Sam Frost could be back to Home and Away just weeks after announcing her resignation from the show due to the continuing COVID vaccine controversy.
Lynne McGranger, a long-time Summer Bay cast member, said on Monday that Sam had been double-vaccinated and will be permitted back on set.
Sam made waves in December when she left the show because Channel 7 mandated that all cast and crew receive the COVID vaccine.
Lynne stated to Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa this morning that she is considering a return to Home and Away.
“She spoke to me, can I just say the door is not closed, it’s very much an open door. Sam needed to be with her family and they are down in Melbourne,” Lynne said.
“There was some issues of course with getting vaccinated but I’m here to tell you she is double vaccinated now, possibly boosted as well. She needed to be with her family, but the door is definitely open for her to come back.
“The way that she is currently gone from the bay, there is plenty of room for her to come back and I’m sure, that as we speak, she is in negotiations with the producers.”
When questioned if Sam departed the show for any other reasons than the vaccine mandate, Lynne disclosed that the 32-year-old wanted to relocate from Sydney to Melbourne to be closer to her family.
“She missed her family, I can’t speak for Sam but she really missed her family down in Melbourne and that’s where she needs to be,” Lynne said.
“She’s never made a secret of the fact that she does struggle with her anxiety, that is out there and is a great thing to make public, but she needed to be with her family and the producers being clever and smart and certainly compassionate, said ‘You go and do what you need to do Sam, the door is open for you to come back and we’d love you to come back’.”
Sam produced a video in October admitting she had “valid reasons” not to get the COVID vaccine but preferred to keep them hidden. She then appealed for “empathy” for those who choose to stay unvaccinated and stated her anxiety has worsened.
“I feel like it’s getting to a point now in the world where there’s a lot of segregation, a lot of harsh judgment, and it’s taking its toll on my mental health,” she said in the since-deleted Instagram clip.
After Channel Seven made COVID vaccinations required a month later, Sam confirmed that her character Jasmine Delaney would be “temporarily” written off for a few weeks.
“I will be written off temporarily, Jazzy is going on an off-screen adventure for a few weeks… but I’ll be back,” she explained at the time.
“My bosses are amazing, we’ve been in open communication for months. Very grateful we were able to make a plan that works for everyone.”
Sam went on to say that she had a medical surgery scheduled for January, but that she would be fully vaccinated by February.
“I’m not leaving Home & Away. I’ve got a medical procedure booked in for January. So I won’t be fully vaxxed until mid-late February,” she wrote in November.
“I will be written out temporarily, Jazzy is going on an off-screen adventure for a few weeks… but I’ll be back.”
Sam filmed her final scenes on the Home and Away set at Sydney’s Eveleigh Studios on December 17, announcing her departure from the drama.
In a statement to TV WEEK, Channel Seven said in December: “We support and respect Sam’s decision to leave Home and Away. Sam leaves with our sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future.”
The network said Sam’s departure is “not related to Seven Productions vaccination policy.”
“Sam’s previous social media post noted that she intends to be vaccinated following a medical procedure in January 2022. This timeline was mutually agreed to and accommodated by Home and Away’s production schedule,” a spokesperson told TV WEEK.
Channel Seven has been contacted by Now To Love for comment on Sam’s likely return.
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