After more than three decades as a pillar of Summer Bay, Irene Roberts, played by Lynne McGranger, is bidding farewell to Home and Away in a powerful, emotionally charged storyline that is already resonating deeply with fans.
The beloved character, who first appeared in 1991 and became a series regular in 1993, will face her most personal and devastating challenge yet: a dementia diagnosis. This storyline not only marks the end of an era but also serves as a poignant reflection on memory, aging, and the enduring bonds of friendship and family.
The Beginning of the End
In recent episodes, longtime viewers noticed subtle signs that something wasn’t right with Irene. She began forgetting simple details—appointments, conversations, and names. At first, these lapses were played off as stress or distraction. But the signs grew harder to ignore. Irene started losing her footing emotionally, and a terrifying moment of sleepwalking left both her and those around her deeply concerned.
Her close friend John Palmer noticed the changes and gently urged her to seek medical advice. After meeting with Dr. Bree Cameron and undergoing a series of tests, including cognitive assessments and a lumbar puncture, Irene receives the heartbreaking diagnosis: early-onset dementia.
A Brave, Quiet Resignation
The news leaves Irene shaken to her core. For a woman who has always been strong—surviving addiction, abuse, cancer, and loss—this diagnosis feels like an invisible thief coming to take away the very essence of who she is.
“Irene is scared—not just of forgetting people or places, but of forgetting herself,” said Lynne McGranger in a recent interview. “The writers have created something so real, so raw. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s honest.”
Her story isn’t one of sudden tragedy, but of quiet reckoning. Irene decides, with dignity, that she must step away from her life in the Bay. Knowing the progression of dementia can be unpredictable, she makes plans to leave while she can still control her choices.
Rather than an abrupt departure, the storyline gives her a gentle, graceful exit. She says goodbye to those she loves—John, Leah, Marilyn, and others—with tenderness and hope. The diner, her symbolic home, becomes the setting for a final farewell that’s both moving and respectful of her decades-long legacy.
A Farewell That Reflects Real Life
The decision to give Irene a dementia storyline was one that Lynne McGranger contributed to. She wanted Irene’s exit to matter—to say something meaningful.
“We didn’t want her to just get on a bus and disappear,” McGranger said. “This is a story so many people are living. It’s important we honour them.”
Indeed, the show has worked closely with medical professionals and dementia awareness organizations to ensure Irene’s diagnosis and reactions are portrayed with accuracy and sensitivity. Viewers have praised the show for highlighting a condition that affects over 400,000 Australians—many of them diagnosed in their 50s and 60s.
The Legacy of Irene Roberts
Irene Roberts has been more than just a familiar face on Australian television. She’s been a mother figure, a survivor, and a symbol of resilience. Over the years, she’s battled alcoholism, stood up to abusers, opened her home to countless lost teens, and run the diner with a firm hand and a warm heart.
Her no-nonsense attitude, dry wit, and emotional strength have made her one of Home and Away’s most iconic characters. She’s weathered natural disasters, heartbreak, and betrayal—but always with a toughness rooted in love.
“Irene always fought for what was right, even when it cost her,” one longtime fan wrote online. “Losing her to this disease feels so unfair—but the way she’s facing it shows her strength one last time.”
A Curtain Call for Lynne McGranger
Behind the character is Lynne McGranger, the longest-serving female cast member in Home and Away history. Her final scenes were filmed in March 2025, and were reportedly emotional for cast and crew alike.
Her final moments on set were marked by tributes, laughter, and tears. She filmed her goodbye in the same place she started—at the diner, surrounded by her “Summer Bay family.”
“I’m not saying I’ll never return,” McGranger teased, “but this is definitely the end of a chapter. It’s time for new adventures.”
The actress is now set to tour Australia in The Grandparents Club, embracing a new stage of her career while leaving behind a character who helped shape the fabric of Australian television.
A Lasting Goodbye
Irene’s final scenes will air in August 2025, and fans are already preparing tissues for what promises to be one of the most heartfelt goodbyes in the show’s history. Her departure isn’t just about loss—it’s about legacy, love, and the importance of facing difficult truths with grace.
As the waves crash on the shores of Summer Bay, Irene Roberts will step away, not forgotten—but forever remembered.
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