'Home & Away' to get new "family" image

Home and Away star Ray Meagher has predicted that the soap will alter its values in the New Year.

The Australian actor, who has played Summer Bay local Alf Stewart for 22 years, said that the storylines will be more light-hearted after bosses decided the series had strayed from its original formula.

Meagher told AAP: "We've had too many guns and balaclavas and bank robberies and that sort of thing. We're going back to a family show.

"We'll still have teenage angst. What I've been agitating for is to have a good belly laugh or at least a nice warm smile each quarter hour in there.''

Meagher revealed that a female character will be returning to move in with Alf next year and that caravan park owner Miles will play an important part in producer Cameron Welsh's bid for more comedy.

The changes coincide with the cast's recent disciplinary crackdown after Todd Lasance's drug arrest at the Christmas party.