‘Home and Away’ update: Benedict Wall auditioned for another role in Aussie soap

Kiwi actor Benedict Wall, who recently joined the Australian soap “Home and Away,” admitted that he didn’t originally aspire for the role of Duncan Stewart, Alf’s (Ray Meagher) prodigal son.

The 32-year-old made a splash at Summer Bay on his recent appearance on the show, immediately getting into heated arguments with his father. He also dropped a bombshell on his family, revealing that he has a son with his estranged wife. Duncan and Alf ignored each other for a long time, after the old man made some rude comments during Duncan’s wedding.

If Wall had his way, he’d end up playing Tori Morgan’s brother, Justin. Wall said he originally auditioned for the role of the wayward Morgan brother. Instead, the character was given to actor James Stewart. As it turned out, Duncan is now involved in a budding romance with Tori Morgan, played by Penny McNamee. The two found a common ground when they discovered they both are tangled in their complicated family drama. “She's the first person Duncan sees when he gets to the bay,” Wall told Stuff in an interview. “There's an immediate connection but Dr Nate is always getting in the way.”

Even before making his “Home and Away” debut, Wall said he already met Kyle Pryor, the actor who plays Dr Nate Cooper. “We did know each other from Auckland,” Wall said. “We'd been in an acting class together. I even think we worked on the same promo gig when we were quite young and he'd been in a short film that I was the lead in then. When he came to Sydney we met up here as well.”

Wall also told Stuff that landing a role in “Home and Away” is a once-in-a-lifetime job. “I don't think there's anywhere else in the world you'd have the kind of freedom to do that sort of thing. It's unique,” he said.

Find out what happens next on “Home and Away,” which airs Monday to Thursday at 7pm on Seven Network in Australia. In the UK, “Home and Away” airs during weekdays at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5.