List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2017
Home and Away is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that appeared in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the soap's executive producer, Lucy Addario. The 30th season of Home and Away began airing from 30 January 2017. Riley Hawkins was introduced during the following episode. Scarlett Snow made her debut in May, while June saw the arrival of the four-strong Astoni family consisting of parents Ben and [|Maggie Astoni], and their daughters Coco and Ziggy Astoni. Robbo and Jennifer Dutton made their first appearances in July, and [|Beth Ellis] was introduced in August. [|Ryder Jackson] make his debut in October. November saw the first appearance of [|Willow Harris], and [|Jasmine Delaney] arrived in December.
Riley Hawkins
Riley Hawkins, played by Ryan O'Kane, made his first appearance on 31 January 2017. O'Kane's housemate Rob Mills also auditioned for the role. He was waiting for his agent to let him know the outcome when O'Kane revealed that he had won the part. Riley is introduced as Tori Morgan's former boyfriend and a surgeon at the local hospital, who steps in to perform surgery on Justin Morgan. McNamee said the moment Tori is reunited with Riley is "shocking" for her because she has not seen him in seven years. While Riley is surprised to learn that Tori and her siblings have been in witness protection. Fellow doctor Nate Cooper, who broke up with Tori, is jealous of her history with Riley.On his first day at Northern Districts Hospital, Riley is asked to operate on Justin Morgan, the brother of his former partner Tessa Lee, now known as Tori. Tori explains to Riley that she and her brothers had to go into witness protection after their parents were shot. Riley tells Nate Cooper that he and Tori used to be a couple, and that he wants her back. He also apologises to Tori for cheating on her. When Justin learns Riley is in town, he warns him to stay away from Tori. Riley later treats Justin when he is admitted with an infection. He also tells Tori that Nate tried to make a bet with him about her, but she soon realises that he lied. Riley performs a bronchoscopy on Billie Ashford and finds a mass in her airway. Tori and Riley go on a lunch date, where he asks her for another chance, but she is cautious due to his history. Brody Morgan sees Riley flirting with Evelyn MacGuire at Billie's wake, and tells him not to mess Tori around again. Shortly after they get back together, Riley asks Tori to move to the city with him. She turns him down for the sake of her family. Riley then sees her and Nate talking and hugging. He amends Billie's notes and then makes a formal complaint in an attempt to get Nate fired for medical negligence. Tori proves the notes were doctored and when Riley admits that he did it, she breaks up with him. When he shows up at her house, Tori tells him to get out of her life. Justin overhears them arguing and fights with Riley, before Tori orders him to leave. Riley quits his job at the hospital and leaves town.
Scarlett Snow
Scarlett Snow, played by Tania Nolan, made her first appearance on 8 May 2017. Nolan was living in Los Angeles when she learned the role was available. She flew to Sydney, where the show is filmed, for a screen test. She returned to Los Angeles the following day, but soon learned she had won the role and had to fly back to Sydney two days later. Nolan was contracted for six months and she finished filming in May. Nolan described her character as "a bit of a mystery", and explained that no one knows why she is in the Bay, but she has suffered a tragedy in her past that she is dealing with. Nolan accepted the part and relocated to Sydney because of the character's "unique" storyline. The actress added, "I could relate to certain things Scarlett has been through. Not specifically, but unfortunately I know what it's like to go through what she went through.".Brody Morgan jumps into Scarlett's car and orders her to drive, as he is avoiding the police. Scarlett pulls the car over and offers Brody her handbag, which he takes. Brody goes to Scarlett's house to return the handbag, but Scarlett hits him over the head with a vase and ties him up. She threatens to call the police, and Brody opens up to her about his drug addiction. She makes him call his family and then frees him. Brody leaves with William Zannis, who he says is his brother, and Scarlett thinks he is going to get help. The police track down Scarlett and ask her about the carjacking. She tells them she did not get a good look at the carjacker. Scarlett finds Brody sleeping on the beach, and he blames her for his arrest. She buys him a coffee and takes him back to her house. She then visits his family and brings them to him. Mason Morgan suggests that Brody stays with Scarlett and she agrees. Scarlett disapproves of the way Justin Morgan handles Brody's addiction. Alf Stewart tells Scarlett off for spear fishing in the wrong place. When she enquires about hiring a boat, Alf tells her she can borrow one for free if she can get it mended. Scarlett reluctantly hires Justin to help her.
Brody relapses and flees shortly before Scarlett finds he has ransacked the house, and stolen $10,000 and a bracelet. Her landlord asks her to leave, and Alf gives her a caravan at the Summer Bay Caravan Park, as well as a job at his bait shop. Bruno Addlen turns up in the Bay looking for Scarlett, having been hired by her husband. Bruno asks for $8000 to leave and keep her whereabouts a secret. Alf offers to lend Scarlett the money, but she turns him down. Tori later thanks Scarlett for helping Brody secure a lawyer and tells her the family will repay the money Brody stole, which allows Scarlett to pay Bruno. Scarlett bonds with Justin's daughter Ava Gilbert when she visits him. Scarlett later listens to a voicemail message from her son, [|Max]. While working on the boat together, Justin accidentally causes Scarlett's phone to fall into the sea. He retrieves it and gets it working again. He also notices that she has a son and questions her about it, causing Scarlett to slap him. She later apologises and decides to leave town, until Justin asks her to stay. Scarlett's estranged husband sends another private investigator after her, as he wants her to come home. Justin helps her to get out of the Bay and Scarlett tells him that her son died a year ago. Justin admits that he cares for her and allows Scarlett to take his car. Scarlett returns a week later and gets drunk on the anniversary of Max's death. She wakes up in Justin's bed and assumes they had sex, but he explains that she took a shower and fell asleep, while he slept on the couch. Scarlett apologises for over-reacting and tells Justin how her marriage broke down because of Max's death. Alf and Justin take Scarlett out in the boat for some fishing. When they attempt to leave, their boat fails to start and they have to spend the night on the beach. Alf is attacked by Robbo, who also scares Scarlett. Justin fixes the boat and they return home.
Scarlett attempts to kiss Justin, but he rejects her advances, later explaining that he still loves his former fiancée, Phoebe Nicholson. He later changes his mind and they go back to Scarlett's caravan, but Justin calls out Phoebe's name and they stop. After avoiding each other, Scarlett and Justin decide to give their relationship a chance. They go swimming, but Justin hits his head and does not resurface. Scarlett pulls him out and gets him breathing again, but she suffers a flashback to her son's death. Scarlett and Kat move in together, and Scarlett offers to be Brody's lawyer at his court case. After Brody is accused of stabbing someone, Scarlett looks at Kat's police files and then goes to a drug den to find the weapon. She and Kat briefly fall out. While Scarlett and Justin are celebrating Brody's suspended sentence, they are interrupted by the arrival of her estranged husband [|Caleb Snow]. Scarlett spends time with Caleb and they later meet over dinner, where Caleb brings her Max's stuffed toy, causing Scarlett to leave. Caleb reveals that he has been seeing a counsellor. Scarlett, Justin, Kat and Robbo go away to a cabin in the bush, where a bomb explodes and causes a piece of wood to pierce Scarlett's shoulder. While Justin looks after her, she calls out Caleb's name. Justin later breaks up with Scarlett, telling her that he cares for her, but their relationship will not work because of Caleb. Scarlett tells Caleb that she has feelings for Justin, but Caleb kisses her and tells her he wants her to move back home. Scarlett realises that Justin is right and she decides to leave the Bay with Caleb.