Packed with good times TV'S FAVE DAD RETURNS

Erik reveals the reunion has plenty of surprises in store for viewers

- Rebekah Hebenton

They were just an average Aussie family with grown children, but they captured the hearts of many Down Under and now, eight years after Packed to the Rafters said its final farewell, it’s set to return to screens. And Erik Thomson, who plays the family patriarch Dave, can’t quite believe it’s finally here.

“It’s kind of surreal, actually,” the 54-year-old tells the Weekly. “There was always talk about doing something after the show ended, but it always came to nothing.

“There were lots of hugs in the read-through and we were pinching ourselves, not fully believing that it was actually happening.”

The show followed empty nesters Dave and Julie Rafter as their homes filled up as one by one their adult children moved home. The new six-part series Back to the Rafters sees Erik reunite with his TV family, Hugh Sheridan, 36, and Angus McLaren, 32, who play his sons Ben and Nathan, and Aussie acting legend Michael Caton, 78, who stars as father-in-law Ted.

This season, however, there will be one person missing – Jessica Marais, who played the eldest Rafter child. The 36-year-old had to pull out due to personal reasons and is replaced by Georgina Haig, also 36.