Who are the top 10 most iconic characters?

[16770052]

Who do you think would be the top 10 most iconic Home & Away characters? Not necessarily the most popular or who you like the most, but who made the biggest impact and are the most memorable? 

This is my list:

1. Alf Stewart - longest serving character, been there from the beginning, iconic lines/personality, and is the character everyone thinks of when they think of Home & Away. Without a doubt number 1!  
    
2. Irene Roberts - the second longest serving character, also iconic lines/personality, memorable transformation from villain to hero, also definitely #2!
    
3. Sally Fletcher - spent 20 years on the show, we saw her grow from a small girl to a young adult, would probably be above Irene if she stayed around for the 2nd half of the show’s run. 
    
4. Marilyn Chambers - another long serving character with 3 different stints in different eras, an iconic look/personality, also sort of grew up on the show but I think Sally is more well known. 
    
5. Donald Fisher - spent 15 years on the show, also an iconic character of the early years and was there at the beginning. 
    
6. Pippa Ross - even though she was only there for the first 10 years (and some later guest appearances), she was the first iconic foster parent figure and an important role in the early years. 
    
7. John Palmer - arguably the biggest character of the newer era, 15 years on the show so far and is the new Don Fisher type but Fisher and Pippa are ahead because they were the originals.  
    
8. Bobby Simpson - only in the show for 5 years but probably the most memorable of the younger characters and transformed from troubled teen to young adult to a motherly figure, also there at the beginning. 
    
9. Daryl Braxton - another memorable younger character and probably the most iconic of the bad boys with many characters trying to replicate him over the years 
    
10. Morag Bellingham - an iconic villain and character of the early years and has made several small stints since and unfortunately RIP to Cornelia.

 

That’s just my opinions and here are some I considered but just didn’t make it:

• Leah Patterson - she’s the 3rd longest serving character but I just don’t think she’s an iconic character like the ones above and hasn’t made as much of an impact.
• Roo Stewart - same as Leah, a long serving character but hasn’t made as much of an impact, was in the early years and then returned later.
• Colleen Smart - a long stint in the middle era and pretty iconic but just misses out.
• Sam Marshall - grew up from a child to a teen in the early years and decently popular but also just misses out.
• Also some short term popular younger characters that just didn’t make it such as Vinnie Patterson, Hayley Smith, Angel Parish, Steven Matheson etc.

[j.laur5]

1 Alf Stewart 

2 Ailsa Stewart 

3 Donald Fisher 

4 Sally Fletcher 

5 Pippa Ross/Fletcher 

6 Colleen Smart 

7 Marilyn Chambers 

8 Irene Roberts 

9 Leah Patterson/Baker 

10 Roo Stewart 

[adam436]

In no particular order: Fisher, Sally Alf, Ailsa, Sally, Marilyn, Irene, Bobby, Brax and Gypsy.

My list is skewed toward the early years because they were my core viewing years and I've dipped in and out since 2005, rather than watch it consistently.

The first 7 characters are long-running characters who have survived many eras of the show and loved by most fans. There are long-running characters like John, Roo, Leah and Colleen, but I wouldn't call them iconic in the same way. Again, maybe it's bias towards the early years because I do really like John as a character, or maybe it's the way the writers don't seem as invested in the older/stalwart cast in the same way early years writers were.

Gypsy, Brax and Bobby were all relatively short-lived in comparison to my other 7, but they well and truly defined the eras they were in.

[Jamie!]

In no order: Pippa, Donald, Sally, Alf, Ailsa, Irene, Bobby, Marilyn, Colleen, Morag.

[Homeandawayfan.]

In no order: Don, Alf, Pippa, Bobby, Sally, Irene, Morag, Leah, Roo and Ailsa. Just 2 men on my list and 8 women.

Edited February 27 by Homeandawayfan.

[adam436]

  On 27/02/2025 at 13:25, Homeandawayfan. said:

Just 2 men on my list and 8 women.

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When you consider that only 3 of the 10 longest running characters are men, it's not surprising that many of our lists have more women on them. Whilst all of our lists prove that long-running and iconic are not exclusive by omitting some stalwarts and including other shorter-lived characters, a number of them will naturally appear in both.

For reference, the 10 longest-running characters (I think in order!) are Alf, Irene, Leah, Marilyn, Sally, John, Don, Roo, Ailsa and Colleen. 

[hapitoby]

Alf, Sally, Don, Pippa, Ailsa, Irene, Morag, Marilyn, Brax, Leah/John

Brax is noticeably shorter (approx 5 years in total) yet he's definitely the most iconic new character of the last 15 years. Him -as well as the rest of the Braxtons really defined that era of the show and even to this day in terms of more regular crime and gangs.

I couldn't decide between Leah and John. Leah has been here since 2000 so really feels like the start of the new millennium. She's been through multiple eras. John does feel like this century's Donald Fisher to me. Both started as these nasty villians (and initial guest characters) that had a lot of power within the roles in the community, that eventually mellowed out and being foster parents. Both had neglected their son/stepson which leads to years of resentment and hatred.

[adam436]

  On 28/02/2025 at 03:44, hapitoby said:

Leah has been here since 2000 so really feels like the start of the new millennium. 

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For me, 2000 was the final year of the "Early Years", so the fact that Leah was introduced the same year and stuck around really does feel like a fitting way to kick off the new era.

 

  On 28/02/2025 at 03:44, hapitoby said:

John does feel like this century's Donald Fisher to me. Both started as these nasty villians (and initial guest characters) that had a lot of power within the roles in the community, that eventually mellowed out and being foster parents. Both had neglected their son/stepson which leads to years of resentment and hatred.

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Another perhaps incidental similarity in their journeys is that they both married Marilyn too

[hapitoby]

  On 28/02/2025 at 20:14, adam436 said:

For me, 2000 was the final year of the "Early Years", so the fact that Leah was introduced the same year and stuck around really does feel like a fitting way to kick off the new era.

 

Another perhaps incidental similarity in their journeys is that they both married Marilyn too

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Yeah 2000 we had the end of Bayside diner, big overhaul of characters including long term Sam and OG Ailsa. Had the introductions of the Sutherlands which would dominate storylines for the next 4+ years. As well as Leah's arrival. 

 

Oh yes ofc ha both marrying Marilyn and having a son with her (Byron died and Jett is in wheelchair due to injuries).

They also had a illegitimate daughters - Bobby and Shandi.

Both reluctant to be a father figure after falling out with their son (Alan/Trey) but ended up fostering Viv/Jett.