Dean (Patrick) & Ziggy (Sophie) to return in 2025

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article. Dean & Ziggy are top return for a bit in 2025.


Sophie Dillman and Patrick O?Connor are making a grand return to Home and Away
Welcome home!

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/home-and-away-2025-sophie-dillman-patrick-oconnor-return/

Home and Away fan favourites, Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor are returning to Summer Bay in early 2025.

Reprising their roles as Ziggy Astoni and Dean Thompson, the actors will begin filming this month in the Whitsunday Region of tropical north Queensland.

"It feels so good to be home," Sophie told Seven, with Patrick adding: "I can't wait for the action, and for fans to see this storyline play out."

So, why are we seeing the Summer Bay favourites once more? Unfortunately for fans, the network has not yet revealed the storyline for Ziggy and Dean.

However, it is highly likely that fans will meet little Izzy, the couple's first baby together.

The characters then made the difficult decision to pack their bags and move to north Queensland so Dean could be closer to his son, Jai.

Sophie and Patrick entered the Australian drama separately but left together in March 2023. The former joined in 2017, while the latter entered in 2018.

Speaking of their exit in 2023 to TV Week, Sophie admitted it was 'incredibly hard' to leave their characters behind.

"We have both done everything possible with our characters and it was time to start a new chapter," Sophie said.

"It's bittersweet and emotional, but we realise how lucky we are to have had such an incredible run."

The lovebirds were just 24 years old when they started on Home and Away, and Patrick admitted he was ready to move on.

"It's a huge commitment and a massive chunk of my life. I felt I changed into six different people in the time we were there," he told TV Week.

There's a lot of growth both as an actor and a person. It's a great place to work, but I was ready [to move on]."



EDIT: The DS & tvtonight articles:

Home and Away confirms shock return for Ziggy and Dean
"It feels so good to be home!"

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a62586018/home-and-away-shock-return-ziggy-dean/


Sophie Dillman, Patrick O?Connor return to Home and Away.
Last seen in 2023, Sophie Dillman & Patrick O?Connor will reprise their roles as Ziggy Astoni & Dean Thompson in the new year.

https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/10/sophie-dillman-patrick-oconnor-to-return-to-home-and-away.html

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


From reel life to real life: Home and Away stars Patrick O?Connor and Sophie Dillman?s relationship in pictures
Their chemistry is sizzling on and off-set.

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/tv/patrick-oconnor-sophie-dillman-relationship-62319/

[Pantherboy]

Yahoo.com article:


Home and Away star teases 2025 storyline: 'River Boy action'
Patrick O'Connor and Sophie Dillman are heading back to Summer Bay... well, kind of.

https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-and-away-star-teases-2025-storyline-river-boy-action-045348382.html

After the exciting news broke that two Home and Away fan favourites are set to rejoin the hit soap next year, actor Patrick O'Connor, who plays Dean, has teased more of what fans can expect when he and Sophie Dillman, who plays Ziggy, hit screens again.

The couple who play the lovebirds are also dating in real life, and departed the show in early 2023 and have spent some time travelling and living around the UK and Europe since they left Summer Bay. After the news of their surprise return was announced, Sophie said it feels "good to be home!" while Patrick added, "I can't wait for the action, and for fans to see this storyline play out."

Ziggy and Dean left Summer Bay in 2023 after welcoming their first child together, Izzy, deciding to say goodbye to the place they met and fell in love to relocate to Queensland to be closer to Dean's son Jai, and the new storyline is set to take place at the Whitsundays, with the couple filming the 'top-secret' storyline in North Queensland this month.

Patrick O'Connor teases new Home and Away storyline

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph's Confidential, Patrick divulged a little more about what fans can expect from the couple's return.

"There's a bit of River Boy action, there's a bit of road trips with them," Patrick said. "I think it'll be good to see where Dean is now, where they're at now with their babies living away in Queensland, is all I'll say."

Babies, plural? Is that a clue?

In real life, the pair said they have no plans to return to Australia permanently yet, saying they are just "seeking adventure", so sorry Home and Away fans ? this return will only be a brief one.

Fans react to surprise Home and Away news: 'We needed this'

Naturally, fans were delighted to see the star couple return, even if it's only a one-off.

"Omg please tell me they are also staying for a while. I love these two, they have been missed," one person said. "Made my day! The best H&A couple!" another enthused.

"YAYYYYYYYYYY @homeandaway we needed this after losing Felicity," one fan pointed out. "I?m actually going to cry! 😭 I can not wait until the new year!" another emotional one wrote.

"Love seeing Sophie and Patrick's personal journey while they have been away from The Bay, but this news makes me very happy," another fan commented.



EDIT: The DS article:

Home and Away star reveals River Boy drama as Dean returns
"There's a bit of River Boy action."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a62620744/home-and-away-patrick-oconnor-river-boy/

[Pantherboy]

For those Dean & Ziggy fans. Nowtolove.com.au article:


Ziggy and Dean?s best moments on Home and Away
Our favourite H&A lovebirds are coming back.

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/home-and-away-ziggy-and-dean-best-moments-76889/

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


First look: Home and Away's thrilling comeback for fan favourites Dean and Ziggy
"Coming soon."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a63871757/first-look-home-and-away-dean-ziggy-comeback/

Home and Away has treated fans to a first look at Dean Thompson and Ziggy Astoni's thrilling comeback.

Last year, it was announced that Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor would be returning to their respective roles for a top secret storyline which will air sometime this year.

It's good news for fans as it looks like those scenes are set to air sometime soon, with the soap confirming the news via a post on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGVFTaiq1ga/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=5ef0083f-f4c1-4283-92f6-eea4f61bbdce

Sharing a video to their social media in which Dean and Ziggy can be seen enjoying a boat ride together, Home and Away captioned the post: "Dean and Ziggy Return! Coming soon on #HomeandAway."

"Dean and Ziggy return," a voiceover in the video says. "As Home and Away takes you to places they've never been."

The duo left the soap back in 2023 after their daughter Izzy was born. When Dean's ex told him she was moving to Queensland with their son Jai, Dean and Ziggy moved to Queensland to be nearer to Dean's first child.

Fans took to the comment section to share their delight at the comeback, with one fan writing: "Yeahhh love these 2 wish they were still in the show."

While some fans were happy to see the couple return to their screens, they shared their disappointment that the guest appearance is likely to be brief.

"So happy but also sad it may only be for a little guest appearance," a viewer penned. "It?s only for two episodes but good to see them back," another person commented.

Meanwhile, one fan called for the soap to write the pair back in for good, saying: "Woo hoo!!! I hope they are back for more than 1 episode. Can u please write them back in for good?"

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with repeat screenings at 6pm on 5STAR and first-look screenings at 6.30pm on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7Plus.

[Pantherboy]

Yahoo.com.au article (with new promo 'Home and Away Queensland Event | Coming Soon'):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFxRIAP7tso


Home and Away reveals major twist for Ziggy and Dean's return: 'Can't wait'
Here's everything we know about the upcoming storyline.

https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/home-and-away-reveals-major-twist-for-ziggy-and-deans-return-can't-wait-001659359.html

Home and Away viewers have been eagerly awaiting the return of fan favourite stars and real-life couple Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor in 2025. It was announced in October last year that the pair would be reprising their roles as Ziggy and Dean for a 'top-secret' storyline after they left the series in 2023 to move to the UK.

Following much anticipation, Channel Seven finally confirmed on Friday morning that the duo will make their explosive return to Home and Away from Monday, March 10. However, they won't be coming back to Summer Bay.

Instead, a teaser for the upcoming TV event shows that Home and Away will take place in Queensland for the first time ever. Sophie and Patrick's scenes were filmed last year on location in the Whitsunday region of tropical north Queensland, including Airlie Beach, Daydream Island, Bowen and Proserpine.

What do we know about Ziggy and Dean's return?

The teaser sees Levi (Tristan Gorey) surprise Mackenzie (Emily Weir) with a trip to Queensland to reunite with her half-brother Dean. The former River Boy was last seen on screens in March 2023 when he, his partner Ziggy and their baby girl Izzy left Summer Bay to move to the Sunshine State so he could be closer to his son Jai.

While Ziggy is excited to see Mackenzie and Levi, Dean is less enthused to meet his half-sister's new partner and believes he can't be trusted because he cheated on his ex-partner.

The two men repeatedly butt heads, with Dean making it clear to Levi that they will never be mates, before things take a dramatic turn when Ziggy and Mackenzie are taken captive by two escaped prisoners.

The pair must then put their differences aside and work together to try and save their girlfriends? lives before it's too late.

https://youtu.be/cFxRIAP7tso

Fans react to dramatic trailer
Fans took to social media on Friday to express their excitement over Sophie and Patrick's long-awaited return, with one person writing: :"This is looking so cool! Amazing. Missed Dean and Ziggy!"

"I love protective Dean can't wait," another added, while a third said, "Hope they are back for more than this episode".

"I have waited for this for soooo long! Can't wait for it to hit our screen! Love Dean and Ziggy. Please return full-time to the show!" someone else replied.

Sophie said in a statement alongside last year's announcement that she would be returning to the show that it "feels so good to be home".

Patrick added: "I can't wait for the action, and for fans to see this storyline play out."



EDIT: The DS article:

Home and Away confirms double kidnap as Dean and Ziggy's comeback takes a terrifying turn
"You won't want to miss this special event."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a63970581/home-and-away-double-kidnap-dean-ziggy/

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


EXCLUSIVE: Sophie Dillman and Patrick O?Connor on travelling the globe ? and why they had to come back to the Bay
'It feels like coming home'

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/home-and-away/sophie-dillman-patrick-oconnor-home-and-away-return/

If Sophie Dillman and Patrick O?Connor ever had any doubts about how much their Home And Away characters, Ziggy Astoni and Dean Thompson, were ? and still are ? loved by fans, they have certainly been washed away like a great ocean tide since leaving the show.

For the past two years, Sophie and Patrick ? partners in real life, as were their on-screen characters ? have been travelling through Europe. Patrick was at a mate?s 40th in Ireland last year when he was finally able to appreciate the level of fandom for Ziggy and Dean in the Emerald Isle.

?Every pub I went to, someone put down a Guinness in front of me,? Patrick, 32, says with a laugh. ?Because they were a fan of the show, they just bought me a Guinness.

?And it wasn?t so much, ?We want to get you drunk? or anything. But they were more like, ?We love Home And Away, we love what you guys did there.? And I always knew the show had an impact, but I didn?t realise that in a cold, little green town in Ireland, just how much Summer Bay means 
to these people.?

Fans were devastated when Sophie, 32, and Patrick, who joined the 
show in 2017 and 2018 respectively, announced they were leaving H&A in March 2023. After the kind of barrel ride many characters get on the show, Ziggy and Dean left on a happy note ? moving to North Queensland with their daughter, Izzy, to be closer to Dean?s son, Jai (River Jarvis), and his mother, Amber (Madeleine Jevic).

Sophie and Patrick?s H&A journey was presumed to be over, with Sophie telling TV WEEK at the time that they were ready to ?start a new chapter?. But you can imagine viewers? feverish delight when it was revealed they would reprise their characters in special episodes filmed in the breathtaking Whitsunday region of North Queensland.

?We were pretty excited to see where the characters were at this point,? Patrick recalls, while Sophie adds that she was eager to explore what kind of life their characters would have away from the Bay.

?The craziest thing is it?s just like we?d never left,? Patrick says. ?It is really lovely being back.?

?Honestly, we were driving into the [Channel Seven] building, and it felt 
like just yesterday we had left,? Sophie adds. ?I walked in and, without thinking, I checked the call sheet and realised 
I wasn?t on it. It feels like coming home.?

When we rejoin Ziggy and Dean, they?re living their best life 
in sunny Queensland which, Sophie reveals, comprises 
of ?fixing cars, playing with their baby in the sunshine and surfing?.

?It?s the idea of 
an ideal Australian upbringing,? she says.

Out of the blue, Mack (Emily Weir) and Levi (Tristan Gorey) show up, which kickstarts an adventure through spectacular locations that will have fans on their edges of their couches.

The tropical location couldn?t be further from their life together in Europe where they?ve driven a Husky-led sled across a frozen lake in Norway with the Northern Lights above them, travelled to Slovenia and Italy, the UK and US.

After their intense H&A experience, both Sophie and Patrick admit they needed to reconnect with life again.

?You lose a sense of who you are and what makes you excited about life,? Patrick says of working on something so all-encompassing. ?Then going around Europe, you?re constantly stimulated ? everything is new all the time. I feel happier than I did a couple of years ago.?

Sophie had a chance to test her acting chops doing theatre in London, as well as trying her hand at writing a column, where she discusses their travel experiences and her health battle with endometriosis.

?I?ve had a lot of women come and speak to me about their experiences,? 
she says. ?I?m really glad that I?ve been able to make that happen.?

Wherever they have gone, there are constant reminders of their H&A lives.

had this lady chase me down in London,? Patrick says. ?She?s like, ?I?ve been calling you for 10 minutes. You 
walk mighty quick, but I?ve got a pram.??

If anything, Sophie and Patrick?s TV return has made them realise how ?fortunate? they are to have fallen in love while making the show.

?I constantly think about how lucky we are to be together,? Patrick says. ?Home And Away will always be a big part of our lives, because we grew up there, we started dating on this show? It would be very difficult to forget what that means to us.?

Who knows, maybe H&A will have routine check-ins with Ziggy and Dean.

?I would love that,? Sophie enthuses. ?Of course, we?d have to go snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef??

Home And Away airs Monday to Thursday, 7pm on Channel Seven

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


Home and Away spoilers: Dean and Ziggy return!
Mack and Levi make a surprise visit to see Dean and Ziggy in North Queensland ? but will they be welcomed with open arms?

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/home-and-away/home-and-away-ziggy-dean-mack-levi/

Get ready for a big week, Home and Away fans ? Dean and Ziggy are back!

In special upcoming episodes, the former Summer Bay couple, who left to start a new life in North Queensland, are stunned when Mack and Levi show up unannounced. But the warm climate does little to thaw out Dean?s icy judgement of their tricky relationship.

After a tight embrace with sister Mack (Emily Weir), Dean (Patrick O?Connor) appears to shut down when she excitedly introduces him to Levi (Tristan Gorey).

He even rejects the gift they brought 
for baby Izzy. Sensing the tension, Ziggy (Sophie Dillman) invites them inside.

?Dean knows about their whole relationship and he?s not happy about it,? Patrick tells TV WEEK.

Before they can settle in, Levi is pelted with questions about his past marriage and infidelity that led him to be with Mack. Despite assuring them that he?s 
in the process of a divorce, his reasons 
fall on deaf ears and Mack storms out.

?Mack was hesitant to introduce Levi because of what happened but she?s been missing her family and wants Levi to be part of that,? Patrick says. ?They want their relationship to be more serious.?

As Mack tries to push down her feelings back at the hotel, Ziggy fumes at Dean. Not only did he push away his family but he ruined their announcement. What could it be?

?Dean and Ziggy have got Izzy, they?re settled and have a family life,? Sophie, 32, says. ?So, they?re ready to move on to the next chapter [of their lives].?

The next day, Ziggy and Dean try to make amends by inviting the couple on a road trip! But will time in close quarters bring them together or tear them apart?

Home and Away airs Monday to Thursday, 7pm on Channel Seven

[Pantherboy]

DS article - Dean's mother Karen to also return:


Home and Away confirms third return alongside Dean and Ziggy
Who else is back?

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a64087464/home-and-away-spoilers-dean-ziggy-third-return/

Home and Away spoilers follow.

Home and Away is bringing back Dean Thompson's chaotic mother Karen.

Georgia Adamson has filmed a return appearance in her role as Karen, who was last seen on our screens in 2023.

The news has been released as part of the ongoing promo campaign for Dean and Ziggy Astoni's exciting comeback.

Next week's episodes in Australia see Patrick O'Connor and Sophie Dillman reprise their roles as popular couple Dean and Ziggy.

The story plays out as Mackenzie Booth pays a visit to Queensland to see her brother Dean.

Mac takes her partner Levi Fowler along with her, although she's full of anxiety over how Dean will behave towards him.

When they all come face-to-face, a cheery Levi tells Dean how great it is to finally meet him.

Mac's worst fears are realised as Dean scoffs: "Is it? Why did you sleep with my sister while you were still married?"

Karen, who's sitting nearby, also pipes up: "And how long did you lie to your missus for, before you got found out?"

Outspoken Karen first joined Home and Away for a guest stint in 2018 and returned for further appearances in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Dean and Ziggy's return was first announced last October, just before filming was about to begin on the special storyline.

It's since been revealed that their explosive return plot will lead to a terrifying kidnap ordeal for Ziggy and Mac.

Speaking last year, Sophie commented: "It feels so good to be home!"

Patrick added: "I can't wait for the action, and for fans to see this storyline play out."

Home and Away airs these scenes next week on Channel 7 in Australia and early May on Channel 5 in the UK.

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with repeat screenings at 6pm on 5STAR and first look screenings at 6.30pm on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

[Pantherboy]

Nowtolove.com.au article:


EXCLUSIVE: TV WEEK goes behind the scenes of Home And Away in North Queensland
Touch of paradise

https://www.nowtolove.com.au/entertainment/home-and-away-behind-the-scenes-north-queensland/

Bowen, in tropical North Queensland's sparkling Whitsunday Region, is a long way from Summer Bay. And yet, the area's long stretches of sand and crystal blue waters are a perfect 
fit for Home And Away.

TV WEEK is on location in Bowen for filming of the series' much-anticipated return of fan favourite characters Ziggy (Sophie Dillman) and Dean (Patrick O'Connor). We find the characters living happily with their daughter, Izzy (Aluna Ruby and Harlow May Duff), in North Queensland, where a surprise visit from Mack (Emily Weir) and Levi (Tristan Gorey) turns their world upside down.

While the surrounds certainly look like paradise, there's no doubt the shoot in the searing sunshine is tough for cast and crew.

"The extreme heat and humidity definitely make this shoot a challenging one," Tristan, 29, tells TV WEEK.

Emily, 34, adds that shooting some of the action scenes, which take the characters into the Queensland cane fields, are akin to being 'in a sauna'. And filming ocean scenes are tricky, she says, due to the strong tide.

"However, everyone rallies," Emily assures us.

The actress has relished the chance to reunite with Sophie and Patrick, who left the show in 2023.

"In some ways, it feels like not a moment has passed," she says. "We all just picked up exactly where we left off."

Equally, Patrick was enthusiastic about returning to the show to play River Boy Dean.

"It was like returning home!" he says.

But what about that North Queensland heat? No doubt that was challenging for Patrick and partner Sophie, who left Australia to travel the world after leaving the show in 2023.

"Sophie and I are both from Queensland, and after living in London the last two years, the heat was a welcome change!

"Not to mention just how beautiful it is up in the Whitsundays. The people were lovely and it was great to see the cast and crew of Home And Away."

Series producer Lucy Addario says the H&A production team is 'always striving' to make location shoots look and feel different to Sydney's Palm Beach. They've definitely achieved that.

It all adds up to what Tristan describes as 'an absolute killer' story for fans.

Home And Away airs Monday to Thursday, 7pm on Channel Seven and 7Plus

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Home and Away star joins calls for fan favourite to return
"I wanna hang out more with Soph."

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home-and-away/a64254477/home-and-away-tristan-gorey-ziggy-return/

Home and Away spoilers follow from Australian pace episodes, which some UK viewers may prefer to avoid.

Home and Away star Tristan Gorey has joined calls for Ziggy Astoni to return to the soap.

Ziggy (played by Sophie Dillman) left Summer Bay in 2023, alongside her partner Dean Thompson (played by Patrick O'Connor) and their baby daughter Izzy. The family moved to North Queensland so Dean could be present in his son Jai's life.

Earlier this month, the couple reappeared on Australian screens when Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir) and Levi Fowler (Gorey) paid them a visit.

However, the guest stint came to an end after Wednesday's Australian pace episode (March 19), leaving fans desperate for a permanent return.

Meanwhile, Home and Away fans are not the only ones hoping for a Ziggy comeback. In an Instagram video, actor Gorey discussed reuniting with real-life couple Dillman and O'Connor on the recent North Queensland episodes.

"Sophie Dillman ? we had some good chats," he reflected. "Soph was a lot of fun to get along with. I wanna hang out more with Soph, so hopefully Ziggy comes back to the Bay."

Gorey also praised co-star O'Connor for his sense of humour, which he discovered while filming together on the trip. "He's really funny, everyone loves him," Gorey said. "He's a joy to be around."

Fans flooded the comment section to share their favourite moments of the episodes, with one agreeing: "My god. It was a joy watching you all together. They should come back to the bay!"

"Loved the episodes. Dean and Levi are the duo I didn't know I needed. Do you think we'll see their bromance grow ?" asked another, while a third wrote: "It would be great to have Ziggy and Dean back be good to see more stories with the 4 of you."

Home and Away fans in the UK will see Ziggy and Dean's return on Channel 5 in May.

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with repeat screenings at 6pm on 5STAR and first-look screenings at 6.30pm on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7Plus.