Just to add to what people said already - the show badly needs a new producer and new direction. It also needs a MAJOR clearout of cast.
Top for the chop for me would include:
- Maddie (as someone said earlier the most unlikeable character ever - good actress - but the character drains my eyes of sight)
- Evelyn
- Josh
- Pheobe
- Kyle
- Creepy Dr Nate
- Zac
- VJ (woeful recast)

Also bring back some names and characters if they would agree to come back. Sasha didnt need to go - she was a breath of fresh air. And jett is a big loss to the show as hes a brilliant young actor.
I always felt Natalie the counsellor never got a fair shake of the stick on the show.

I love Dr Nate and like Kyle but I agree with the rest of your list. In addition I'd add Hannah and Chris for the chop.

I don't hate Phoebe as much as others but I agree with your list. They need to be a bit ruthless like they were with Neighbours a while back. They lost almost half the cast in 2013 and the show was better for it.

In the main I suppose, but axing Lucas and Vanessa was a bad decision, and Tyler, Matt and Josh were terrible castings.

I think the VJ recast was the final nail in the coffin for me. I haven't watched since. VJ was born in 2001 so he should be turning 14 this year! It's a shame as the guy who played him was good, in the role seven years and had the potential to be the first child to stay on the show to adulthood since Kate Ritchie. And that's the kind of familiarity the show is missing at the moment

Chris is my favourite younger character at the moment. Can't stand Kyle.

Give it a good send off before it curls up and dies.

Zac, Kyle are good to stay in my opinion

Ah, i forgot to mention i only caught the last 5 minutes or so. Had no idea Alf was even in the episode! It certainly felt different. Is Irene still around? Her and Marilyn were alot of fun back in the day.

How can you possibly judge a long running programme by watching just five minutes of one episode?!

I've said before the show needs an overhaul. I'd like to see Roo begin fostering at the caravan park, and Marilyn and John adopt some 10/11 year old twins to replace Jett and fill up the house.

Over at Irene's, I'd like some of her family to reappear, with all the strays she has around it's easy to forget she does actually have kids. I want more focus brought back to Irene, I want her involved again, not just standing at the sidelines and serving salads in the diner.

Kyle, Phoebe and Denny need to go. There isn't anything for them, they wouldn't fit in a more family based show. Plus Kyle has always been boring as hell.

The MacGuires need a full clearout. Oscar, Evie, Zac, Hannah and take Andy with them. I have no interest in any of them, and a Home and Away with any of them in is an episode not worth watching.

I wouldn't recast VJ again, what's done is done, but they need to work on solidifying his relationship with Leah, and introduce a strong male figure to make them a family. I suggest a big return would work handily, I really want Jesse McGregor but not sure if he'd work with Leah.

Nate and Kat work well in their individual roles, coupling them up was a good move, I'd keep going with that. Matt, Josh and Chris I quite like, I'd like to see them move into the Braxton house together, making it a student house again.

I think a few sets need work too. Pull down Angelo's and introduce a few local essentials like a shop, maybe a salon etc. it would give characters a wider variety of job prospects. I wouldn't fill up the gym again, it just doesn't work as a meeting place.

At the school, a new teacher and head teacher are needed. I'd move Leah somewhere else, her sudden career change was just stupid. If they can get Sally and Fisher back though...

Get rid of the Ken Doll, i mean Nate and all the MacGuries.

Pete Callan - I agree with everything you say apart from one thing - I like Kyle, he's the only Braxton I like and I certainly don't find him boring, I think he's quite normal compared with the other Braxtons!

Normal is boring to me. I've never been interested in Kyle, he was never a real Braxton for me. Brax, Heath and Casey had something special, he was just a unnecessary hanger-on.

I didn't mention them in my earlier post, but it speaks volumes I forgot about major characters like Maddy, Ricky and Ash. Yep, give them the chop too.

Kyle is very wooden and I don't see the point of him anymore. I really don't like any of the characters introduced from 2013 onwards apart from Ricky who is brilliant.

I agree with most of this but i would keep zac and kyle. Alf should re open his shop from years ago. It was funny when he used to work with celia

With all the drama I've had in my 50 odd years normal is heaven to me.

Anybody remember this storyline? lol

https://youtu.be/YPqBmwmWG1w?t=7m58s

Agreed

I love Kyle

Bringing back Jesse would be a massively difficult one to bring back after it's his fault that Chloe's dead.

I do think they could bring back Olivia (Chloe's daughter) as her grandma was a fab bitch!

Is chloe dead?

Yep, ten years ago!

..

I assume she dies off screen. How did she die?

She was in a car crash caused by Jesse drink driving. They she died later in the hospital. I still remember Irene's shout/scream.

A lot of returnees came back for Alf's 60th. Sarah who dated Tug in the early 90's and Chloe were among them. I think it was the shows 4000th episode but I could be wrong.