Home And Away 8716 Episode 18th May 2026

 

Exclusive: Home and Away teases "storm" to come for Sonny, Dana and Remi

 "None of them will come out unchanged"

Home and Away boss Lucy Addario has teased a serious shake-up for three of the soap's best-loved characters later this year. Dana Matheson, Sonny Baldwin and Remi Carter have trouble ahead, despite seemingly having the worst behind them.

Earlier this year, Sonny was left paralysed in a horrific train crash, and subsequently broke up with Dana. However, he wasn't the only one who faced turmoil from the crash – after collapsing in hospital, Remi was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent risky surgery.

However, now that Sonny and Dana are back together and Remi is on the mend, Lucy has revealed that there's a whirlwind of drama ahead in Inside Soap's summer preview.

We’re loving the bromance, the romance, and yes, the fun chaos!" she laughed. "What we can say is that Sonny, Remi and Dana are all heading into a storm, and none of them will come out unchanged.

Loyalties will be tested, truths will surface, and the lines between friendship and love get seriously blurred. In classic Home and Away style, just when they think they’re solid, everything gets shaken."

Lucy also gave fans a taste of what the rest of 2026 will look like for the soap, teasing that they can expect "huge, life-changing moments" to come in Summer Bay.

The rest of 2026 is absolutely stacked," said Lucy. "New romance, friendships pushed to their limits, secrets that can’t stay buried and ultimatums that change lives forever."

"Lives will hang in the balance, hearts will be broken, and when everything seems lost, the Summer Bay community does what it always does best – pulls together. It’s big, emotional storytelling, and it’s classic Home and Away."

Love Island star Mitch Eliot makes bid for the big screen as he lands a new role in unexpected project

 Love Island Australia's Mitch Eliot is making a bold leap from reality TV heartthrob to serious actor - and his latest role may be his most unexpected yet.

The former villa favourite, 28, who split from long-term girlfriend Phoebe Spiller in 2024 and later opened up about his journey with fluid sexuality, has revealed he is set to star in the upcoming film Transitions opposite Home and Away star Axle Whitehead.

The project marks a dramatic new chapter for Mitch, who appears determined to reinvent himself both personally and professionally after a transformative few years in the spotlight.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail, Mitch confirmed acting has always been his true calling.

'Even as a kid on the rugby field I'd be acting out movies and in my own world. My dad would be yelling at me to run for the ball,' he explained.

'But acting just wasn't something people did where I'm from.'

Axle was best known for playing Liam Murphy on Home and Away between 2009 and 2013

Love Island Australia's Mitch Eliot, 28, is making a bold leap from reality TV heartthrob to serious actor - and his latest role may be his most unexpected yet

The former villa favourite, who split from long-term girlfriend Phoebe Spiller in 2024 and later opened up about his journey with fluid sexuality, has revealed he is set to star in the upcoming film Transitions opposite Home and Away star Axle Whitehead 

Mitch first found fame as one half of Love Island Australia's golden couple alongside Phoebe, with the pair finishing as runners-up in 2022 before announcing their split two years later.

Following the breakup, Mitch candidly revealed he was embracing a more open and fluid approach to his sexuality, describing the period as one of self-discovery and personal growth.

Now, his latest acting role appears to mirror that evolution.

'I play a very lost guy called Michael who's searching for the love his family never gave him,' he explained.

'Without saying much it kinda touches on the deeper transactions us humans make in life.'

The emotionally charged role is expected to see Mitch portray a deeply vulnerable character opposite seasoned actor Axle, in what insiders suggest could be one of his most daring performances yet.

While Mitch remained tight-lipped on specific plot details, the film is believed to explore themes of identity, intimacy, and emotional survival.

Despite the inevitable scrutiny that comes with transitioning from reality TV to film, Mitch insists he has nothing to prove. 

The project marks a dramatic new chapter for Mitch, who appears determined to reinvent himself both personally and professionally after a transformative few years in the spotlight 

I don't really think of it like that,' he said.

'The thing with acting is I'm not doing it to prove myself to anyone. I'm doing it because I love it.

'I think apart from my family and friends it's the only thing I've ever truly cared about.'

And as for whether he's intentionally selecting more provocative roles to challenge public assumptions, Mitch made his focus clear.

'The only person I want to challenge is myself,' he said.

'I don't care what people think of me. I'm doing this for myself and taking on roles/characters I feel have a meaningful story to tell.' 

Mitch rose to fame appearing on Love Island back in 2022. 

He and partner Phoebe stunned fans when they announced they had split after two years together.

Mitch rose to fame appearing on Love Island back in 2022. He and partner Phoebe stunned fans when they announced they had split after two years together

The pair, who finished as runners-up on the hit dating show and quickly became fan favourites, both shared emotional statements confirming the breakup.

'Unfortunately, me and Phoebe have decided after two years that we would go our separate ways,' Mitch wrote at the time.

'Never thought I'd be one to make a break up post, but I feel like it's needed so we can focus on getting through this and moving on.'

Addressing Phoebe directly, he added: 'Phoebe, we fell in love the day we met and from then on you showed me what it's like to be so bloody loved.

'You gave me an amazing two years and I can't thank you enough for that. But we need time to grow as our own people.'

Phoebe shared her own heartbreak, admitting she had been left devastated by the separation.

'I honestly never thought I'd be writing this, but unfortunately Mitch and I have separated,' she wrote.

'As much as I wanted him to be my forever, we ended up wanting different things. Regardless of that though, I will always love him.'

The breakup was made even more poignant given that Mitch had previously tattooed 'P.S. I love you' on his forearm as a tribute to Phoebe just months earlier.

Pia Whitesell is every inch the proud mother at son's graduation

The former Home and Away star shared a gallery of photos to social media at her 23-year-old son's graduation at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California

Pia Whitesell was every inch the proud mother over the weekend when she and husband Patrick attended her son Isaiah's graduation ceremony. 

The former Home and Away star, 42, shared a gallery of photos to social media that captured her at her 23-year-old son's milestone achievement at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

The Chilean-born actress and her billionaire husband beamed from ear-to-ear as she proudly posed with her eldest son and warmly embraced him.

Pia looked casually stylish for the outing in a black mini-dress paired with aviator sunglasses, as she proudly watched her firstborn receive his degree.

She captioned the post with some heartfelt words: 'One of the proudest moments of my life, watching you graduate.

'I didn't just see a graduation, I saw every step that brought you here... the hard choices, the growth, the strength, the resilience, the incredible young man you've become. 

Pia Whitesell was every inch the proud mother over the weekend when she and husband Patrick attended her son Isaiah's graduation ceremony

Isaiah, you make me proud beyond words. Watching you step into your future with that beautiful smile is one of my life's greatest privileges. The world awaits you, our Lil' Civil Engineer - Letsss goooooo! God bless you always, I love you.'

Pia has developed a reputation for being a hands-on mother and in January she revealed why being a stepmum to Lauren Sanchez's children was so rewarding. 

The Home and Away star's husband, Patrick, shares two children – son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17 – with the former TV presenter, who is now married to Amazon billionaire boss Jeff Bezos.

Pia also shares sons Isaiah and Lennox, 19, from two previous relationships. 

'For me, it's honestly the best, most heartwarming thing to see the blending of four teenagers who were strangers just a few years ago,' she told Marie Claire Australia.

'We sit around the table every night, enjoying each other's company, having a laugh as we share our stories. We spent Thanksgiving together; how lucky are we to have all found each other?'

Pia also admitted she leans on her family during times of hardship, such as when they lost a house last year during the California wildfires.

It comes five years after Pia relocated to Los Angeles with her children and married Hollywood power agent and multimillionaire Patrick.

The Chilean-born actress and her billionaire husband beamed from ear-to-ear 

Pia looked casually stylish for the outing in a black mini-dress

Since then, the glamorous star has seamlessly blended into LA life.

She accepted Patrick's proposal in late 2020 after he presented her with a spectacular diamond ring.

The solitaire oval diamond sparkler is estimated to be worth between AUD$1.10million and AUD$1.9million.

The couple tied the knot in May 2021.

Patrick is the boss of Hollywood talent and media agency Endeavor, formerly known as WME.

His client list includes the likes of Jude Law, Denzel Washington, Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jake Gyllenhaal, with whom he shares both professional and personal ties.

This week on Home and Away in Australia, Sonny risks injuring himself further as he tries to speed up his recovery, while Justin discovers who really hit Abigail.

 

Sonny’s (Ryan Bown) determination to accelerate his recovery could prove to be his downfall this week, as he ignores advice to take things steady.

It’s only been a couple of weeks since Sonny regained enough feeling in his legs to finally be able to stand again, after being wheelchair-bound for the past four months from injuries sustained in the train crash.

Feeling guilty as everyone moved his belongings back into the apartment for him, Sonny went full throttle into helping organise a delayed first birthday party for Archie.

When everyone eventually gathered at the farmhouse for the celebrations, Sonny pushed himself to walk around with his crutches, and put together a wooden trike for Archie.

As he manoeuvred himself back in the car at the end of the afternoon, it was clear to see that Sonny was struggling, and as he and Dana returned home he was forced to admit that he didn’t think he’d be able to manage the stairs. 

John came to the rescue after a quick phone call, helping Dana to get Sonny get back upstairs.

Embarrassed and exhausted, Sonny explained to Dana his frustrations.

“It’s like I finally make a little bit of progress, and then it’s as always—one step forward, five steps back.”

Dana tried to reassure him that recovery isn’t always a straight line, but it didn’t do anything to boost Sonny’s sprits. Having lost his appetite, Sonny decided to have an early night.

As he lay awake later that evening, Sonny text John, asking if they could talk in the morning as he wanted to make some changes.

This week, Sonny’s plan becomes clear as he joins the gym.

Knowing Sonny would eventually need a nearby gym to assist in his rehabilitation, Mali (Kyle Shilling) and John (Shane Withington) had already come up with the plan to re-open Summer Bay Fit, despite Tane (Ethan Browne) still being in hospital at the time.

Although Tane was initially against the idea, the pair went ahead with it anyway, knowing it would also help the surf club as a whole.

“Right now, on his path toward rehabilitation, Sonny’s feeling relieved, hopeful and proud,” Ryan Bown tells TV Week. “He’s been deeply inspired by his fellow friends in the rehab clinic seeing how fiercely independent, resilient and determined they are.”

Whilst there may be concern about whether he’s quite at that stage in his rehab, Sonny is determined that it’s the right thing to do.

The first session appears to back him up at first, with Sonny seeming to cope with the demands of his new routine.

But it isn’t long before the strain begins to show. As Sonny continues to push himself, Lacey (Sophea Pennington) realises that he is overdoing it and urges him to take a break.

Maybe you should keep your advice to yourself,” Sonny bites back as he drips with sweat, clearly in no mood to be mollycoddled.

Frustrated, Sonny lashes out, ordering Remi to shut up and get off his case.

Remi voices his concerns to Mali, telling him how worried he is about Sonny.

He’s frustrated,” Ryan continues. “Sonny wants to believe that it will take time, but deep down he feels that intense dedication is the way forward.”

In the end, it’s John who has to step in, firmly taking hold of Sonny and telling him to stop.

That’s enough, okay?” John states. “You’ve gotta go.”

“You can’t just kick me out,” Sonny replies defiantly.

I can actually, now get out of here, okay?” John insists. “You’re done!”

As Sonny reluctantly leaves, John follows him outside, feeling bad and explaining that he didn’t want him to hurt himself.

Look at me, I’m already hurt,” Sonny responds. “I’m trying to get better!”

The following day, Sonny expresses his remorse and promises that he’ll slow things down.

But when he later returns to the gym, it’s clear that he’s still going to do things on his own terms, despite the advice everyone is giving him.

Will Sonny be caught out before he does himself serious harm?

---

Elsewhere in Summer Bay, Alf (Ray Meagher) is struggling to move on after finding himself at the centre of a hit-and-run investigation.

The trouble began after Alf accidentally let both his licence and rego lapse, leading to him being pulled over by Cash (Nicholas Cartwright) and Richie (Rocco Forrester-Sach).

He had since got everything back in order, and after being given the medical all-clear to drive again, had been trying to move forward.

Roo (Georgie Parker), however, remained uneasy about him getting back behind the wheel, fearing that her dad was no longer as indestructible as she had always believed.

Alf then came under suspicion after Abigail (Hailey Pinto) was clipped by a red ute near Banksia Creek—the same area where Alf had been fishing early that morning.

Although Alf insisted he had nothing to do with it, Roo’s concern over his recent lapses led her to ask whether he could have been responsible.

Richie overheard the exchange, and passed the information on to David (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) and Cash back at the police station.

When Alf was taken in for questioning—and his ute was sent for forensic testing—the whole situation left him feeling humiliated and angry that even those closest to him seemed willing to doubt him.

Although forensics later found no evidence that Alf’s vehicle was involved, the real culprit was still unidentified, meaning Alf was not fully exonerated.

Roo’s uncertainty only added to the damage, with Alf left shaken enough to wonder whether she might be right.

Feeling treated as guilty until proven innocent, Alf handed his keys to Justin and decided to stop driving altogether.

He later went to the police station, telling David that his name had been dragged through the mud, and it would remain there until he found the real culprit.

“You either find the grub who did this,” Alf flamed. “Or you might as well arrest me now!”

This week, David acknowledges that the lack of a resolution has left Alf stuck in limbo.

He suggests that if Alf feels let down by the way the situation has been handled, he can lodge a formal complaint and trigger an internal investigation.

Meanwhile, TV Week reports that Justin is called out to a roadside assist and immediately notices how similar the vehicle is to Alf’s. As he checks it over, he spots damage to the side mirror, raising the possibility that this could be the ute which clipped Abby.

Justin quietly tips off the police, and David soon arrives to inspect the vehicle for himself.

With the evidence now pointing in a new direction, the car’s owner, Carmen (Cassandra MacGrath), is taken back to the station for questioning.

Once there, Carmen admits that she was involved, but insists she never realised in the dark that she had hit a person.

The truth finally clears Alf’s name, and word quickly spreads around the Bay that he had nothing to do with Abby’s accident after all.

But for Alf, the damage has already been done. Rather than feeling vindicated, he is left hurt by how quickly the people around him doubted him—Roo in particular.

“Alf definitely struggles with that,” Ray Meagher tells TV Week. “It feels like everyone is against him.”

When Roo later challenges him over his mood, Alf finally lets his anger show, making it clear just how deeply the suspicion has affected him. 

With Alf now officially in the clear, will he be able to most past the fact that his loved ones were prepare to believe the worst?

Monday 18th May (Episode 8716)

Sonny pushes beyond his limits.

Leah fights for Alf’s reputation.

David struggles with small-town policing.

EastEnders' Denise sparks more concern ahead of devastating cancer story

 Denise's loved ones are becoming increasingly worried about her health.

Denise Fox causes concern among her loved ones when she admits to a worrying health issue in upcoming scenes in EastEnders. Denise has become increasingly concerned about her energy levels in recent scenes of the BBC soap, wondering why she is constantly tired.

Recently, Sam Mitchell found Denise asleep in the salon, which prompted Denise to book an appointment with her GP to get to the bottom of her issues.

In scenes set to air next week, Denise joins Sam to help her cook for the Mitchell family.

Denise admits that she has been feeling unexplainably tired recently, which concerns Sam following her own experience with cancer.

Denise brushes it off, but it has been confirmed by soap bosses that Denise will be diagnosed with blood cancer in the devastating storyline.

The long-running fan favourite character, played by Diane Parish, will be diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in the coming months.

The BBC soap has worked with Blood Cancer UK on the plot, with executive producer Ben Wadey saying: "It was vital to us that Denise’s storyline is portrayed with sensitivity and care, and we’re grateful to Blood Cancer UK for their advice in helping us tell this story accurately.

"As viewers follow Denise, we hope to shine a light on the realities and challenges of an acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosis and the impact it has on the person affected and those around them."

Helen Rowntree, CEO of Blood Cancer UK, added: "It’s been a privilege advising the EastEnders team to ensure Denise’s storyline reflects the real experiences of people living with blood cancer and those who care for them.

"Blood cancers, which include leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, do not discriminate, yet experiences and outcomes can vary significantly, including by ethnicity.

Being Black and living with an aggressive blood cancer like acute myeloid leukaemia can bring additional challenges.

"We hope viewers gain a greater understanding of blood cancer’s impact, and we’re pleased this issue is being highlighted on a powerful platform, helping make a ‘hidden’ cancer more visible."