Home and Away spoilers: Can Alf help depressed Ben?

As jobless Ben continues to slip into a dark place on Home and Away, family friend Alf decides to pay him a visit with some advice.

Maggie Astoni (Kestie Morassi) hates seeing her husband Ben (Rohan Nichol) so down-in-the-dumps on Home and Away.

With his surf board business shut down, and the threat of prison time hanging over his head because of the drug smuggling allegations, Ben seems to have lost all motivation to do anything and is quickly slipping into a very dark state of mind.

Home and Away, Ziggy Astoni, Maggie Astoni — Maggie confides in daughter Ziggy about Ben on Home and Away (Picture: Channel 5)

Maggie's concerns grow when she discovers Ben has been drinking alone at Salt and worries how he will react when he sees the For Sale sign outside the pier complex, which the Astoni family are being forced to sell to help with Ben's legal fees.

So, family friend Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) decides to visit and see if some gentle pushing and tough love will shake Ben out of his funk.

Home and Away, Alf Stewart, Ben Astoni — Alf drops by to offer Ben some advice on Home and Away (Picture: Channel 5)

But how will Ben react to Alf's advice, when he thinks Maggie has asked him to come and babysit?

Elsewhere in Summer Bay, Justin Morgan (James Stewart) is worried when he receives a phonecall and discovers the CBD trial his sister Raffy Morrison (Olivia Deeble) is a patient on, has lost funding and is being shut down.

Raffy really believes the CBD oil has been helping her epilepsy, so she can focus on her schoolwork and HSC exams.

With Raffy feeling confident about her latest exam, how will Justin break the terrible news to her about the trial?

Home and Away, Justin Morgan — Justin needs to speak to Raffy (Picture: Channel 5)

Home and Away, Raffy Morrison — Justin discovers bad news about Raffy's CBD trial on Home and Away. But will he tell her? (Picture: Channel 5)

And over at restaurant Salt, Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor) and his sister Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir) are still at odds after her angry outburst in yesterday's episode.

Dean wonders why Mackenzie is avoiding him. After all, the siblings have just made-up after all the drama involving their dad Rick Booth.

But it's only when Dean stalks his sister on social media and sees what a great and colourful life she lead before moving to the Bay, that he realises the sacrifices she made to give up everything so she could come and get to know her long-lost half-brother.

Can Dean now find a way to make things up to Mackenzie?

Home and Away continues weekdays at 1:15pm and 6:00pm on Channel 5

Simon has long been a fan of soap operas, and especially loves OVER-THE-TOP plots involving evil twins, hair-pulling catfights and natural disasters.

Anyone remember the Sunset Beach earthquake/tidal wave?

Or when Krystle Carrington got locked in the attic and replaced by look-a-like Rita in Dynasty?!

Simon has written for a variety of TV and childrens’ magazines/websites including Inside Soap, Nickelodeon, What’s On TV, Radio Times, Metro, Girl Talk, Disney Girl, Toxic! and Digital Spy.

He has reported LIVE from the red carpet at The British Soap Awards interviewing glammed-up stars from soapland, and hosted a Facebook LIVE session for Metro with Home and Away legend Ray Meagher (Alf "Stone the flamin' crows!" Stewart) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Aussie soap.