It’s the popular Australian soap beloved all over the world.
But after recent criticism surrounding Home and Away’s apparent lack of diversity, the series is soon set to feature a gay character.
Veteran actor Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart, confirmed the news in an interview with Digital Spy on Monday.
‘We’re all very pleased about it’: On Monday, Home and Away’s Ray Meagher (back left) revealed a gay character will soon be featuring in the popular soap
‘There is a storyline coming up [with a gay character],’ the 73-year-old told the website.
He added: ‘Our writers do try to keep abreast with the times, so there is an interesting character coming in… And we’re all very pleased about it, by the way!’
Ray has played lovable businessman Alf since the show began back in 1988.
‘Our writers do try to keep abreast with the times’: Ray (who has played Alf of the series for thirty years) revealed the news in an interview with Digital Spy)
And whilst there is currently no gay character in the series, there have previously been storylines featuring those who do not identity as heterosexual.
In 2003, actor Rian McLean briefly appeared as Christopher Fletcher, the first openly gay character in the series.
Then, in 2009, the show featured a six-week lesbian romance between characters Charlie Bucktan (Esther Anderson) and Joey Collins (Kate Bell).
Controversial: in 2009, the show featured a six-week lesbian romance between characters Charlie Bucktan (Esther Anderson at left) and Joey Collins (Kate Bell at right).
At the time, Home and Away was criticised by conservative groups for featuring the plot line, leading series producers to cut scenes of the same-sex couple.
Last December, TV personality Andrew Mercado slammed the soap for its lack of diversity, writing on Twitter: ‘There is still no gay in the bay it is probably the ONLY soap in the western world NOT to be diverse – get with the program @homeandaway’.
The popular series has also come under fire for it’s lack of racial diversity in its casting, with the show featuring almost exclusively white characters.
Revealling the happy news: Ray said that there was ‘an interesting character’ coming into the show in the near future
Diversity! Last December, TV personality Andrew Mercado slammed the soap for its lack of diversity, writing on Twitter: ‘There is still no gay in the bay’