Nerida revealed that she was a patient of Tim’s some time ago, and that they’d begun dating. Cash then used this as ammunition as he tried to convince Eden that her new boyfriend had repeatedly made morally questionable decisions and couldn’t be trusted.

However, in the final episodes, Cash and Abigail discovered that Nerida was lying about her relationship with Tim – the pair had never dated, and Nerida had developed an unhealthy obsession with her former counsellor. Tim was innocent.

Cash awoke to find his hands covered in blood, with Tim lying unconscious next to him, and it looked like he was going to have a tough time clearing his name.

The season usually ends with a trailer, teasing what’s in store in Summer Bay the following year.

However, this year that wasn’t to be – after the final episode, Seven aired a much less revealing promo for the show, featuring mostly already-seen footage of our favourite characters, with vocals by Aussie singer-songwriter Amy Shark.

Thankfully, New Zealand broadcaster TVNZ have saved the day.

The 2024 Season Finale aired on New Zealand screens on Wednesday 18th December, and the channel broadcast the usual ‘next episode’ promo afterwards, giving us our first look at what’s in store in Home and Away‘s 2025 season return.

We pick up moments after we left off, and the promo begins with a New South Wales Police team on their way to Koy Stone River Estate resort where Tim sustained his injuries.

“Base, this is Unit One. We’re now en route to the Koy Stone River Estate,” the lead detective announces over the radio.

The new detective is played by former Neighbours and A Place to Call Home star Craig Hall.

As we previously reported, Craig Hall’s arrival has been expected for some time, after an Instagram video posted by a cast member showed him on the set of Northern Districts Police Station, standing behind Rose Delaney actress Kirsty Marillier, and next to Nerida actress Ellie Gall. Craig’s CV has since been updated to show that his character’s name is Detective Mark Townsend.

“Be advised, we now have confirmation of two male victims of suspected assault,” a colleague replies over the radio.

On the island, Justin has presumably raised the alarm after stumbling across the scene. Remi is already with Cash and Tim, but Eden rushes over, calling out her boyfriend’s name.

“Tim! Is he okay?” she asks, as we see Bree (Juliet Godwin) checking on Tim, who still appears to be unconscious.

“I don’t know,” Remi replies, as Kirby (Angelina Thomson) holds her back.

At that point, Eden notices that Cash is sitting, shellshocked, on the wall next to them.

“Cash?” she asks, wondering what on earth he’s doing on Lyrik’s private island break.

“Are you alright?” he replies.

“How did you get here?” she asks, as it dawns on her that Cash may have had something to do with Tim’s injuries.

We then see Bree informing a paramedic to take Tim “straight to Northern Districts Hospital,” as Cash sits on a step, still shaken up, while Townsend watches on.

“I’ll ride along with you,” Bree tells Cash, but he replies: “I can’t leave Eden.”

“Hey, Cash, you are no good to anybody in the state that you’re in,” Bree assures him.

“I can still help with the investigation,” Cash insists, as he looks over at the detective.

But Townsend is very quick to make the situation clear.

“You’re not a police officer right now,” he tells Cash. “You’re a suspect!”

Will Tim pull through? And will Cash be able to clear his name when we return to Summer Bay next year?

Shortly after the Season Finale, Seven released the following teaser for the new year:

“Cash has been discovered by Justin at the scene of a violent crime after an intense late-night altercation between Cash and Eden’s new boyfriend, Tim. But as day breaks, Cash is seen waking up on the ground, crawling over to an unresponsive and bloodied Tim.

With the evidence stacking up against him, the question on everyone’s lips will soon be: is Cash responsible for the brutal attack on Tim? With a new detective on the case and more questions than answers, is the Bay’s resident cop looking at a life behind bars?

Also, will Dr Levi Fowler’s (Tristan Gorey) risky surgery on Harper and her unborn baby boy end in success or devastation?

The new year also promises fresh faces in the Bay, new romances, an emotional goodbye, and the highly anticipated return of Ziggy (Sophie Dillman) and Dean (Patrick O’Connor) for an exciting storyline set in the Whitsunday Region of tropical north Queensland.”

Home and Away returns to Australian screens on Monday 13th January 2025.

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