Home and Away spoilers: GOODBYE for Nikau Parata and Bella Nixon?
In an unexpected turn of events, Nikau Parata packs his bags and flies back to New Zealand on Home and Away, leaving girlfriend, Bella devastated...
Nikau Parata (played by Kawakawa Fox-Reo) can sense there's something shifty going on with his uncles, Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams) and Tane (Ethan Browne) on Home and Away (1:15pm/6:00pm on Channel 5, see our TV Guide for full listings).
But he has no idea the brothers are being blackmailed into carrying out an armed robbery for Paul (Jack Finsterer) and his dodgy gang!
Realising they have no choice but to go ahead with the robbery, Ari and Tane decide they want Nikau out of harm's way... and break the news they want the lad to move back to New Zealand to live with his mum, Gemma for a few weeks!
With Nikau booked on the next flight out of Australia, his girlfriend, Bella Nixon (Courtney Miller) is heartbroken over this turn of events.
With her big brother, Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin) now serving a prison sentence for murder, and his buddy, Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor) in no fit state to watch out for her, it looks like Bella is now all on her own...
Meanwhile, Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) waits for her brother, Justin (James Stewart) to come home from hospital before she opens the rest of baby Grace's birthday presents.
When she does, Tori discovers the beautiful engraved bracelet that Grace's stepmum, Jasmine Delaney (Sam Frost) gave as a gift.
Tori feels horrible for not acknowledging the gift before or the heartbreak Jasmine must have been going through because of the reminders of her late husband, Robbo.
But when Tori tries to make amends with Jasmine, she is in no mood to discuss the matter and gets up to leave!
Elsewhere, John Palmer (Shane Withington) is still waiting at Salt for his first date from the dating app.
Will she ever show?
To make matters worse, John's estranged wife, Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons) arrives at the restaurant.
This could get awkward!
Home and Away continues weekdays at 1:15pm/6:00pm on Channel 5
Switch over for FIRST LOOK episodes at 6:30pm on 5STAR
Get the What to Watch Newsletter
The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!
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.
Simon is also co-author of The Treasures Of Coronation Street (Carlton Books)
And the writer and director of (very!) low budget fright flick, Midsummer Night's EVIL and the sequel webisodes series, The Hatchet Woods HORROR.