We see her smiling sometimes at the diner, and the next, she’s questioning what day it is. This week in Home and Away, Irene finds herself in a terrifying position, and for the first time, someone else’s safety is at stake. As the pieces start to unravel, could this be the beginning of Irene’s goodbye from Summer Bay?
The Little Slips that Started It All
Not long ago, Irene began showing signs that something wasn’t quite right. It seemed harmless at first. She reacted with delight when Alf mentioned Roo was finally feeling better after her ordeal with foster daughter Eliza. But when Marilyn repeated the same update just hours later, Irene responded like she was hearing it for the first time, leaving John a little baffled, since he’d already witnessed her reaction the first time.
That wasn’t the only strange moment. Last week, she completely forgot she’d made dinner plans with John at Salt. He waited for her, but when he finally found her happily working at the diner, she had no memory of their arrangements. To make things more confusing, Marilyn had already given her the night off, because Irene had mentioned the plans earlier.
Even when John showed her the text she’d sent confirming dinner, she looked at it in disbelief. She tried brushing it off as being tired, after all, baby Archie’s late-night cries had been keeping her up. And when Marilyn suggested maybe she felt awkward about being around alcohol again, Irene went along with it.
But the cracks kept showing. When Leah reminded her that she’d agreed to cover a shift during Kirby’s album launch, Irene snapped, insisting she wasn’t an imbecile and didn’t need the reminder. Later, she opened up to John and quietly revealed she’d caught herself standing in the garden in her nightie, unsure how she even got there. He urged her to see a doctor, but she resisted, saying she just needed reassurance, not more reasons to worry.
Things Have Gone Too Far in Home and Away
This week, Irene faces her scariest moment yet and it shakes her to her core. Getting ready to leave the beach house for work, Irene stops in her tracks when she hears something unexpected, a baby crying. She listens again. Then it hits her like a truck, it’s Archie. He’s inside the house. And she had no idea she was meant to be watching him.
Harper’s out. The house is otherwise empty. Irene looks down at the baby in horror, realising what could have happened if she’d walked out that door. She grabs the phone and calls John immediately. When he rushes over, he finds her shaken and teary. This time, Irene doesn’t hold anything back. She admits how scared she is and finally says the words she’s been avoiding, she needs help.
A Heartfelt Farewell on the Horizon?
As moving as this storyline is, fans should brace themselves, it marks the beginning of Irene’s exit from Summer Bay. Earlier this year, Lynne McGranger confirmed that she’s stepping back from Home and Away after more than three decades in the role.
In a heartfelt statement, Lynne said that after nearly 33 years playing Irene, it’s bittersweet to close the chapter on what’s been the best gig of her life. She shared her gratitude for the production crew, the writers who brought Irene to life, and the fans who supported her through it all. She also added that she’s proud of the storyline that’s been crafted to see Irene out of the Bay.
With Irene’s memory faltering and her confidence shaken, the question now is how will the Bay say goodbye to one of its most beloved residents? Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for all your Home and Away updates, spoilers, and behind-the-scenes drama from Summer Bay!
