If you had to pick a different original to still be in the show today

[project90]

If you had pick a different original character to still be around INSTEAD of Alf who would you choose?

[joany208121]

Don Fisher… I think he proved he could work with and without family. He was incredibly nuanced, especially as the years went on and his complex relationships with Bobby, Sam, Maz, Bec and even Sally were explored. 

[j.laur5]

Ailsa Stewart as she would no doubt be running Diner.

I considered Pippa but I think sbe pretty much be background character now if she was still on show. 

[CaptainHulk]

Don. He was the closest thing Alf had to a brother and even though they clashed they always thought highly of each other.

[hapitoby]

As others have said Don. Otherwise Sally. Or Ailsa.

[project90]

1 hour ago, CaptainHulk said:

Don. He was the closest thing Alf had to a brother and even though they clashed they always thought highly of each other.

But this sernio be no alf would be Don by himself in place of Alf 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Don Fisher. 

Or Bobby, Sally or Frank. 

Edited March 2 by Homeandawayfan.

[adam436]

Assuming Alf was not around if the below characters had gone the distance instead: 

Donald Fisher was always my favourite original character, but he'd have well and truly retired from teaching now. I can also see him giving advice and having memorable friendships/unofficial mentorships with subsequent principals like Maggie and Zac. In terms of family, we'd have likely met Rebecca's children by now and he'd probably have had at least one child he never knew about come out of the woodwork by now. Would he and Marilyn have reunited when she returned in 2010?

Bobby would be an interesting one - we saw Sally's journey from foster kid to the head of Summer Bay House with her own foster family, so that would have likely been Bobby's destiny had she stayed 40 years too, probably when Pippa left. She was also biologically a Stewart, which probably would have given her some longevity too. I imagine by the 2010s she'd have pretty much assumed Roo's role though with the fostering element etc and married Harvey etc, since Roo would likely not have been recast without Alf. 

Tom Fletcher - the original Summer Bay patriarch, so he'd probably have had a similar journey to Alf too. Not as memorable, but it would have kept some continunity/stability in Summer Bay House throughout the late 90s/early 2000s. 

[Homeandawayfan.]

Maybe Don was Emma Jackson's father.  This is why he arrived in punk clothing at the school and picked Emma out, as he was trying to redeem his secret daughter. 

Going by Don's 50th birthday storyline in Feb 1995, he would be 81 now, so 8 years younger than the actor. Don and Alf are the same age. 

I would add Floss and Neville to long term originals, but as of 2026, Nev would be about 100/101 now and Floss about 95. 

[cymbaline]

Can we slow down the ageing process? If that were possible, it'd be great to still see Donald hanging around. I was a grown-up before I came to realise how good Norman Coburn was, and what a wonderful job he did of playing Fisher. He would be a good foil for John, and they would make for an entertaining chalk & cheese duo. We'd also see him having an "it's complicated" relationship with Marilyn. He's also Roo's uncle by marriage, so the potential for interesting material is there. 

I also rate Celia, though with better writing. When I watched Home and Away as a teenager, I saw her as a gossipy old bag who could be quite annoying. Again, as with Donald, I came to appreciate how good Fiona Spence was when I found those old episodes as a grown-up. I now see her in a more sympathetic light. 

If Bobby was still around, she'd have become the Irene of Summer Bay. They have a lot in common if you think about it. It'd probably mean no Irene though...