Channel Seven announces special about Ray Meagher’s career

During tonight’s triple bill of Home and Away, Channel Seven announced that they will be airing a This is Your Life special centred around Ray Meagher.

This story was updated on 30th September.

Hosted by Melissa Doyle, the special will document Ray’s incredible life playing the country’s longest serving television character, Alf Stewart.

The special which will go to air on Tuesday 11th October will feature Ray alongside several Home and Away former cast members, including Kate Ritchie and Chris Hemsworth.

“When it comes to Aussie TV legends, Ray Meagher is the record breaker,” the Seven Network announcer declares in the promo.

“Ray Meagher, this is your life,” Melissa Doyle touts.

Later, the announcer adds “how a footy playing rebel became the icon Alf Stewart.” 

People joining Kate and Chris to reminisce about Ray’s career include Dannii Minogue (who played Alf’s niece Emma Jackson), Julian McMahon (Ben Lucini), Stephen Peacocke (Darryl Braxton), Bec Hewitt (Hayley Smith) and Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie Patterson).

The show will also include original cast members Judy Nunn (Ailsa Stewart), Alex Papps (Frank Morgan), Sharyn Hodgson (Carly Morris), Roger Oakley (Tom Fletcher) and Vanessa Downing (Pippa Fletcher).

A myriad of current cast will also appear, including such as Belinda Giblin, Georgie Parker, Ada Nicodemou, Lynne McGranger, Shane Withington, James Stewart, Emily Weir and Ethan Browne.

Australian television legend Paula Duncan, who played Alf’s sister-in-law Bridget Jackson back in 1990, will also make a special appearance, alongside acting veteran John Waters.

During the special, Ray will delve into his time on the series, as well as his sporting past, with appearances from rugby legends Nick-Farr Jones and John Eales.

For the first time, Ray’s wife Gilly and stepdaughter Rebecca will talk about life with Ray away from the spotlight. Ray will also open up about his growing up as an orphan, before we meet his beloved surrogate mother, Pat, who helped raise him.

This is Your Life began on the Seven Network in 1975, hosted by Mike Willisee. After a five year run, the series took a sojourn and returned to the Nine Network in 1995. After its multiple incarnations, the revival of the series was announced in January 2022.

This Is Your Life will air on Seven at 7:30pm on Tuesday 11th October.