Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.

Home and Away’s Lacey Miller bravely tries to move forward from Theo Poulos’s death next week, but her bold efforts end in tears. When the Summer Bay soap returns to UK screens next week following its Christmas break, we’ll see more fallout from the tragic incident that killed Theo.

As we check back in with the Bay’s residents, Lacey is still struggling to cope with the sudden loss of her boyfriend. Still taking time off from work while she processes her grief, Lacey is pleased when her boss Mali Hudson promises that he’s managing to get by without her.

Mali is adamant that he doesn’t want Lacey to come back to work before she’s ready, although he’s secretly in a tough situation. With so many extra duties at work, he’s overloaded and there’s no time to wind down with any social time.

Lacey’s dad David Langham reckons that she needs something to take her mind off losing Theo, so he gives her some minor tasks to do at the police station.

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“The quality time between father and daughter gives Lacey an opportunity to open up about how she’s feeling,” our Home and Away source explains. “Lacey shares the depth of her grief for Theo and encourages David to reveal how he coped when the family lost Lacey and Jo’s mum Kristina.

“David explains that he put all of his efforts into moving on, as that’s what his beloved wife would have wanted him to do. He reckons that’s what Theo would want for Lacey, too.”

Lacey wastes no time in taking this advice and heads straight to the surf shop, where she announces that she’s ready to get back to work. Sadly, the mood soon turns sour.

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A bunch of flowers arrive at the shop from a caring well-wisher who wants to honour Theo. This triggers Lacey’s grief and threatens to send her straight back to square one.

“Mali’s concerned when he finds Lacey alone on the beach later on,” our insider adds. “They share a warm hug as grieving Lacey breaks down in tears again. Did she come back to work too soon?”

This new episode marks the beginning of Home and Away’s new era on UK screens, with the Channel 5 lunchtime screening now dropped. From now on, episodes will premiere at 6am on 5’s streaming service and air at 6.30pm on 5STAR that evening.

Home and Away airs these scenes on Friday 2 January from 6am on 5’s streaming service and 6.30pm on 5STAR.