List of Home and Away characters (2016)
Justin Morgan, played by James Stewart, made his first screen appearance on 7 June 2016. The character and Stewart's casting was announced on 5 December 2015, alongside Jackson Heywood and Orpheus Pledger, who play Justin's brothers. The actors began filming their first scenes during the week commencing 7 December. Justin is Stewart's first on-going role since he took a year off to care for his young daughter. Like Heywood, Stewart expected Braxton brothers comparisons, but he told Jonathon Moran of The Daily Telegraph, "Creating this family is probably more our priority than taking over the Brax boys. How do you take on Steve Peacocke (Brax)? I hope Australia is ready for it, it is the way it is." In August 2017, Stewart was longlisted for Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards. The nomination did not progress to the viewer-voted shortlist.
List of Home and Away characters (2013)
Chris Harrington, played by Johnny Ruffo, made his first screen appearance on 1 April 2013. The character and Ruffo's casting was announced on 19 October 2012. Ruffo told Christine Sams from "The Sydney Morning Herald" that he had asked his agent to check out what roles were available, when the "Home and Away" part came up. After his first audition, he received a callback for a second audition. Ruffo called himself "very fortunate" after learning he had won the role because quite a few people also tried out for it. "Home and Away" marks Ruffo's acting debut and he relocated from Perth to Sydney for filming. He was initially contracted to appear in about sixteen episodes and he began shooting his first scenes in September. Ruffo's contract was later extended. Of his casting, Ruffo stated "I'm thrilled to be joining "Home and Away". The cast and crew have made me feel so welcome and can't wait for everyone to meet my character Chris next year." Chris is Spencer Harrington's (Andrew Morley) older brother. He comes to Summer Bay to visit Spencer and convince him to return home and sort things out with his family.