Home and Away EXCLUSIVE: Lukas Radovich ‘bombed’ in terrifying on set accident

The star played Ryder Jackson on the soap for five years.

Lukas Radovich shot to fame as Ryder Jackson on Home and Away, working closely with acting legends Ray Meagher (Alf Stewart) and Georgie Parker (Roo Stewart) from 2017 to 2022. The star, now 28, played Alf’s rebellious long-lost grandson who was caught stealing from Hunter King and VJ Patterson.

Fans were disappointed when he quit the soap in 2022, with his exit followed by multiple cast members including Courtney Miller (Bella Nixon), Sam Frost (Jasmine Delaney) and Harley Bonner (Logan Bennett). The star is grateful for his time spent in Summer Bay, affectionately calling it his “home” for five years. However, he admits to Yahoo Lifestyle that his first day didn’t exactly go to plan.

Lukas Radovich as Ryder Jackson on Home and Away
Former Home and Away star Lukas Radovich has opened up about an accident on set. Photo: Seven

Introduced as a ‘bad boy’, Lukas remembers having to film a high-intensity scene as soon as he stepped on set. After he was spotted stealing, he was chased across Palm Beach by actors Scott Lee (Hunter King) and Matt Little (VJ Patterson).

Unfortunately, when Scott pulled Lukas’ jacket to stop him from getting away, he ended up with a nasty injury.

“I was very nervous…when I was running, Scott grabbed my jacket and as I turned his finger got caught in my denim jacket and I dislocated his finger,” he says sheepishly. “So that was my first day on set, [spent] filling out incident report forms.”

The star adds that he thought he had “completely bombed” on his first day, but Scott was “lovely” about it, and the pair have developed a close friendship.

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Working with Aussie icon Ray Meagher: ‘Took me under his wing’

Lukas can’t speak highly enough of both Ray Meagher and Georgie Parker, both stalwarts in the acting industry. Ray, 78, has been on Home and Away since the first episode in 1988, and Georgie. 58, joined in 2010 after working on All Saints and A Country Practice.

As the trio are an onscreen family, they grew close and helped support Lukas while he found his footing as a new actor.

“Working with Ray was incredible. I definitely felt like he took me under his wing and showed me the ropes,” he recalls. “If he knew that I needed help, he was there to help me. And he’s just a laugh. He keeps the set fun and exciting, and he’s a wealth of knowledge as well.”

With Ray and Georgie’s combined years of experience, the star remembers being captivated by their stories, saying that it was ‘one of the most awesome parts’ of the job.

Georgie is currently starring in Ensemble Theatre’s Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica, which Lukas is planning to see soon, and he says that joining her on stage in the future would be a ‘peak’ in his career.

“I would love to get on stage with Georgie, that would be phenomenal,” he tells us. “I’d love to work with her in just a different capacity. Especially with theatre, it’s a very different experience because it’s very insular.”

“It’d be a very different experience, but I think it’d be a really rewarding one.”

Georgie Parker, Ray Meagher, Belinda Giblin and Lukas Radovich on Home and Away
The star loved working with Ray Meagher and Georgie Parker. Photo: Seven

Lukas’ big career move: ‘Very busy’

Since departing the soap, Lukas has been working on a number of different projects. Dabbling in behind-the-scenes work, he produced a web series, a short film and directed Penelope Pettigrew’s music video BiConic.

He hasn’t lost his passion for acting though, and fans will be able to see him on stage in All His Beloved Children at the Kings Cross Theatre in May.

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Courtney Miller, Lukas Radovich and Kawakawa Fox-Reo on Home and Away
The star maintains close friendships with his former co-stars, including Courtney Miller. Photo: Seven

Directed by Amelia Burke and written by Frieda Lee, Lukas describes the play as a ‘smorgasbord of comedy, violence and sexuality’.

“It’s a modern take on ancient mythologies, and it takes a lot of different concept from all around the world,” he explains.

“There’s only about four or five people in the cast, and it’s a small theatre, so it’s gonna be very intimate.”

Looking further into the future, he will then fly to Prague in the Czech Republic to produce a show for the Prague Quadrennial. The ‘experimental art festival’ only takes place every four years, and artists from all over the world flock to the city to take part.

While he’s excited to work overseas, he assures fans that Australia is home and he’s not planning to move away for good.

“I really love it here. I love my family, I love my friends, and I love the lifestyle as well.”

Fans can see Lukas on stage in All His Beloved Children at the KXT from May 5 - 20.

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