Johnny Ruffo, a former Home and Away actor, said he would dearly love to go back to Summer Bay. From 2013 through 2016, the fan favourite portrayed Chris Harrington in the soap opera, and in 2014, she was honoured with a Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.
The star appeared onscreen alongside other well-known performers like Demi Harman, Samara Weaving, and Kassandra Clementi as Maddy Osborne (Sasha Bezel). He famously grew close to comedy partner Lynne McGranger (Irene Roberts), whom he still regards as a personal friend today, both on and off-screen.
Five years ago, the celebrity learned he had a brain tumour, but he was pronounced cancer-free in 2019. Sadly, his disease came back, and the X Factor contestant said in August 2022 that it was terminal.
Despite this, he has remained upbeat throughout his health battle and tells Yahoo Lifestyle that he hopes to feature in Summer Bay in a cameo.
I would like returning to Home and Away so that I could spend more time with Irene. I had a terrific relationship with Lynne on [the programme] and we still do now that Home and Away is over,” he tells us.
Johnny receives frequent “darling” comments from Lynne on his Instagram posts, as well as supportive words while he fights cancer.
“We are pretty good friends,” Johnny says before revealing that he will be meeting Lynne for dinner on Saturday.
In terms of how he envisions his on-screen persona returning, he wants to “simply show up” at the Pier Diner.
Just walk in and order a coffee, like, without telling anyone. And Lynne, er, Irene, would say, “Chris!” He chuckles.
Nobody has any idea what will happen tomorrow.
This comes after Johnny said he wants to put more emphasis on creating memories right now than on thinking about the future.
“Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, whether or not you are ill. That’s where I am right now, so you have to live in the present and appreciate each day as it comes,” he told us.
He makes an attempt to express his devotion to those he cares about while also worrying about how his partner Tahnee Sims will fare if he loses his cancer battle.
He admonished, “I believe it’s unavoidable for the ones that you love that they’re going to have to go through something that’s fairly tough at some point. “Therefore, make an effort to see them as often as you can. Make wonderful memories. So when they do think of you, they smile and remember the wonderful things.
The star is thrilled that his one dream for Christmas this year is about to come true. Michael, his brother, whom Johnny admires, will be spending Christmas with family in Australia.
The siblings talk frequently on the phone, but because Michael lives in Ireland, he hasn’t actually seen Johnny since a long time ago.
My brother and I haven’t spoken in three years. I adore my brother so much; he is my all-time hero,” he gushes. “He’s returning to Perth, therefore we’re returning to Perth, where we’ll celebrate Christmas together. I am impatient.
I will undoubtedly fulfil my Christmas wish this year—to see my brother—he added.
