The Real-Life Romance Behind Summer Bay: Shane Withington and Anne Tenney’s Decades-Long Secret

In the world of Australian soap operas, where dramatic weddings and explosive breakups are the norm, one of the most enduring love stories has managed to stay largely out of the spotlight for over forty years. Shane Withington, best known to modern audiences as the lovable, if sometimes grumpy, surf lifesaver John Palmer on Home and Away, has been living a real-life romance that rivals any script.

While his character John Palmer has had high-profile relationships in Summer Bay—most notably with Gina Austin and Marilyn Chambers—Withington’s heart has belonged to his former co-star, Anne Tenney, since the 1980s. The pair first met on the set of the iconic drama A Country Practice, where they played the beloved on-screen couple Brendan and Molly Jones.

A Love Born in Wandin Valley During their time in the fictional town of Wandin Valley, Brendan and Molly became one of Australia’s most cherished TV pairings. Their chemistry was so natural that it captivated millions of viewers, culminating in one of the most heartbreaking moments in Australian television history: Molly’s death from leukemia in 1985. The episode remains the highest-rated soap opera moment in the nation’s history, watched by over 2.2 million people.

However, while the country mourned Molly, the actors behind the roles were building a life together far away from the cameras. Despite the intense media interest in their characters, Withington and Tenney made a conscious decision to keep their real-life relationship a complete secret from the public.

Why They Kept It Secret Reflecting on their decision decades later, Withington explained that they avoided the limelight to protect the integrity of their bond. “We kept it under our hats; no one really knew,” he told Starts at 60. “We didn’t want to cheapen our relationship by doing a magazine cover saying ‘we found love on a soap opera!’ We valued our relationship more than that.”

The secrecy was so effective that even their fellow cast members were often in the dark. Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts on Home and Away, recently shared her shock at discovering the truth years after Withington joined the show in 2009. Upon asking if he was married, Withington simply replied, “Yeah, I’ve got a partner, we’ve been together for 30 years… her name is Anne.” McGranger admitted she “nearly died” with excitement upon realizing that “the real Brendan and the real Molly” were actually together.

A Lasting Legacy Today, Shane and Anne remain one of the strongest couples in the industry, proving that privacy can be the key to longevity in show business. They share a daughter, Madeleine, and continue to support each other’s careers. While Tenney has moved on to legendary roles in films like The Castle, Withington remains a cornerstone of the Home and Away cast.

For fans of Summer Bay, the realization that John Palmer is half of Australia’s most legendary secret “super-couple” adds a heartwarming layer to the actor’s long-standing television legacy.