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.
Justin Morgan (Home and Away)
Producers soon tested the relationship with the introduction of Willow's former boyfriend Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor). Dean is a member of the show's fictional criminal gang The River Boys, with which Willow also has connections. After a romantic meal at Salt, Willow and Justin return to her caravan to find a naked Dean in Willow's bed. After throwing him out, Willow explains that she and Dean are old friends and she did not know that he would be there, but Justin has his doubts about her explanation. The scriptwriters created further problems for the couple by reintroducing Justin's daughter, Ava. Willow is unaware Justin is a father, until Ava and her mother Nina arrive in the Bay. As Willow deals with the revelation, Nina "drops another bombshell" as she wants Justin to look after Ava for a month. Willow bonds with Ava, and Justin feels comfortable enough to leave them alone together. However, when he returns home he finds his daughter boiling water and using knives as she helps with dinner. Willow leaves due to Justin's "ferocious reaction" and tells Dean that she think Justin overreacted. Dean takes advantage of the rift between the couple, telling Willow that Justin does not respect her. When Justin apologises, Willow is "defensive" due to Dean's words.