Fans of Home and Away who have gone into mourning mode at the thought of the annual Summer Bay break, can dry their tears as Channel 5 have announced that to fill the gap left by the popular Australian soap over the summer months they will be showing a selection of some of the fan’s favourite episodes, starting with the shows pilot, according to the Daily Star newspaper.

Home and Away first appeared on British screens back in 1989 on ITV as a rival to the already hugely successful Australian soap, Neighbours, which was being aired on BBC1.

Both soaps were phenomenally popular in the UK, and were shown one after the other straight after the kids after school TV programme schedule on week nights, and at lunch time too for the housewives to enjoy.  However, the era of the Australian soap dwindled to an end in 2000, and both soaps were removed from mainstream networking.  Home and Away was snapped up by Channel 5, and has been broadcast on the network ever since.

Rumours have been circulating that Sky channel Sofa Stars is planning to run the entire show from the beginning again, but in the meantime while the show is on its annual summer break, Channel 5* is going to show a selection of favourite episodes, as chosen by the viewer, starting with the pilot tonight, and then a double bill from July 31 until the show returns on the main channel on Monday September 3.

Original cast member, Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart, said: “Channel 5 is offering UK viewers a real treat this summer.

“All the classic episodes are here and many of the first appearances from some of the current cast including Marilyn, Irene, Morag and a slightly younger Alf will be shown.

“It’s a great way to fill the gap during the soap’s annual summer break.”

To whet your appetite, watch a clip from the pilot episode in the clip below before tuning in tonight:

Home And Away: From Day One starts on the digital channel 5* tonight with the feature-length pilot from 1988.