It’s all feeling a bit off in Home and Away next week, as Irene starts showing signs that something’s not quite right. Her friends are worried, but Irene’s doing her best to carry on like everything’s fine. That’s easier said than done when strange things keep happening.
The Little Moments That Raise Big Questions
We’ve already seen Irene brushing off a few forgetful moments lately, but next week, things take a turn that her mates just can’t ignore. It starts when she chats with Harper about her decision to go back to work after putting baby Archie in daycare. Irene gently suggests she talk to Tane first, but Harper’s already made up her mind.
Later on, Irene locks in dinner plans with John at Salt, and Marilyn even tells her to clock off early and go enjoy herself. But when Marilyn pops back later, Irene’s still busy working. She’s completely forgotten she even made plans.
John turns up too, wondering what’s going on, and Irene’s just as confused as they are. She blames it on being tired and says Archie’s crying at night is messing with her sleep. But when John shows her the text where she herself confirmed their dinner, it’s clear something’s not adding up.
Irene suddenly changes her story, saying she backed out because she was scared of falling back into old drinking habits if she went to Salt. Then she hurries off, leaving John and Marilyn more worried than ever.
Irene Finally Breaks Down in Home and Away
The next day, John, Marilyn, and Leah have a quiet chat. They all agree, something’s definitely going on with Irene, and they can’t ignore it anymore. When Leah asks her about a shift she was supposed to be on, Irene clearly blanks, but covers it up and walks off before anyone can push her further. John follows her, and that’s when Irene finally lets it out.
She admits she didn’t just forget the dinner plans, she completely lost track. And that’s not the only time. A few days earlier, she says she suddenly found herself standing in her own garden in her nightie, with no clue how she got there. John gently tells her it’s time to stop sweeping things under the rug and see a doctor. But Irene doesn’t want to hear it. She says she was hoping he’d tell her it’s nothing. She begs him to drop it.
The Start of a Heartbreaking Goodbye
Now, we’re starting to see the early signs of what’s likely to be Irene’s big exit storyline. Viewers already knew Lynne McGranger would be stepping away from the show after 33 years, and it looks like the show’s gearing up to give her the send-off she deserves.
Down the line, Irene will visit Dr Bree Cameron and face a truth. The show has promised that her final scenes will be part of one of the most emotional storylines Home and Away has ever done. As word spreads around, the community will come together to support her.
It’s shaping up to be a beautiful but heartbreaking goodbye for one of Summer Bay’s most loved characters. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for the latest on Home and Away and all your favourite soaps.