Home and Away icon blasts soap for straying too far from Summer Bay roots

**Ray reckons Home and Away has strayed too far from what it originally was (Picture: Endemol Shine)**

Ray Meagher, the iconic star of Home and Away, feels that the show has deviated too much from its initial idea.

In a recent interview, the actor—who has been playing Alf Stewart since the first episode—expressed gratitude for the enduring serial but acknowledged that it had changed significantly from its inception.

He stated, “There is still a preference for a River Boy,” and he’s not entirely off. As fans will know, The River Boys were a Mangrove River-based criminal organization.

They frequently visited Summer Bay, causing mischief at the doors of the locals and providing viewers with some of the most recognizable characters from the previous 10 years of the show, such as Dean Thompson, who moved out of the Bay last year.

Since their 2011 debut, The River Boys have been a recurring feature on Home and Away for more than ten years. During that time, the show’s narratives have shifted from being primarily character-driven to being more crime-driven.

Regarding the River Boys era, Ray told TV Tonight, “I mean, that was just a great period.” Was it Summer Bay, though? Hmm, not to that degree, in my humble view.

**Ray has portrayed Alf Stewart since Home and Away’s very first episode (Picture: Endemol Shine)**

The legendary Australian soap opera star quickly clarified that, although “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” are acceptable in the program, he believes that Home and Away has gone too far in these directions.

Fans may relax knowing that the cherished Alf won’t be leaving anytime soon because Ray inked a new deal last year to stay on Home and Away for five years.

Two years ago, there was a subplot where Alf considered permanently leaving Summer Bay. Like many other fans, Ray and I both find it impossible to picture Home and Away without Alf.

The iconic figure from soap opera once told Metro.co.uk, “He’s kind of like the godfather of Summer Bay.” “When something very significant comes up, people typically respond, “Oh, ask Alf.”

‘Well, I don’t know how the bay’s going get on without me!’ is probably his naive thought, but it’s a major matter for him to leave the bay for more than just selfish reasons.