Home and Away star and musician Matt Evans hopes to spread some good cheer when he heads home for the Telethon

Born and bred in Western Australia, Matt Evans grew up watching telethons on TV.

The Home and Away actor is due to fly to Perth this morning to help out at the 55th Western Australian Fundraiser for Sick Children. Filming the popular TV series primarily on Monday morning means he will have to return to the East Coast tomorrow afternoon.

Although it will be “pretty hectic,” Evans is excited to be back in his home state for the event.

“I’m so excited to come because I’m from Perth, it means a lot to me and I’ve always known so much about the Telethon,” says the 26-year-old.

“It’s funny when you’re from Perth growing up. I didn’t know it was just a Perth thing. I thought the Telethon was the whole of Australia because it’s so big in Perth.

“It’s pretty surreal to get there as a part of it and be able to contribute to it when I’ve seen so much of it growing up.

“And just to be a part of raising money and awareness and just being able to do my part — yeah, I’m very grateful.”

Evans, who will appear on the telethon alongside fellow cast members Lynn McGranger, Ada Nicodemus, Jacqui Purvis, Kirsty Marilier, Juliet Godwin and Luke Van Oss, has taken an unexpected interest in acting. His first love was music, so after leaving school he completed a four-year Bachelor of Contemporary Music with Voice at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Having played in the band Atlas Chasers and worked as a forklift driver, he auditioned for reality TV series The Voice and made it to the top 20 of the 2019 singing competition hosted by Australian music star Delta Goodrim.

After watching him on The Voice, an agent in Los Angeles, who is originally from Perth, contacted him to ask if he would be interested in trying his hand at acting.

“So I just tried it on a whim and did a few tapes with her and a lot of auditions and finally got this (Home and Away) audition, which was about six months into that relationship with her,” he says.

“I didn’t have any classes or acting lessons or anything like that. So it was like “just give it a try”.

Evans has been cast as Theo Poulas in the long-running drama. Theo is the son of Dimitrios Poulas and the nephew of the famous show Leah. After running away from home, he arrives in Summer Bay.

While he initially hurls obscenities at the locals, his rebellious, angry nature soon proves to be a cover for a confused young man looking for friends and a stable family life. Leah welcomes Theo into her home.

Evans’ musical talents have been woven into the plot, in which he plays in a band with friends.

“I love work. It’s such a great job because everyone at our job is so nice and enjoyable to work with. So it’s a perfect introduction to acting in terms of learning everything in such a safe and . . . friendly environment. So I was very lucky with that. I really like it. It’s just a different thing, a challenge that I set for myself, and that’s always good.”

In the future, he plans to pursue both music and acting.

“I’m going to keep auditioning. . . when it eventually comes my time to step away from the show,” he says.

“I’m also working on my music right now. So I’ve just finished my debut single, which I want to release next January, and I’m also going to make a music video for it.

“And I’ve already started recording some other tracks. So I’m really trying to set the wheels in motion in my music career as well.”

Evans will be busy 24-plus hours in Perth.

He will be on-air, answering calls and taking donations in the phone room, visiting children at Perth Children’s Hospital and participating in many other fun antics that the Telethon is known for.

Evans is also hoping to meet this year’s little telethon stars, Ari, Emily and Leo.

His final appearance on the Telethon will be a live cover of the song on Sunday afternoon.

“I’m just going to play with me, a guitar and a little stompbox pedal, which is basically just a basic drum pedal for my foot.”

The 55th telethon will be held today and tomorrow in Perth CBD. The 26-hour event will be broadcast live on Seven/GWN7 and 7plus from the RAC Arena. The family festival will be held on nearby streets with free admission and public transport. For more information visit telethon7.com/telethon-weekend Home and Away airs Monday to Thursday at 7pm on Seven/GWN7.