Nicholas Cartwright has finally broken his silence on one of the most devastating moments in recent Home and Away history — the death of Cash Newman in the explosive 2026 season finale.

For months, fans have been left reeling after the long-running character was killed off in a storyline that brought Summer Bay to a standstill. Now, speaking for the first time since the finale aired, Nicholas Cartwright has opened up about the emotional toll of saying goodbye, both for himself and for viewers who had grown deeply attached to Cash.

“I knew it would break hearts”

Cash Newman had become a cornerstone of the show — a character defined by quiet strength, loyalty, and a deep sense of duty. His journey from guarded outsider to emotional anchor for those around him made his death all the more painful.

Nicholas admitted that when he first read the scripts, the weight of the storyline hit him immediately.

“I knew it would break hearts,” he said. “Cash wasn’t just dying — it felt like a part of the show’s soul was being torn away.”

According to the actor, the decision to kill Cash wasn’t made lightly. Producers were determined to deliver a finale that would resonate long after the credits rolled, and Cash’s sacrifice became the emotional centre of that vision.

Filming the final moments

The scenes leading up to Cash’s death were filmed over several intense days, with the cast and crew fully aware they were creating something final.

“There was a strange silence on set,” Nicholas revealed. “Everyone knew what we were building towards. You don’t often get that feeling — that what you’re filming will genuinely stay with people.”

He described the final take as “emotionally exhausting,” admitting that stepping away from the character afterward felt like losing a close friend. Crew members reportedly applauded once the scene wrapped, a rare and poignant gesture on a busy soap set.

Fan reaction took him by surprise

While Nicholas expected an emotional response, he admits he wasn’t prepared for the scale of the reaction once the episode aired.

Messages flooded in from fans across Australia, the UK, and beyond — many thanking him for portraying Cash with such depth, others admitting they were still struggling to process the loss.

“I’ve had people tell me they cried for days,” he said. “That’s when you realise how deeply these characters matter. Cash belonged to the audience as much as he belonged to me.”

Why Cash had to die

Without giving away too much behind-the-scenes detail, Nicholas confirmed that Cash’s death was always intended to mean something — not shock for shock’s sake, but a defining moment that would ripple through Summer Bay in 2026 and beyond.

“His ending was about love, responsibility, and consequence,” he explained. “Cash wouldn’t have gone any other way.”

Closing a chapter — not the story

Although his chapter on Home and Away has ended, Nicholas says he remains proud of the journey and grateful for the support he’s received.

“Cash changed my life,” he said simply. “If his final moment made people feel something real, then it was worth it.”

As Summer Bay moves forward, the shadow of Cash Newman’s death still lingers — a reminder that in Home and Away, no one ever truly leaves without leaving a mark.