Home and Away shake up as two stars join soap and one returns after two decades

Home and Away will see two new stars step onto Summer Bay.

Two stars of the popular Aussie show McLeod’s Daughters are set to appear on the beloved soap later this year. Rachael Carpani and Aaron Jeffery have joined the cast.

Rachael, 43, famously played Jodi Fountain on the noughties drama, whereas Aaron played Alex Ryan on the show, which ran from 2001 until 2009. Aaron, 53, has also starred in Water Rats and Wentworth.

However, it’s not Rachael’s first time on Home and Away as she previously played a diner waitress in 2001. She’ll be taking on the role as newcomer Claudia Salini, but it’s unclear whether she’ll be a guest or a regular character.

Aaron will make his debut as guest star James ‘Jimmy’ Fowler. He’ll likely that he will portray the father of Eden (Stephanie Panozzo) and Levi (Tristan Gorey) Fowler, given his name.

It comes as Home And Away star Orpheus Pledger has pleaded guilty to beating a woman. The disgraced 31-year-old actor was caught on CCTV dragging a woman by her hair before stamping on her head.

Pledger, who played Mason Morgan, was bailed on April 22 on the condition that he had a court ordered mental health check. However he escaped from the hospital, causing a massive manhunt across his native Australia.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was caught three days later. Orpheus was first arrested in Melbourne after CCTV footage emerged of the attack, where the victim was left with bruising to her head and face, according to news.com.au.

Orpheus was arrested later that day and was placed in pre-sentence custody. His lawyer Jasper MacCuspie claims the soap star’s life has spiraled due to mental health and drug issues, after he was snubbed for a role in huge US drama The 100.

Magistrate Justin Foster said: “At the moment the court doesn’t know if it’s a mental health or drug issue.” The case has been adjourned for sentencing until July 3.