Home and Away stars Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor had fans queueing up to meet them as they swapped Bondi for Bristol today (April 28). Sophie and Patrick, who are known for their roles as Ziggy Astoni and Dean Thompson in the Aussie soap opera respectively, signed autographs and took selfies with fans at Retro in Brislington.
It proved to be a very popular meet and greet as Aussie soap fans lined the street to catch a glimpse of the pair. The lines stretched out from Retro all the way down the street as excited fans waited to meet Sophie and Patrick.
The actors' meet and greet in Bristol fell on a bittersweet day for British Home and Away fans as the pair's final episode aired in the UK today. In scenes that aired last month in the soap's homeland, Dean decided to relocate to Queensland from Summer Bay to be closer to his son, Jay, with Ziggy agreeing to move with him so they could embark on a new chapter together.
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As their final episode aired, both Sophie, 29, and Patrick, 30, who are a couple in real life, shared emotional messages with their fans, thanking them for their support over the years. Sophie said she "couldn't believe" it had been almost six years since her character "broke down on the shores of Summer Bay".
"I never dreamed I would be lucky enough to work as an actor, let alone score the best job, in the best place with the best people," she gushed on Instagram. "Every day I played Ziggy, she inspired me to do better as an actor and as a woman.
"Thank you to everyone who created her. Thank you to the cast and crew. I miss you everyday but I’m sure you don’t miss me screaming down the corridors without my shoes on.
"The biggest thank you goes to the fans. We only get to do what we do because of your support. I will be forever grateful."
Patrick also paid tribute to the creators of Home and Away for writing his character, and thanked the cast and crew members "for staring at my big mug the last five and a bit years and giving me such a rare opportunity". "It's been such an incredible place to work, I miss it a lot, but more so the people I met along the way," Patrick added.
"I made some really good friends. Lastly to the fans, there would be no show without you.
"You have truly made the experience unforgettable. Thank you for the support, I'll always remember the love."
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