List of Home and Away characters introduced in 2013
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 first appeared or will appear in 2013, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the soap's executive producer, Lucy Addario. The 26th season of Home and Away began airing from 21 January 2013. The first introduction of the year was Zac MacGuire then followed by Courtney Freeman, Maddy Osborne, Spencer Harrington and Rosie Prichard who all made their debuts in the same month. [|Chris Harrington] and [|Ricky Sharpe] arrived in April. [|Josh], [|Andy Barrett] and [|Hannah Wilson] debuted in August, while Zac's family – [|Ethan], [|Evelyn] and [|Oscar MacGuire] – began appearing from September, as did [|Nate Cooper]. Jade Montgomery and [|Matt Page] arrived in October, while [|Phoebe Nicholson] debuted in November.
Zac MacGuire
Zac MacGuire, played by Charlie Clausen, made his first screen appearance on 22 January 2013. The character and casting was announced on 13 January 2013. A TV Week reporter noted that the role marked something of a return to acting for Clausen. The actor commented "I'm very excited to join the cast of Home and Away. I found out I got the role on my birthday and I couldn't think of a better gift. It's a fantastic opportunity for any actor and I've been made to feel really welcome by the cast, crew and production team. I'm looking forward to 2013 and beyond." Zac is a prison education officer who encounters Casey Braxton when he breaks up a brawl. Clausen revealed that Zac has been asked to keep an eye on Casey by Natalie Davison. The actor stated that Zac is "a good guy", who began working in the prison system after spending time inside when he was younger.Courtney Freeman
Courtney Freeman, played by Joshua Brennan, made his first screen appearance on 22 January 2013. The character and casting was announced on 14 January 2013. Courtney is an inmate at Crestview Correctional Centre, which Casey Braxton has to attend for his part in a failed robbery. Casey's efforts to try to keep to himself fail when Courtney notices him and they have a "run-in". Younes described Courtney as being a "stereotypical prison bully." When Casey is placed in the prison kitchens, Courtney asks him to keep an eye on some food delivery that contain drugs. When Casey stands up to Courtney and refuses, he is left "battered and bruised" by the encounter.Courtney takes a dislike to Casey and begins to make his stay difficult. He orders Casey to help with drug smuggling and attacks him when he refuses. When Jamie Sharpe arrives at the facility, Courtney learns of the Braxton's animosity with the Sharpe family. He uses his gang to intimidate Jamie into attacking Casey. Zac MacGuire breaks up the fight. When Casey learns Courtney has asked Jamie to run drugs for him, Casey begs Jamie to say no and stand up for himself. Courtney manages to get Jamie alone and attacks him. When Casey tries to help Jamie, Courtney stabs Casey with a shiv. Zac manages to arrange a deal in which Casey is released and Jamie is transferred to another prison in return for them giving evidence against Courtney.
Maddy Osborne
Madeline "Maddy" Osborne, played by Kassandra Clementi, made her first screen appearance on 24 January 2013. The character was first seen during an official promo for the 2013 season. Clementi's casting was announced on 6 January 2013. The actress revealed that she was homesick for Australia and thought it was "a wonderful opportunity" to join Home and Away. Maddy was a teen runaway, who arrived in the Bay with Spencer Harrington. The character's introduction comes after producers announced that they would feature more fostering storylines in the show. Clementi described Maddy as being "an energetic and very loving young girl who is mature and wise beyond her 16 years."Spencer Harrington
Spencer Harrington, played by Andrew Morley, made his first screen appearance on 24 January 2013. The character was first seen during a promotional trailer for the serial's 2013 season. On 22 January, Home and Away released Morley's official cast shots. On 1 March 2015, it was announced that Morley had quit Home and Away after two years to pursue acting opportunities in the United States. Morley finished filming in late 2014. Spencer departed on 23 April 2015.Spencer was a teen runaway, who arrived in Summer Bay with Maddy Osborne. They initially set up home in the local high school, but are discovered by Sasha Bezmel. Clementi revealed that Maddy and Spencer are trying to cover up a secret and that they are scared of what their parents will do when they find out where they are. They later turn up at Roo Stewart and Harvey Ryan's home. It was also announced that new character, Chris, would be related to Maddy and Spencer and that he would create some drama for them. Maddy and Spencer's introductions came shortly after producers announced that they would feature more fostering storylines in the show. Describing his character, Morley said "Spencer is genuine, confident and a big charmer. He has a quality that turns heads and his positive attitude enlightens those around him. Spencer is a romantic, loyal and selfless man that puts the ones he cares for above and beyond himself."
Spencer and Maddy come to the Summer Bay Caravan Park to ask Roo Stewart for caravan. At The Diner, Spencer reveals that he cannot pay for their meal, but promises to come back with the money. He later works off his debt and tells Roo that his parents are dead. Spencer and Maddy spend the night on a boat, before moving to the local high school. Spencer becomes concerned when Maddy gets sick. When they learn that Roo knows they are staying at the school, Spencer and Maddy initially disagree about contacting her. However, Maddy's health deteriorates and Spencer calls Roo. She and Harvey bring them back to Summer Bay House for the night. Spencer and Maddy later run away, but struggle out in the bush. They return to the caravan park and discover an injured Romeo Smith in the shed. Maddy fetches Roo to help and she and Spencer later decide that they can trust Roo. Spencer is given a job in the bait shop and Maddy reveals that they are not brother and sister, but lovers. Spencer's brother Chris turns up in Summer Bay and becomes a third wheel in their relationship. Spencer and Maddy eventually break up.
Spencer gets into a relationship with Sasha Bezmel, and Maddy is jealous. They have sex within weeks of becoming a couple, further infuriating Maddy. Chris returns to the Bay to try and win Sasha's sister Indi Walker back, and he argues with Sasha, trapping Spencer in the middle again.
Rosie Prichard
Rosie Prichard, played by Teri Haddy, made her first screen appearance on 30 January 2013. The character and casting was announced on 13 January 2013. Shortly after she relocated to Sydney in May 2012, Haddy won the role of Rosie. She is six years older than her character, who is sixteen upon her entrance. Haddy called her character "sweet, but awkward" and noted that she is a bit of "a loner". Rosie has always lived in Summer Bay, but has never been seen on-screen before. She looks up to Sasha Bezmel and when they eventually become friends, Sasha invites her to a party. Haddy revealed "Rosie hears she used to be with Casey and gets excited because, to her, he's like royalty in Summer Bay."In early April, Rosie was raped by fellow student Alexander Mullens. Haddy explained "It's Rosie's first boyfriend and because he paid her all this attention and she felt really special, at first she doesn't see it as him attacking her. They were spending time together kissing, so she feels like she brought this on herself." Rosie goes to Sasha and Roo Stewart and tells them what has happened to her. She also goes to the police to report Mullens. Haddy told Erin Miller from TV Week that she did research into how teenage girls have coped with being sexually assaulted. She also hoped the storyline would show girls that they do not have to be afraid to say no to what the guy is asking.
Rosie and Sasha Bezmel pair up for a science assignment. Sasha tries to get Rosie to touch a crab at the pier, but she becomes scared and falls into the sea. Sasha then jumps in to help her and they become friends. Rosie is invited to a toga party at Sasha's home and she is excited to meet Sasha's ex-boyfriend, Casey Braxton. She later mistakes his kindness for flirting. Sasha notices Rosie talking to Natalie Davison and presumes that Rosie has problems. She begins to question Rosie about her family. Rosie refuses to let Sasha stay over her house and pays [|Tilda Hogan] to pretend to be her younger sister Hannah. Sasha discovers Tilda's real identity from Jett James and she follows Rosie home, when she confronts her, Rosie reveals that her mum left her when she was young and her dad splits his time between her and his second family in the city, and Rosie lives on her own. When Sasha befriends Maddy Osborne, Rosie becomes jealous. She decides to run into the sea, despite not being able to swim well and Sasha has to run in and save her. However, both girls get caught in a rip and have to be saved by Casey and John Palmer.
Sasha distances herself from Rosie, who befriends some other teens from the school. Rosie kisses Alexander Mullens and he brags about taking advantage of her. Sasha tries to get Rosie to stop hanging out with Mullens, but she refuses. While on a date, Mullens rapes Rosie and she initially blames herself for what has happened. Sasha supports Rosie, as she reports Mullens to the police. Rosie attends Zac MacGuire's self-defence classes and befriends [|Bella Lugrano], who later tells her that she was raped by Mullens too. The next day, Bella meets up with Rosie and Sasha at the Diner and tells them that she reported her rape to the police. One of Mullens's friends, [|Lachlan Stone] stalks Rosie and scares her. At self-defence, she becomes frightened when Lachlan shows up and Maddy, Tamara and Sasha try to comfort her. Zac asks Lachlan to leave, but he explains that he just wants to talk to Rosie, as he has Mullens's text messages and videos of her rape. Rosie asks him to go to the police. A few days later, Mullens is arrested. While working at the Diner, Rosie collapses and soon learns that she is pregnant. Rosie briefly leaves school, as she feels unsafe, but she soon returns. Holly Chapman bullies Rosie about her pregnancy and her bond with Zac. Rosie decides to keep the baby and she later leaves the Bay to live in the city with her father.