Saw a promo earlier today for a Home and Away Queensland special coming soon. Just caught the end of it… sounded like a travel show?
Promo for Ziggy and Dean’s short return to the show, which will be set in Queensland where the characters now live:
https://www.facebook.com/homeandaway/videos/1354553755462831/
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Ahhh
Lynne McGranger (Irene) is leaving the show for good. She will film her final scenes next month.
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I thought she was going to leave back when Lyrik came in and the show had a whole of of new characters Bree etc and her house was not shown for a year and she was stuck behind the diner nearly every time we saw her. Must have been 2 or 3 years back.
Lynne is moving to Melbourne to film Neighbours in its last 3 months?
I wonder if TV Week will use this as an excuse for a TV Week special magazine about Irene 
In all seriousness, she’s one hell of a great actor, and deserves a well earnt break after 33 years, as well as the chance to do other things if she wants.
Possibly a bit easier on the budget for the show now too….
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I think it’s because of her role in a national theatre production. They probably didn’t want to come up with another reason for a long departure. She already went to rehab for like 5-6 months
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TV legend to farewell Home and Away
Summer Bay gears up to say goodbye to one of its most iconic residents
After over three decades playing one of the most popular characters on Australian television, Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger will be hanging up her Diner apron one final time, when she leaves the hit drama series later this year. Her beloved character, Irene, has become a staple in Summer Bay and her emotional exit cannot be missed.
Lynne, who is the longest-serving female actor in an Australian drama series, said: “After almost 33 years in my dream role and working everyday with people who I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life.
“I am forever grateful to the best production crew in the world and to our genius writers – whose doors are always open – for everything they have done for Irene over the past 33-odd years, and I am so proud of the storyline which will see Irene out of the Bay. Above all, a massive, heartfelt thank you to the fans for your continued love and support.”
The Logie-nominated actor has become part of the heart and soul of Summer Bay since her on-screen debut in January 1993, when she took over the popular role and quickly stole the hearts – and laughter – of the nation with iconic ‘Irene-isms’ and classic eyerolls.
Lynne’s Irene, a recovered alcoholic, returned to Summer Bay in the 1993 series premiere having turned her life around and with hopes to reconnect with her daughter, Fin (Tina Thomsen). Since then, Irene has become part of the fabric of the tight-knit seaside community, having taken in multiple foster children. She has been at the centre of many of Home and Away’s biggest storylines, including her battle with alcoholism; a breast cancer diagnosis; a long-lost son; a ferry boat sinking; a bomb explosion; a plane crash; and even a stint in prison for a murder she did not commit.
But despite the challenges she has endured over the years, Irene’s resilience and tell-it-like-it-is nature have made her a force to be reckoned with. When not serving customers at the Pier Diner, the Summer Bay mainstay can often be found dishing out advice or offering a friendly ear over a cuppa.
Irene is not only a beloved fan-favourite, but her numerous colloquialisms and catchphrases (“girly”, “darl”, “flippin’ heck!”) have become embedded in Australian pop culture, with TV WEEK ranking her the second Greatest Australian TV Character Of All Time, as voted by readers in a 2023 poll.
Away from the Bay, Lynne was the runner-up in the 2014 season of Seven’s Dancing With The Stars, and released her tell-all autobiography, Acting Up: Me, Myself and Irene in 2021.
Home and Away ’s Executive Producer, Julie McGauran said: “What a pure joy and privilege it has been for all at Home and Away to work with the wonderfully talented, witty, funny and kind Lynne McGranger. Lynne’s extraordinary portrayal of down-to-earth Irene Roberts is why the character is held with such great affection by fans around the world. Lynne will always be a much-loved member of the Home and Away family, her friendship to all is truly cherished and we wish her all the best for what’s next in her bright, bright future.”
While Lynne will wrap up filming at the end of March, fans still have many more months to get their fill of classic Irene-isms, with her onscreen departure not taking place until later in the year.
Meanwhile, Irene returns to screens this week, after Lynne took a six-month hiatus last year to tour with her comedy stage-show, The Grandparents Club. Fans won’t want to miss Irene’s rocky return to Summer Bay, after she was last seen admitting herself to a rehab clinic, having relapsed with her alcoholism.
Upon finishing filming next month, Lynne will take some downtime before heading back out on the road again with a brand-new Grandparents Club as they tour Australia.
Tune in as Home and Away heads towards Irene’s emotional exit storyline, gearing up for an unmissable farewell that will go down in Summer Bay history.
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AFAIK Lynne McGranger started about a year and a half before Jackie Woodburne on Neighbours, plus the latter show was off the air for a little while prior to Amazon era. But it’s bloody close!
Major announcement for Home and Away’s Lynne McGranger | Daily Telegraph
Says
"You either leave voluntarily or leave in a box by the time you’re my age,” McGranger said.
“I’m not going to live forever, particularly if I keep doing 14-hour days. You get a bit tired, you need your sleep, if you have a bad night’s sleep you will pay the price the next day. My body isn’t as resilient as it once was.”
McGranger was the longest serving female cast member, having joined at the age of 39 in 1993. Ada Nicodemou takes that mantle now, clocking up 25 years on the show"
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I wonder if Marilyn could move into Irene’s house when she leaves…cos it will seem just weird Dana and Harper living there although it has been like that for ages now since Irene went to rehab. It would mean Roo and Alf living at The Summer Bay house and Marilyn interacting more with the younger cast … just a thought.
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Sunrise tomorrow will have an exclusive interview with Lynne.
I would say peak H&A was the 90s.
But watching that clip didn’t it also go back further when Sarah shot and killed Noah? Or am I getting that mixed up? I know she had a part of it.
Lynne said her exit was her idea which always makes me think actors will keep it open for their return unless she really does kill her off. and if that’s the case they should
try and get back all her foster kids for her funeral would be iconic nostalgic event TV.
Selina, Joey, Hayley, Will, Nick, Kim, Gypsy, Tasha, Robbie, Cassie, Ric, Matilda, Kit, Martha, Spencer, Sasha, Geoff, Annie and her own kids Nathan, Damien, Findlay.
As well as extended cast like Sally, Pippa, Shannon, Angel etc…
Something tells me that these 2 will definitely not return, unless they were to do a Kylie Minogue ALA neighbours finale and have little to no dialogue
Unfortunately Home and Away hardly brings back old characters these days not like Neighbours that does it every 2 weeks.
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On 7 this morning
Video
HUGE 'HOME AND AWAY' ANNOUNCEMENT 🎬 One of its most beloved characters is leaving Summer Bay.#TMS7 – Straight after Sunrise, weekdays on Channel 7 and 7Plus pic.twitter.com/4mbJIvGIad
— The Morning Show (@morningshowon7) February 23, 2025
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And again this afternoon on the National News at Noon
