Stephen Peacocke on RFDS Season 3 — “I’m Nervous” About Returning to Home and Away

When Stephen Peacocke first strode into Summer Bay back in 2011 as Daryl “Brax” Braxton, leader of the notorious River Boys, he quickly became one of Home and Away’s most unforgettable figures. Almost overnight, he was a household name, and the tough-yet-charming character carved out a permanent place in soap opera history.

Nearly a decade after his exit, Peacocke is stepping back into that world. Now 43, the actor returns older, wiser, and with an impressive international career under his belt. Yet, despite his global experiences, he admits that choosing to keep much of his career anchored in Australia has been one of the most rewarding decisions of his life.

“I’ve been lucky to have had 10 years of really good work,” he told TV Week. “I never take for granted how fortunate I am to work in this industry here, and to have had chances overseas as well.” After leaving Home and Away in 2016, Peacocke and his wife, actor Bridget Snedden, relocated to the U.S. They found their footing quickly, securing a green card and work opportunities. But when COVID hit, circumstances shifted, and Australia once again became home.

That return couldn’t have come at a better time. Peacocke was cast in RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, playing flight nurse Pete Emerson. The character, with his resilience and dry wit, mirrored many of the outback personalities Peacocke had known while growing up in Dubbo. “The show just keeps getting better and better,” he said. “Everything we portray has a basis in reality. The crazier the storyline seems, the more likely it is to have actually happened.”

Season 3 of RFDS will test Pete like never before. One gripping episode features a nail-biting emergency landing. Peacocke joked that he earned a pilot’s license just for the role—before clarifying that he only studied the basics to get into Pete’s mindset. “I knew it was going to be a cracker of an episode,” he laughed.

Later this year, Peacocke will also revisit the role that changed his life. Special episodes filmed against the backdrop of Western Australia’s rugged outback will explore where Brax and Ricky ended up after their dramatic departure. Slated to air in 2026, these episodes promise to give long-time fans a chance to catch up with the reformed bad boy. “They asked me, ‘Do you want to see where they are ten years on?’ and of course I said yes. That role meant the world to me. Part of me is nervous—I want to make it good for the audience because I know how much they cared about him.”

While many Aussie stars use Home and Away as a springboard to Hollywood, Peacocke has managed to balance both worlds. His credits include Whiskey Tango Foxtrot alongside Tina Fey, Hercules with Dwayne Johnson, and a role in Me Before You. But ultimately, he found Australian projects too good to turn down. His loyalty has paid off—RFDS won the TV Week Silver Logie for Most Popular Drama, and his Home and Away return ensures his Summer Bay legacy endures.

Away from the cameras, Peacocke leads a quieter life. In 2022, he and Bridget welcomed their first child, a daughter. “We always travel as a family, which is such a bonus,” he explained. Parenthood hasn’t altered his approach to acting yet, but it has given him new perspective on balance and priorities.

As for the future? Peacocke laughs off the idea of long-term planning. “I’m not really a five-year strategy guy. My best plan is to have no plan—just try to do good work and see where it leads. So far, it’s worked out.”

For fans, that means plenty to look forward to—whether it’s life-or-death drama in RFDS or the long-awaited return of Brax. In an industry where so many chase Hollywood, Stephen Peacocke remains grounded, telling Australian stories with honesty and heart.