Lukas Radovich, who plays Ryder Jackson on Home and Away, has revealed insights about his character’s abrupt departure from the bay.
Ryder’s unexpected departure was spurred by a recent stint as a croupier at Mackenzie Booth’s (Emily Weir) illicit poker nights, he claimed.
“He realises there’s a huge world out there he doesn’t know about that he wants to explore,” Lukas explained.
“Everything comes into place when he receives a call from his mother about a job chance on a cruise ship that he can’t pass up and chooses to take it.”
“He wants to work as a mixologist in the hospitality industry, but there are prospects for him to advance.”
“He could work in the poker rooms and the casino on board,”
Ryder appears to have patched up his tumultuous connection with his mother Quinn Jackson (last played by Lara Cox in 2018).
Ryder persuaded Quinn to let him stay after landing in the bay as a runaway in 2017 – much to the amazement of granddad Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher).
“Ryder’s mother is a singer and artist, so she’s never around,” Lukas stated.
“He was meant to live with her, but she’d just disappear for a few months and abandon him!”
The employment offer comes out of nowhere, and Ryder must act quickly because the ship is scheduled to depart port the next day!
Despite the hasty withdrawal, Lukas expressed relief that Ryder did not suffer a horrible end.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to say goodbye to the character since I feel like you don’t always get a good send-off when your character is killed off.”
“I was fortunate to have a lot of fantastic scenes with Georgie (Parker, who plays his aunt Roo Stewart), Ray, and Courtney (Miller, who plays Bella Nixon) where we were able to have a nice goodbye.”
Lukas’ exit was kept a secret when he concluded filming his final scenes last December. We caught up with Lukas earlier this year while he was visiting family in the United Kingdom on vacation.
“It’s good to catch up with my brothers, who have been in London for the past three or four years.” Lukas commented, “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen one other.”
“They’re not like me at all – they’re rational folks, unlike me!” One works in medicines, while the other is in technology.”
Despite his departure from the show, Lukas insists he is still in touch with his former co-stars and is planning his next step.
“Courtney Miller and I are best friends – we’re attached at the hip!” I’ve seen a lot of folks from work, and I see Sophie Dillman (Ziggy), Patrick O’Connor (Dean), and Emily Weir on a daily basis (Mackenzie). He revealed, “We’re all extremely tight.”
“I have a few things planned, creative endeavours that have been put on hold while I’ve been working on the show, so there are a few things I’m excited to get started on.”
Weekdays at 1:15 p.m. on Channel 5 and 6:00 p.m. on 5Star, Home and Away airs, followed by a ‘first look’ episode at 6:30 p.m. on 5Star.
