Caroline Stewart (Nicole Shostak)

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They haven't always had the easiest of relationships, but things will finally start to look up for Home and Away's Alf and Duncan Stewart when they agree to put their differences behind them.

That's until Duncan's wife Caroline arrives in the Bay and changes everything.

Caroline (played by Nicole Shostak) will surprise Duncan by arriving on his doorstep with their young son, Bryce. But she gets a very frosty reception from Alf, who made his feelings about her clear before she even married Duncan.

Caroline claims that she has come to Summer Bay to check on Duncan following the recent plane crash, but Alf doesn't buy her excuses and thinks she has an ulterior motive.

Things quickly become heated when Caroline riles at Alf for never giving her a chance - an accusation which does have some element of truth.

And as further truths come to light, Alf confirms that he told Duncan he wasn't keen on Caroline when he came to their wedding many years ago. Alf's fears were then proved correct when Caroline cheated on Duncan, and subsequently fled to Hawaii with their child.

And the problem for Duncan is that he can't help but think Alf's worries are justified because a lot of what Caroline is saying doesn't ring true.

That's not the only issue either. Caroline's presence will have a huge impact on Duncan's blossoming relationship with Tori Morgan.

Tori had previously decided to throw caution to the wind and make a go of it with Duncan, but will Caroline drive a wedge between them? And more importantly, will she drive a new wedge between Duncan and Alf?


Benedict Wall, who plays Duncan, told TV Week: "It's a catch-22 situation for Duncan. He wants a relationship with his son, but he doesn't really trust Caroline.

"She really pushes his buttons. She certainly gets a frosty reception from Alf and she throws a spanner in the works of his relationship with Tori.

"The trouble for Duncan is a lot of what Caroline says doesn't ring true. It feels like there is a gap in her story. It's just very hard to trust her."


Digital Spy

Home and Away Spoiler News!

Caroline’s Secret Illness Revealed

Since her unexpected arrival in Summer Bay a few weeks ago, Caroline Stewart (Nicole Shostak) has been keeping a big secret from her estranged husband Duncan (Benedict Wall), and next week Australian viewers will finally learn just what that secret is.

Last week saw the revelation that Caroline had a large amount of marijuana in her possession, which was later lost when her bag fell into the water from the pier. Despite Alf sending a couple of guys into the water, the bag could not be found. Later, Duncan & Caroline’s son Bryce (Jack & Ace Long) jumped into the water in an attempt to salvage what he knew was important for his mother – her “special medicine” as he later told a suspicious Roo.

Whilst it was all too easy to jump to conclusions, Caroline later went to visit Dr Nate at the hospital, and it became apparent that the situation was far more serious. Whilst the conversation detailing her ailment happened off-screen, we learnt that Caroline was using the marijuana medicinally after exhausting other treatments in the US to help cope with her symptoms. Whilst Nate had every sympathy, he was unable to help with her request for more as the use of medical marijuana is currently banned in Australia (though since these episodes were filmed, it’s been announced that the ban is due to be lifted in November).

After managing to get her hands on what she needs via Ash, things will come to a head this Thursday when Caroline’s alternative remedy gets the better of her, and next Monday she will confide in Roo about her problem – she has Huntington’s Disease.

TV WEEK reports that despite the risk of Bryce also having the hereditary condition, which causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, Caroline begs Roo not to say anything to Duncan or Alf. When a desperate Caroline later goes on the run with Bryce, Duncan calls the police – will she be forced to reveal her secret?

Home and Away has previously dealt with the issue of Huntington’s back in 2000, when Edward Dunglass was diagnosed with the Juvenile form of the disease, inherited from his late father. With the average life-expectancy for a Juvenile HD sufferer being less than 10 years after diagnosis, Edward left to travel overseas with his partner Peta Janossi.


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