.

5. The Shocking Return of Brax and Ricky — Summer Bay Legends Reignite the Franchise

Perhaps the biggest news of all: Darryl “Brax” Braxton (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky Sharpe (Bonnie Sveen) are officially returning to filming for a major storyline.

Images from the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun confirm the pair have reunited on set in Western Australia for a storyline being described as:

  • “high-stakes,”
  • “cinematic,”
  • and “one of the most significant returns in modern Home and Away history.”

Their comeback is expected to reboot old feuds, reignite romance arcs, and potentially introduce a new wave of Braxton-related drama. Fans already speculate the storyline may include a kidnapping, gang retaliation, or a long-buried secret coming to light.

What This Means for Summer Bay

With troubled teens, fractured families, a morally conflicted police sergeant, and the explosive return of two fan-favourite icons, the next season of Home and Away promises:

  • darker emotional stakes
  • multi-season arcs
  • character-driven tension
  • unexpected alliances
  • and at least one storyline that producers say will “divide the audience.”

As filming continues across both Sydney and Western Australia, fans should expect even more casting news and surprise returns in the coming weeks.