Summer Bay fans are in for a nostalgic treat as two beloved Home and Away alumni — Lincoln Lewis and Todd Lasance — officially reunite on the set of NCIS: Sydney. And according to the pair, the moment wasn’t just exciting… it was emotional, surreal, and long overdue.

Lincoln Lewis, who joins the new season of the global crime franchise, says he knew exactly who would understand the significance of the opportunity: his longtime friend and former on-screen colleague, Todd Lasance, who plays Sergeant Jim Dempsey on the hit series. After years of wishing their paths would cross professionally again, the universe finally delivered the perfect moment.

Lincoln recalls the instant the reunion felt real — when production tossed them into the same car on the way to rehearsals. “Todd just looked at me and said, ‘Mate… we’re heading to set together again,’” Lincoln tells TV Week while filming at the show’s Kalan Park location. “It hit us straight away. The last time we did this was Home and Away. It felt like coming full circle. We were back.”

Their friendship stretches far beyond scripts and scenes. The two first bonded in their late teens and early twenties, quickly becoming inseparable as they chased the highs and lows of the acting world. But their bond truly cemented during the now-legendary chapter when they lived as roommates in a damp, mould-infested apartment in Sydney’s northern beaches.

“We lived in that place for 18 months,” Lincoln laughs. “Most nights we’d run lines together, even if our characters weren’t sharing scenes. We’d watch movies, break them down, study performances, and push each other to improve.”

Todd, now 40, interrupts with a grin between takes. “Honestly, it’s a miracle neither of us caught a fungal infection from that place,” he jokes. “But, somehow, that grimy old flat is where some of our best work was born.”

Over the years, through career slumps, tough auditions, and personal milestones, the two actors remained each other’s emotional backbone. Lincoln admits Todd is always the first person he calls when the industry starts to feel overwhelming. “There are stretches where you’re auditioning constantly and nothing sticks. It wears you down. Todd’s always been the guy I turn to.”

This time, however, Lincoln didn’t miss out. He landed the role of Vinnie Rees, a bold, thrill-chasing treasure-hunting TV personality who barrels into danger with reckless enthusiasm. Lincoln describes Vinnie as a wild hybrid: “Think Tiger King meets Bear Grylls with a dash of Steve Irwin and Alby Mangels,” he laughs. “He’s intense, loud, and absolutely alive. It’s a blast playing him.”

Part of the reason Vinnie feels so natural, Lincoln admits, is because he shares the same adventurous streak. Off-screen, Lincoln works as a travel presenter for Getaway, exploring new destinations around the world. “That spirit fits perfectly with Vinnie’s world.”

But even with his impressive résumé, joining the NCIS franchise still feels like a dream. “Even a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment on NCIS: Sydney would’ve been an honour,” he says. “Everything is crafted with such detail and heart. Being here feels unreal. Honestly, if they had me sweeping leaves in the background, I’d still be stoked.”

With the boys officially back together — this time on one of the world’s biggest TV franchises — fans can expect a reunion filled with chemistry, camaraderie, and the kind of magic that only decades of friendship can create.

Stay tuned for more movie spoilers next week — see you then!