Home and Away fans in tears over tribute to Lynne McGranger ahead of exit

Home and Away fans were in need of tissues while watching Wednesday night’s episode as Lynne McGranger’s character Irene Roberts prepares to leave the series. While her final scenes are expected to air next month, the series has featured plenty of emotional moments in recent weeks as Irene comes to terms with her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Wednesday night’s episode saw Irene discuss plans with John Palmer (Shane Withington) to sell the Pier Diner, which she bought from Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) in 2005. She admitted that while she would miss owning the venue, she still had a heartbeat, good friends, and her house.

The show then aired a heartbreaking montage of Irene at home over the past three decades sporting a variety of different hairstyles.

Viewers were reminded of the times she fostered Chloe Richards (Kristy Wright), Tasha Andrews (Isabel Lucas), Olivia Fraser Richards (Raechelle Banno), Dana Matheson (Ally Harris), and Harper Matheson (Jessica Redmayne).

“This place has always been a bit of a refuge for people in need,” she says in one clip.

‘Won’t feel right without her’

Many viewers admitted they were in tears watching the episode, and couldn’t imagine how they would be able to get through her eventual exit.

“Oh my goodness, this is pulling on the heart strings now, what’s it going to be like on Irene’s final episode,” one person wrote, while another added, “Tonight has been so sad and the memories are so awesome to look back on, I’m going hate it when Irene’s gone. It won’t feel right without her”.

“Aww some proper nostalgia. I remember watching these episodes at the time too. Irene has always been such a core part of Home and Away,” a third remarked, followed by someone else who said, “So beautiful, Irene will be missed she’s touched so many hearts”.

“Gosh, my eyes are watering already. I wonder how Lynne and the rest of the cast felt, must have been emotional filming the final episodes,” a different user shared.

How will Irene leave Home and Away?

Now that it’s been confirmed that Irene has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, fans have begun to speculate how she will eventually say goodbye to Summer Bay.

“She’s going to die isn’t she,” a fan speculated, with another writing, “I hope she doesn’t die. I think she will move and live with her daughter for help.”

“I think she’s gonna move away,” someone else predicted, while one viewer shared, “I think she moves away to a facility as her Alzheimer’s gets worse; that’s how she leaves Home and Away.”

What has Lynne McGranger said about her exit?

Lynne McGranger revealed during an interview on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie in March that she was the one who had come up with Irene’s exit storyline.

“When I decided that the time was right, I had this idea of what I think is a terrific storyline. I went to the writers, and normally they’re like, ‘Oh, quick, lock the door. Here she comes. Last time she came, she wanted Irene to get abducted by aliens’,” she shared. “But this time they heard me out and they went, ‘That’s great!’. Maybe all these years I should’ve been in the writing department.”

When asked if her character was going to die or simply leave Summer Bay, Lynne said fans would have to tune in and see for themselves.

“I think it’s a valid storyline. I think it’s very, very pertinent, and I think people will travel the journey,” she added.