Home and Away star Christie Hayes issues heartbreaking confession about relationship with her 11-year-old son

 Former Home and Away star Christie Hayes has shared a deeply emotional admission about her relationship with her son, Hendrix.

The actress-turned-radio host, 39, revealed during Channel Seven's The Morning Show on Thursday that she's never been able to have a conversation with Hendrix, 11, who has Level 3 autism.

Speaking with co-hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies, Christie laid bare the deeply personal struggles her family has faced, while stressing the crucial need for patience.

'Hendrix didn't say the word mum until he was four. I've never really heard him have ... You know when you see memes and they go, "If you could have a conversation with anyone, who would it be?" It would be my little boy,' she said.

'I've never had a proper conversation with my son.

'I think that the world needs to be more patient with people that live with autism, and any parent out there knows what it's like to have an autistic child. There are wonderful days, but there's also really hard days - meltdowns, lack of sleep.

Christie is mother to three children: sons Hendrix (right), Harley (centre left), and daughter Marigold 'Goldie', who she welcomed in November 2025 with husband Justin Coombes-Pearce (left)

Former Home and Away star Christie Hayes (pictured on Home and Away) has shared a deeply emotional admission about her relationship with her son, Hendrix

t is difficult at times. It's a wonderful job as motherhood is in any capacity.'

Christie, who shot to stardom in 2000 playing teen wild child Kirsty Sutherland on Home and Away, also encouraged viewers to join Walk for Autism in May – a campaign that challenges participants to walk 7,000 steps a day while raising funds and awareness.

In a post shared to her Instagram earlier this month, Christie offered more details about the relationship with her son.

'He still has limited speech,' she wrote.

'And I sometimes wonder if he knows what he's saying when he parrots me back and tells me he loves me.

'As Hendrix's mum, my job is to make sure he never walks alone. To stand beside him, to advocate for him, and to be his voice when he doesn't quite have one yet.'

The Hit Network radio host is mother to three children, sons Hendrix, 11, Harley, 10, and daughter Marigold 'Goldie', who she welcomed in November 2025 with husband Justin Coombes-Pearce.

She shares her two sons with ex-husband Daniel White. The pair split in 2019 after marrying in 2015.

The actress-turned-radio host, 39, revealed on The Morning Show that she's never been able to have a conversation with Hendrix, 11, who has Level 3 Autism

Christie announced on air in May 2025 that she and Justin – also a radio host on Triple M – were excitedly preparing to welcome their first child together after a gruelling four-year IVF journey.

When she announced her pregnancy, she included an emotional message to families going through IVF.

'It's been four years in the making … I am pregnant. We are ecstatic, we are safe, and we're in the second trimester already,' she said. 

'I just want you to know that if you are going through IVF, I have been where you are. I know how hard it is. I just want you to know that it can happen. When you least expect it, your life can change.'

In a touching tribute to the baby Christie and Justin lost, she added, 'After the rain comes the rainbow.

'After losing a baby, two back-to-back chemical pregnancies, our miracle is finally here. And now, somehow, it makes sense. The final piece of our puzzle.'

'To my fellow IVF warriors – I see you. I am you. If you're still waiting, still aching, still hoping – please don't give up. Your miracle might just be around the corner, your story is still unfolding and we never know what the next chapter holds.

'Our beautiful boys and my darling husband and I couldn't be happier.'

In April last year, Christie told New Idea magazine that losing their first baby 'ripped our hearts out'.

They had brought a special Christmas decoration for the child they'd nicknamed 'Sunflower', which read, 'Mummy and Daddy can't wait to meet you in 2024'.

At the time, Christie spoke of being 'hopeful but realistic' about whether they'd become pregnant again. 

When announcing on May 26 last year that he was set to become a father, Justin shared an emotionally charged message on social media.

'We're finally in the "safe zone", and I still can't quite believe I get to say those words,' he said.

'We've walked through more heartbreak than we ever imagined – endless appointments, IVF rounds that didn't work, moments we felt completely broken, and nights when we clung to each other and tried to stay strong when it all felt hopeless.

'But through it all, we never stopped believing in this dream. There's a tiny heartbeat growing stronger each day, and so is our love and excitement.' 

Now based in Hobart, Christie first rose to fame after playing 'twins' Kirsty Sutherland and Laura DeGroot on Home and Away. The characters were twin sisters separated at birth.

After leaving the soap in 2005, she returned in 2008 before making a final exit in October the following year.

In 2022, she launched the Dan and Christie Show on the Hit Network with co-host Dan Taylor.

Tane’s life remains on the line, while Cash and Harper make a final push to bring Kerrie to justice.

 Next week on Home and Away in the UK

Tane’s life remains on the line, while Cash and Harper make a final push to bring Kerrie to justice.

Tane (Ethan Browne) had finally been proven innocent after Casey (Austin Cutcliffe) uncovered footage on Archie’s baby monitor of Kerrie (Sara Wiseman) planting a packet of white powder under his mattress.

But just as Tane was about to be released from prison, he was caught up in a violent attack after stepping in to protect Peterson, the guard who had been looking out for him.

By the time help reached him, Tane was unconscious and bleeding.

Tane was rushed to hospital with abdominal injuries, low blood pressure and a racing heartbeat.

Levi (Tristan Gorey) ordered an ultrasound, which revealed a low-grade rupture that could require surgery, leaving Tane facing the prospect of missing Archie’s birthday after all.

Jo (Maddison Brown) arrived and apologised for not standing by him, but Tane soon lost consciousness again.

When his oxygen levels then plummeted, Levi had no choice but to intubate him, with Jo stepping in to help.

Next week, Levi and Jo are still trying to stabilise Tane, but his oxygen levels fail to improve and neither of them can immediately work out why.

Jo runs through the possible explanations, including a pulmonary embolism or bronchospasm, before asking whether the problem could be with the equipment rather than Tane himself.

Checking it over, Jo hears oxygen escaping and realises there is a blockage in the intubation tube.

A new ETT is called for, and the quick intervention brings Tane’s oxygen saturation back to a steady level.

Levi tells Jo it was a good call, but it’s of little comfort. Jo is still carrying guilt over not being in Tane’s corner sooner, and Levi’s response doesn’t fully reassure her when he comments that he’s sure Tane will forgive her… if he comes through this.

When Jo queries his wording, Levi shares the latest blood results. Tane’s kidney function is getting worse, and if it continues to decline, he’ll be at risk of renal failure.

Meanwhile, at the police station, Harper (Jessica Redmayne) is determined to help track down her mother after Kerrie sent her a message in Friday’s episode – the first contact she’s had from her mother since she disappeared.

Harper immediately brought her phone to David, who contacted the tech team so that a trace could be put on the message.

Yet by the time officers got to the shopping centre where the message had been sent from, Kerrie was nowhere to be found.

Next week, Harper refuses David’s suggestion that she take Archie home, explaining that she wants to see this through.

She arranges for Dana to collect Archie instead, then tells Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) she has already tried calling her mother several times, with every attempt going straight to voicemail.

Cash suggests another way to draw Kerrie out. Archie is the one thing Kerrie cares about most, so he proposes sending a photo of him to her phone.

Harper is wary of the idea of using her son as bait, but Cash explains that Kerrie may not be able to resist opening a picture of her grandson. Harper agrees, choosing a recent photo of Archie to send.

The next morning, IT Officer Ripley from the tech team is at the station working through Harper’s phone data, trying to find something useful, when an unknown number calls.

When Harper answers, she realises that it’s Kerrie, calling from a burner phone.

With no GPS to trace, Harper has to keep her mother talking for as long as possible while Ripley tries to lock onto the signal.

Harper stays calm, talking about Archie’s photo and mentioning that it was his birthday the day before. But Kerrie soon turns on her, accusing Harper of being behind the warrant for her arrest.

Harper denies it and keeps stalling, playing along with Kerrie’s version of events, acting as though she believes Tane deserves to be behind bars.

With Ripley still trying to complete the trace, Harper keeps pushing the conversation, but eventually asks why Kerrie is so worked up if she had nothing to do with what happened.

Kerrie hangs up—but Harper’s managed to keep her on the line long enough. Ripley’s able to confirm Kerrie’s location, and David is immediately onto dispatch.

Meanwhile, after Lacey overhears Mac blaming David for Tane’s situation at Salt, she later confronts her outside the surf club, insisting her dad was only doing his job and cares deeply about justice.

Mackenzie isn’t swayed. In her eyes, if David had done his job better, Tane wouldn’t be lying in hospital.

Eden steps in before the argument can escalate, and Mackenzie heads back to the hospital.

Back at the station, Cash checks in with Harper as they wait for news on Kerrie’s arrest.

Harper admits she’s got mixed feelings. Tane’s innocence has already been proven, and arresting Kerrie won’t change what has happened to him, so it now feels less like freeing Tane and more like punishing her mother.

She knows Kerrie deserves to face the consequences, but that doesn’t stop her feeling sick about it.

David then receives the update they have been waiting for. Kerrie’s been caught!

Over at the hospital, Mac arrives to find Jo still at Tane’s bedside as Levi returns with the results from the renal specialist.

Levi explains that Tane’s injuries are now moving into more dangerous territory.

The assault has damaged his kidneys, which are beginning to fail. Dialysis may be needed, but Levi’s worried this could be the start of multi-organ failure.

As he explains to Mac and Jo, it can become like an avalanche in the body—one organ begins to fail, and another follows.

Levi’s forced to tell them that there’s a real possibility they could lose Tane.

Later, Mackenzie sits alone by Tane’s bedside. She reflects on how often he’s been there for her over the years, before making a deal with him.

He has to fight, get better, and become her baby’s godfather.

Will Tane pull through?

Home And Away 8719 Episode 21st May 2026

 

What happened between Ian Beale and Clare Bates in EastEnders?

 Messy history.

EastEnders delivered an awkward reunion during Wednesday night's (20 May) emotional episode as Ian Beale came face-to-face with Clare Bates for the first time in years. The tense moment unfolded during Nigel Bates' funeral episode as Walford residents gathered to pay tribute to the beloved character following his heartbreaking dementia battle.

The episode began with the Mitchell family preparing for a day of mourning while Nigel's wido
w Julie struggled emotionally as she attempted to write a eulogy worthy of her late husband. But things quickly became more complicated when Julie welcomed in her son Josh and stepdaughter Clare, played by Jon Lee and Gemma Bissix.

Long-time viewers will remember that Clare and Nigel had spent years estranged before reconnecting earlier this year, while Josh hadn't appeared on-screen since 1998. However, the biggest moment came when Ian and his mother Kathy arrived at No.55. The atmosphere immediately turned uncomfortable as Ian and Clare exchanged awkward glances but barely spoke. Ian quietly apologised for her loss, though the tension between them was impossible to ignore.

Their frosty reunion stems from one of Clare's most manipulative storylines during her previous stint in the London-based drama back in 2008. At the time, Clare had returned to Walford after being thrown from the back seat of a car. Dot Branning took her in and, for a short while, it appeared Clare was genuinely trying to rebuild her life. She even secured a job at Tanya Branning's beauty salon.

But beneath the surface, Clare was secretly plotting ways to make money fast — preferably by targeting wealthy men around Albert Square. Although several men caught her attention like Max and Jack Branning, Ian Beale was the only one who seriously responded to her flirtation despite already being married to Jane Beale.

Clare openly pursued Ian and the pair even shared a kiss. While they never embarked on a full affair, Clare quickly realised she could use the situation to her advantage. After attempted to take things further, Clare blackmailed him by threatening to expose their tryst to Jane unless he handed over £10k.

However, Ian refused to be manipulated. Instead of paying Clare, he confessed everything to Jane himself. Jane later confronted Clare directly and warned her to stay away from her husband. But even after the blackmail plan failed, Clare continued scheming elsewhere in Walford.

One of her closest friendships at the time was with Chelsea Fox, with the pair regularly socialising to attract wealthy men. But things took a darker turn when Chelsea's drug use spiralled and her behaviour became increasingly erratic.

Sensing an opportunity, Clare stole money from Tanya and deliberately framed Chelsea for the theft, leading to Chelsea losing her job. Eventually, Clare's lies and manipulation began catching up with her.

Clare's downfall came when Bradley Branning (someone she once had a close connection with) discovered she'd been planning to take his money all along. Although Clare tried convincing Bradley she could change, he refused to believe her and demanded she leave Walford for good. In August 2008, Clare finally departed Albert Square, leaving Dot a goodbye letter and stealing £200 from Bradley on her way out.

Gemma Bissix has played Clare since the character first appeared in EastEnders in 1993 and remains one of the soap's most memorable troublemakers.

Outside of EastEnders, the actress is also famous for portraying iconic Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine. Gemma recently reprised the role on the Channel 4 soap, where Clare was involved in its dramatic anniversary plane crash storyline before seemingly being killed off after a showdown with Sienna Blake. But many viewers remain convinced Gemma could return her EastEnders stint.

Wednesday's episode also featured another dramatic storyline as Grant, Phil and Sam raced to rescue Mark Fowler Jr. after he was kidnapped by masked men linked to gangster Russell Delaney. Russell had demanded Mark's debt be paid in full, while also insisting Sam settle her own score with him.

EastEnders confirms life-changing new Ian Beale story in advanced spoilers

 His world comes crashing down.

EastEnders has teased a life-changing twist for Ian Beale in spoilers for the soap's 'Night That Changes Everything' week, seeing four Walford families involved in some dramatic developments.

Ian is among the characters set to take centre stage during the special week, with episodes airing between 1 and 4 June on BBC One. All set across the course of the same night, the specials are expected to reveal a surprise connection between Ian and Chelsea Fox.

The BBC have shared advanced spoilers for 'The Night That Changes Everything', hinting that Ian's world will be forever changed by a mysterious discovery. While the episodes' synopses don't shed much light on this shocking turn for Ian, could it have to do with Chelsea?

Meanwhile, Denise Fox's devastating blood cancer storyline begins, George Knight continues being lied to by partner Nicola Mitchell, and Max Branning makes a rash decision.

Monday 1 June - 7.30pm

Yolande helps Denise as she processes life-changing news, and Ian is blissfully unaware that his happy life is about to change.

Tuesday 2 June - 7.30pm

Ian's world comes crashing down. Max shocks Cindy.

Wednesday 3 June - 7.30pm

Max's emotions force him into a reckless decision, Yolande covers for Denise as she's pulled in two directions, and George makes a worrying discovery.

Thursday 4 June - 7.30pm

George makes a decision for the sake of his family. The sun rises on Walford as the 'night that changes everything' comes to a close, but it's clear the tricky road ahead has only just begun for some.

Coronation Street officially reveals Jodie's dark plan for Daniel

 What's her endgame this time?

Jodie Ramsey's bond with Daniel Osbourne is officially not as innocent as he thinks in Coronation Street, as she's been unveiled as the person behind his anonymous trolling ordeal. Daniel, played by Rob Mallard, has been facing backlash online since learning the truth about how his partner Megan Walsh was grooming Will Driscoll.

In tonight's episode, he was with Jodie at the Viaduct Bistro as he scrolled through angry responses to previous messages from an account named 'Truthteller', showing her one in particular: "This person thinks I should be in prison with Megan."

She told him to ignore it, but he went on to doubt his previous theory that Megan herself was behind it all. Jodie then pointed his suspicions towards a nearby David Platt, saying he "keeps looking over here".

Sure enough, David — who has had more than his own fair share of problems with Jodie — was sat at the bar at the time, with his phone in his hand.

When Jodie went to the bathroom, Daniel immediately got a new message from 'Truthteller' and couldn't stop himself from confronting David.

Outraged, David denied any involvement. "I've got a sick daughter in hospital, I've got better things to be spending my time on!" he hit back.

Daniel wasn't buying it though, so David showed him what he was doing on his phone: watching a fun video of Lily. Daniel sheepishly backed down and apologised before excusing himself and leaving, with Jodie in tow.

Later, Daniel told Jodie he felt like an "idiot", and Jodie urged him to "stop trying to figure out who's behind this account", telling him: "It's clearly driving you a bit mad."

She offered to stick around a little longer rather than look for her own place, and he agreed. When he then went to rustle up some food, she was left alone — at which point viewers saw her take out her phone and secretly post another message as 'Truthteller'.

The message read: "How Daniel Osbourne is still a teacher, I don't know. He clearly has a dodgy history with his students, if his assault on Max Platt is anything to go by. Imagine having a vendetta against a kid when you're an adult, even worse a teacher."

Whatever her endgame is, it seems things will get worse for Daniel before they get better...