Channel 7 Star Abbey Holmes Overwhelmed by Heartwarming Surprise from Home and Away Icon
Channel 7 presenter Abbey Holmes was visibly emotional and teared up during a recent broadcast after being surprised with a special video message from Home and Away actor Stephen Peacocke. The heartfelt moment occurred on The Morning Show, where Peacocke, who played the character Brax on the long-running Australian soap opera, sent his best wishes and congratulations to Holmes.
Inspiring the Name Braxton for Her Son
Holmes, who became a first-time mother last year, welcomed baby Braxton with her husband, former AFL player Keegan Brooksby. She revealed that the name Braxton had been a favorite for years, always topping her list of potential names on her phone. Holmes explained that her admiration for the name stemmed from her fandom of Stephen Peacocke and his role as Brax on Home and Away. She shared, "I might have heard it many, many years ago on Home and Away. I'm a big Stephen Peacocke fan. He was one of the Braxton brothers, of course. And ever since Brax was on the show I've just loved the name."
Unexpected Video Message Delivers Emotional Impact
Co-host Kylie Gillies orchestrated the surprise by playing a pre-recorded video from Stephen Peacocke. In the message, Peacocke greeted Holmes warmly, saying, "G'day, Abby. Steve Peacocke here, wishing you all the best ahead of the kick-off to the 2026 AFL season tomorrow. Also, congratulations. I heard that you became a new mum last year. So I hope little baby Braxton is keeping you on your toes and going well." He humorously added, "I don't know if you know this but I actually played a character called Brax on the telly back in the day. And even though I'm obviously pretty uncool, he was a pretty cool rooster so I like your taste in names."
Holmes was left speechless, with her jaw dropping as soon as Peacocke began speaking. She exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, I'm literally welling up. That is the best!" Reflecting on the moment, Holmes recalled a previous encounter with Peacocke in 2014 at a meet and greet in Darwin, where she was front and center to get a photo with him, though she doubted he would remember.
AFL Season Coverage and Holmes' Upcoming Appearances
The surprise came just ahead of the 2026 AFL season, which kicks off with Seven's live and free coverage of Sydney versus Carlton on Thursday at 7pm AEDT. Holmes will return to screens for Friday night's match between Gold Coast and Geelong, as well as Sunday night when St Kilda takes on Collingwood. This emotional segment highlights the personal connections and fan interactions that enrich the world of television and sports broadcasting.
