Home and Away's Emily Weir addresses risky new Mackenzie story

Home and Away spoilers follow for Australian and UK viewers.

Home and Away's Emily Weir has spoken out on her character Mackenzie Booth's big new storyline, as Mac's financial desperation leads her to consider an incredibly risky idea.

Mackenzie's restaurant Salt has been facing mounting debts over the past months, which have recently been compounded by the fact that her insurance company has refused any claims relating to the gas attack. The company claimed it wasn't covered as part of the agreed policy.

With Mac seriously out of pocket after paying to foot the bills herself, she has realised that her business is now on the line, and Emily told TV Week that the situation is taking a major toll on her character.

Endemol Shine//Channel 5

"It absolutely makes her feel like she is nearing to hitting rock bottom again," she said. "The insurance money was going to cover damages and loss after the gas attack. Without it she is behind on all payments and realises she is in so much more debt than she even realised."

What to Read Next

After Mac turned to her brother Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor) over her troubles last week, Dean promised to do his best to help and ended up contacting their estranged father, Rick Booth.

Unfortunately, all Rick has done in response is phone Mac to give her a lecture and offer to buy Salt at a heavily discounted price – with Mac simply telling him to "shove it" in response.

"Mackenzie has a fractured relationship with her dad," Emily explained. "He is completely unsupportive, has a history of lying and cheating and is overall apathetic towards his children."

mackenzie booth and logan bennett in home and away

Endemol Shine//Channel 5

Having hit a dead end with Rick, Mackenzie is forced to look at other money-saving measures. She ends up delivering Felicity Newman (Jacqui Purvis) the bad news that she needs to let her go. Stunned, Felicity is adamant that she has done nothing wrong and so she refuses to accept her termination.

Ryder Jackson (Lukas Radovich), who recently looked at the Salt accounts and predicted that the business would have to stop trading soon, explains to Felicity just how much financial strain Mackenzie is under in a bid to help.

To his surprise, Felicity begins smiling as she starts to form an idea in her mind.

embargo 14022022 jasmine delaney and felicity newman in home and away

Endemol Shine//Channel 5

The next day, Felicity approaches Mac with a rather bold idea, suggesting that she hold an underground poker night. She then floats the idea that she might manage to make back all of the money that she needs in one night.

"Initially it's a definitely not in Mackenzie's mind, she thinks Felicity is joking," Emily admitted of the bold idea. "But as the idea develops and the stress of the huge debt weighing on Mackenzie she sees it as an idea that might be a doable solution..."

But will Mackenzie really risk everything she has on an illegal poker night?

Former Neighbours star Barry Conrad, who played Kane Jones on the soap, recently teased that he has joined Home and Away in a new role linked to the gambling storyline, while he also shared a dramatic new trailer which teases potential danger for Mac and Tane Parata (Ethan Browne).

Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.15pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7plus.

Selected classic episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video in the UK.