”It is a tough industry”: Home and Away star Ray Meagher reveals major career move

It’s the ”struth,” Ray Meagher will be sticking around Summer Bay for another five years!

The announcement came straight from the horse’s mouth when Ray was speaking with The Scottish Sun ahead of the Aussie drama’s 35th anniversary.

”We have some wonderful actors who are now in the 10-, 15-, and 20-year bracket, and by and large I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on the show,” he said.

The Gold Logie winner has played the iconic role of Alf Stewart since the very first episode of Home and Away aired in 1988 and has no plans to leave anytime soon.

For over 35 years, Alf has given us iconic sayings like ”Ya flamin galah” and its counterpart ”Ya flamin’ mongrel”, and cemented his status as an all-around Aussie icon.

Ray even sees himself as an advocate of preserving classic Aussie slang for future generations through Alf, his fictional personality.

”The writers wrote ”flamin” [for Alf] early on. They used used to write ”flamin heck” and some writers still write ”flamin heck” but I don’t do ”flamin’ heck” it’s ”flamin hell” if you’re going to say anything like that,” Ray told our sister publication New Idea in 2018.

WATCH NOW: Ray Meagher’s Logie acceptance speech. Article continues after video.

A no nonsense, tell it like it is good natured rogue, Alf is a beloved Australian character, and fans are undoubtedly relieved to know that he is extending upon his already considerable legacy.

In fact, Ray has even secured himself a Guinness World Record as the longest serving actor in an Australian serial and is the only original cast member on the show from when it first premiered.

Elaborating on his years on the popular show, Ray has worked alongside several big names including the likes of Isla Fisher, Ryan Kwanten, and even Dannii Minogue.

”It is a tough industry, it’s hard to make a career in this business there’s always way too many actors who are very good that are up for far too few roles…it is tough to survive,” he said.

”So, when you see these kids kicking goals it doesn’t mean what the arena is, whether that’s in movies or television or whatever, whenever you seen them kicking goals, you’re like good on ya!”

Profile Elizabeth Gracie

Elizabeth is an entertainment and lifestyle writer with Now To Love, WHO, New Idea, and a whole stack more of your favourite titles. You can find her curled up with a good book, on the dance floor, or in a karaoke booth.