Home And Away’s Ray Meagher explains disappearance during Logies tribute

It was one of the most baffling moments during the nearly four-hour ceremony: where on earth was Ray Meagher while Sam Pang paid tribute to him?

A planned Logies tribute to one of the most famous faces on Australian TV hit a roadblock last night when host Sam Pang launched into his spiel: only to discover that its subject was nowhere to be seen.

Shortly after Home And Away won the award for Most Popular Drama, Pang began his acknowledgment of “a giant of Australian TV industry”, Ray Meagher – better known as Alf Stewart on Seven’s soap.

But just seconds after starting his tribute in celebration of Meagher’s 35 years on the show, Pang realised there was a rather large issue – the actor was nowhere to be found.

Pang had planned a segment around the well-known soap star. Picture: Channel 7

It came shortly after Meagher joined the Home And Away cast to receive a Logie. Picture: Sam Tabone/Getty Images

Meagher addressed his glaring absence in an interview with Nova’s Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Monday morning, explaining that he hadn’t realised what was going on onstage.

“After Home And Away won the Logie, we had to go out to the press call – walls and walls of people asking silly questions – so we were doing that,” he told the radio hosts.

“I did see Sam [Pang] out the back after [his opening monologue] and I said, ‘oh mate, it’s going so well, good on you’ – and he said, ‘I might say something about you a bit later’.”

However, Meagher added, he “didn’t take any notice” of Pang’s warning.

“We went in and did the press stuff, and [Meagher’s co-star Jimmy Stewart] raced up the corridor, shouting ‘Sam’s talking about you, Sam’s talking about you, get in there!’”

Meanwhile, out on the Logies stage – broadcast live around the country – Pang riffed as he realised the star of his next “bit” was absent.

“Ray is not here, he’s still backstage... it’s getting pretty loose backstage, by the way,” he joked.

“We can do this without him.... In some big news, Ray Meagher signed on for another five years – congratulations! Isn’t that amazing?”

Meagher eventually made it back to his seat.

Amid a smattering of applause, Pang admitted that “this probably would have been better if he was here” before valiantly persevering.

“Anyway. Ray Meagher, 35 years on Home And Away, signed on for another five years – that to me seems slightly optimistic, to be honest. But anyway, there we go... hopefully he front-loaded that contract,” the comedian said.

“I just wanted to mention too, we have become quite close... We have got each other’s phone number, which I’ve enjoyed a lot.... And if he was here, I’d just tell him there are some personal boundaries when it comes to a phone – if you’re listening backstage, Ray, it’s not appropriate to FaceTime when you’re in the shower.”

A moment later, he asked the audience: “Once again, anyone seen Ray? Nup? OK, well, he’s obviously enjoying the show. We’ll just move on.”

Eventually, Meagher re-emerged, hurrying back to his seat, while Pang filled him in.

“Ray! You missed it, I was giving you a beautiful tribute. That’s what you missed,” he told him, to laughter from the crowd.

“I was congratulating you on 35 years, and I went on to say you probably are not going to see out your new contract. You’re up to date!”

Catch up on news.com.au’s recap of all the other Logies ceremony highlights, along with the full list of winners here.

Originally published as Home And Away’s Ray Meagher explains disappearance during Logies tribute