It’s meant to be the happiest time in the lives of Summer Bay’s favourite newlyweds Ziggy (Sophie Dillman) and Brody (Jackson Heywood).
But the course of true love never did run smooth in the small town.
And that certainly proves to be the case this week.
Brody is finding living with his new wife and her family at the Astoni house is far from the start to wedded life he’d envisaged.
‘It is difficult for Brody because he and Ziggy never seem to have any time alone together,’ says Sophie.
‘Ziggy is really young – she’s only 20 – and she’s never lived with anyone else before – she’s only ever lived at home.
‘She and Brody have just got married and they want to spend as much time as they can together, but they do have a really strange situation at home.
Maggie (Ziggy’s mother, played by Kestie Morassi) has been so sick, and everything has to stay so clean and untouched. Brody is living amongst all of this.’
Feeling increasingly stifled, a frustrated Brody lashes out at the clan before storming off. He pays Tori (Penny McNamee) a visit and confides his feelings.
‘Brody and Ziggy are trying to find their feet as a couple, as well as within the family dynamic, and I think it all becomes too much for Brody,’ explains Sophie.
Later, apologising for his outburst to Ziggy, Brody is surprised when his wife raises the possibility that they look for a place of their own. Thrilled by the suggestion, Brody says he couldn’t be more ready – and he has the perfect place in mind!
Taking Ziggy to a dilapidated cottage filled with junk at the back of the Morgan house, Brody can’t wait to make it their own. But Ziggy’s response is far from enthusiastic.
‘Ziggy has incredibly high expectations for the first place they’re going to live in on their own,’ says Sophie. ‘She dreams big. There is really a big growth period that needs to happen for Ziggy. She got married to the man she is absolutely in love with, but to move out and be fully independent as a couple is a very big step for her. They sort of did it a bit backwards, by getting married first when they hadn’t lived together.
‘Now, when Ziggy sees the cottage at the Morgan house, she is shocked and appalled.’
Will Ziggy’s reaction lead to an even rockier patch in the couple’s relationship?
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