Following the devastating death of former Home and Away star Johnny Ruffo, Seven is paying tribute to him with a 7News Spotlight special, Remembering Johnny Ruffo.
The program will feature the Spotlight team, who spent six months with Ruffo and his partner Tahnee Sims in 2021, as he confronted the devastating battle against brain cancer that would eventually take his life.
We will learn more about how he dealt with the diagnosis, but beyond this, will take a look at the beautiful love story of the couple and their fierce love for one another that endured throughout his courageous battle.
When and how you watch Remembering Johnny Ruffo
7NEWS Spotlight: Remembering Johnny Ruffo will air on Tuesday, November 14 at 7.30 pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
The teaser trailer
What we can expect
During the November 14 episode of Sunrise, viewers were given insight into what we could expect from the program.
It will cover the lead-up to his initial diagnosis, with Simms recalling the “excruciating headaches” Ruffo was having and how he was struggling to string a sentence together.
“She was like, ‘Get into the car, we’re going to the hospital. Now,’ Ruffo recalled.
Ruffo then revealed he didn’t remember “a whole lot”, slipping into a coma.
Seven’s entertainment editor, Peter Ford, spoke to Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington about why it was important to hear the backstory.
“He was a remarkably young man and everything was taken from him, much much too soon.”
Ford also said that at the time the interview took place, over two years ago, it was “the turning point” in his courageous fight and “it wasn’t going well”.
A special edition of @7NewsSpotlight airs tonight at 7:30 on @Channel7 and @7Plus paying tribute to beloved singer and actor Johnny Ruffo. pic.twitter.com/SvkcjJNeE8
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) November 13, 2023
“If you think well I’ve seen it, well, watch it again because you can see now in hindsight knowing the outcome and it feels very different.
“It will have an impact and be very powerful. He took the diagnosis and decided he was going to make a difference, not for any personal gain whatsoever.”
The journalist then went on to say that Ruffo’s decision to post “confronting” photographs was to show the “reality” of brain cancer.
“That’s what he wanted people to see and by watching it tonight, you honour him and what he set out to do.”
Peter Ford reveals how his former castmates are doing after Johnny’s death
According to Ford, some of the longer-serving cast from Home and Away have “really been doing it tough recently on the set, knowing that this was about to happen and now knowing that it has happened.
“He touched a lot of lives. [He had] a good strong fan base and many people will now only know him for his cancer journey but don’t forget. He should also be known as somebody who was an incredibly talented young man who then went on to show extreme bravery and use his celebrity for good and to help others.”
7NEWS Spotlight: Remembering Johnny Ruffo will air on Tuesday, November 14 at 7.30 pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
