You worked closely with Cameron Welsh over the past few years, what are the main challenges of taking over the role of Series Producer?

Lucy Addario: It was a privilege to work with Cameron for the last 2.5 years. I know Cam will be greatly missed by the entire cast and crew. He is an exceptionally talented story teller and had a brilliant vision for the show. He has certainly left some very big shoes to fill! I’m so excited and thrilled to be producing the show in 2012 and believe my challenge ahead will be maintaining the balance; light and shade, drama & romance and ultimately staying true to the heart and soul of Summer Bay.

What excites you about the future of Home and Away, will there be any change in direction and what can fans look forward to?

Lucy: There is a lot in store for the residents of Summer Bay in 2012. The fans can certainly look forward to numerous twists and turns as well as the honest lighthearted fun that we have come to expect and look forward to every night. Without giving too much away, the year certainly kicks off with a bang. 2012 will bring everything from a birth to a death and even a marriage or two. There will be new loves, old flames, exciting adventures and a discovery that reinforces the past can always come back to haunt you!

Fans have loved the Charlie and Brax relationship and their chemistry, is this gold for a writer and did you discuss any other possible scenarios for the characters ie wedding, babies etc?

Lucy: Our writers have a lot of fun working with the diversity and chemistry between Brax and Charlie. This year Brax will struggle to shake some very big demons from his past. I guarantee our fans will invest in his journey.

Do you think fans have more access to the cast than ever with the introduction of Facebook, Twitter, and now FANGO, and what do you feel are the benefits of this social media?

Lucy: It’s fantastic to have almost instantaneous communication with our fans across these media platforms. I know the cast really appreciate the support and feedback and enjoy interacting with their fans. It is so exciting to know that as Producers we can receive live feedback from the fans, even during the commercial breaks.

The production values on Home and Away are fantastic especially considering the time pressure and locations. Are there any new sets or locations planned for 2012?

Lucy: Our team work very hard to achieve a high standard of production value. Producing 2.5 hours of television every week is an enormous achievement for our cast and crew. Following the great storm that hit the Bay in 2011, Summer Bay High has been rebuilt and you will see the new set when school resumes in the new year.

How does the production cope with the unpredictable weather on location, have you had to increase the shoot days and crew in recent years?

Lucy: The weather is always going to be unpredictable. Just recently we had to shoot a surf carnival in the pouring rain. Sometimes it’s easier to just embrace the rain rather than to pretend its not there. Unfortunately sometimes it just rains in Summer Bay!

Will there be any new cast or returning cast in 2012?

Lucy: We do have some exciting plans for new cast members as well as some very special guests. Returning cast; This is something the show has always done and something that I plan to continue. I believe it keeps the current world of Summer Bay and its history connected.

Question for Steve Peacocke - Your storyline in 2012 will really push you from one extreme to another, do you enjoy these challenges and do you need to draw on personal experiences to create emotions such as anger and sadness?

Steve Brax is going to be challenged in 2012 in ways we haven’t seen before, and he definitely finds himself in painful territory, both physically and emotionally. The audience can expect to see why he's got that reputation and just how volatile and flawed he is. It's been awesome fun to play a character with this much conflict and - shooting one story line in particular - I probably had the most fun I've ever had in my life!

Question for Ada Nicodemou - Having worked on the show for so many years, do you still get surprised by some of Leah’s romantic choices?

Ada: I always laugh as they seem to pair me with such tall men – like Elijah (Jay Laga’aia) and Dan (Tim Campbell) so I wonder who is next! It’s quite fun playing the romantic storylines in between some of the more dramatic ones, Josh and I always had a laugh on set.

Question for Lynne McGranger - 2011 was a tough year for Irene, will her life improve in 2012?

Lynne: Irene is not out of the woods yet, there is a setback in her recovery from cancer. It has been a challenge and a privilege to film this storyline but I do hope there are happier times ahead for Irene – you will have to keep watching.

Question for Lisa Gormely - Bianca is not going to have a quiet year, do you think she sometimes wishes she had just run off with her Italian Prince for a life of luxury?

Lisa: Ha! I don’t think Bianca would give up her year for anything, although it won’t be without challenges. She has decided to marry the man of her dreams, but it seems Heath is determined to get involved in her life in one way or another, even if it’s through April. Heath and April’s romance will definitely test the strength of April and Bianca’s relationship.

Question for Demi Harman - Sasha’s relationship with Stu causes some major eruptions in the Bay do you think fans will be shocked by the outcomes?

Demi: Fans are in for some major shocks in 2012 when we meet Stu’s Dad who clashes with Sid. The Walkers form a protective circle around Sasha once they discover Stu was abusing her, and Sasha needs her family more than ever, but this story is far from over.

Question for Georgie Parker - Roo has become such a fun character, and her on/off attraction to Harvey is hilarious. Do you enjoy the dynamic that you and Marcus have created on screen?

Georgie: Marcus and I have a really good time on set when we have scenes together, we have worked together before on a play called Love Letters and have a great rapport and on-screen chemistry. It’s feisty relationship between Roo and Harvey and you will get to see a lot more of that this year.

Questions for Sam Atwell - Do you like being behind the camera as much as being in front playing Kane?

Sam: As fun as robbing jewellery stores and running from the police as Kane was, I do love the world behind the camera too. I’ve been fortunate to work across a few departments and really enjoy learning the different skills and requirements it takes to put together a television show and specifically the world of Summer Bay. This year I’m really excited to be working in the script department so now instead of working with actors on set I now get to be involved in deciding what stories they get to act out!

As drama coach last year, do you look at actors and see their potential to go further. What are the qualities they need in such a competitive environment...who do you think will tread the path to Hollywood?

Sam: It’s been such a fascinating and rewarding job to work with actors and see them develop, grow and gain more and more confidence in their craft. We’re really lucky to have an extremely talented cast with some very experienced actors who have such a positive influence on the younger or newer members of the cast. I think the most important thing an actor can have is a belief and trust in their own individual talent and it’s great to see that click in and see them shine on the screen. I think our cast is so strong that I would have no doubt that any of them could tread the path to wherever they wanted to go.

Questions for Shelley Murray - Fans are always asking about the character’s wardrobe, do you enjoy creating a new look for a character and what happens to the clothes after the character leaves?

Shelley A new character is always exciting and yes I do enjoy creating a new look. There is always a great vibe with everyone discussing who will be playing the role and how we want them to be portrayed. I love to start a character from scratch as it gives me an open palate to create a whole new person really.

After the character leaves, I offer the clothes to the actor. They normally take some and the rest get sent to different charities. We have a women’s refuge at Mt Druitt called The Wash House and another called FRANS.com.au (Family Resources Network Support) for people with disabilities.

How much time do you have to prepare for the big events like weddings, formals and the dress up episodes?

Shelley With big events, I normally have about 6 weeks with a rough outline of the story, so I can get started on more time consuming costume constructions like wedding gowns or dress up costumes. Then about 2-3weeks with the more detailed scripts to fine tune the outfits.

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