James Stewart Quitting Packed to the Rafters to Focus on Baby With Jessica Marais

by Jessica Chandra 1

Packed to the Rafters is losing another cast favourite: James Stewart. His pregnant fiancée Jessica Marais is apparently ready to give birth any day now, and the actor has decided to take a step back from his career to care for the baby so Jessica can continue working on her US show Magic City. James told TV Week, “The show will go into a sixth season, but I’ve done a few years, so I might be ready to hang up my boots. I just can’t wait to be a dad and that’s my priority right now. We’re moving to America not long after the baby is born — probably three or four weeks. It’s a pretty massive deal, but we have to do it.” A spokeswoman for Channel Seven said the network supported James’ decision “with all our love and support.” James’ news comes less than a week after it was revealed that co-star Hugh Sheridan is deflecting to Network Ten to host the new talent-finding show I Will Survive. Hugh will still appear in a limited number of Rafters’ new episodes.