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Home and Away character Irene Roberts will hit rock bottom after shutting herself away from the world. The Summer Bay favourite, played by Lynne McGranger, is currently battling breast cancer and begins to feel worse following a heart scare. She confines herself to her home and spends all day moping around, not getting dressed and cutting herself off from friends and family. "Irene has always been one of the toughest and strongest characters in Summer Bay. But the heart (more)...

Home and Away star Emily Symons has revealed that something bad is about to happen in the soap. The Australian actress, who plays Marilyn Chambers in the series, said that her character will play an integral part in the end-of-season cliffhanger when she does a dramatic tarot reading for Irene Roberts. Symons told TV Week: "Every time she does a reading, some bad cards come up - and she's not very good at hiding how shocked she is. "Something is about to happen, but we don't know to whom or what. [The bad thing is] not necessarily going to happen to Irene - but, of course, Irene thinks that. Also, the cards have dual meaning. The death card doesn't necessarily mean death. "Marilyn sees three cards she's concerned about. I can't (more)...

Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has discussed the next stage of her character's breast cancer storyline, explaining that viewers will soon see Irene Roberts struggling with the side-effects of her treatment. Scenes which air in Australia next week show Irene collapse due to dehydration after chemotherapy leaves her feeling unwell. McGranger told TV Week: "Irene's a brick who tries to look on the bright side of things, but the treatment on top of the mastectomy has knocked her about and obviously chemotherapy can make lots of people really ill. "She isn't coping with the chemo and is throwing up. She collapses because she's (more)...

Home and Away favourite Irene Roberts is to be diagnosed with breast cancer in a forthcoming storyline, it has been revealed. The Summer Bay stalwart, played by Lynne McGranger, receives the news after seeking medical advice when she finds a lump in her breast during a self-examination. Speaking of the upcoming plot, McGranger told TV Week: "She discovers a lump, which is a message we wanted to get across - that self-examination can save lives. It's alarming, but she tries to keep it together and goes to the doctor, and then gets the bad news that it's a form of cancer. "She can't quite take it in. Like any woman (more)...

Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has revealed that she wants her character to find a toyboy. The actress, who has played Irene Roberts for 18 years, also teased an upcoming storyline that she said will be "very testing". She told the Daily Star Sunday: "[Irene]'s been so unlucky in love that it really is about time she hooked up with someone. A hunky toyboy would be perfect for her - and me. "Irene came to the show as a bleach-blonde alcoholic who smoked and drank. She soon got (more)...

Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has revealed that she has stayed with the soap for so long because she loves her character Irene Roberts. The actress has played the former alcoholic foster mother for 18 years, and told Holy Soap that she never anticipated being with the Summer Bay cast for so long. "I would never have thought in a million years - if you had asked me 18 years [ago] - I would still be here. It really has changed my life," she explained. "I became and remained a working actor, my daughter has grown up with me on the show, it's opened doors, allowed me to work in England, wouldn't (more)...

Lynne McGranger has promised that she will soon feature in a big storyline on Home and Away. The actress shared the news on her Twitter page yesterday, confirming that she is "excited" over events in store for her legendary Summer Bay character Irene Roberts. Addressing her online followers, McGranger wrote: "Back to the Bay tomorrow after five glorious days off. And now it's time to dig deep. Excited and a little nervous." After fans of the soap started to quiz the 58-year-old over what could lie ahead, McGranger confirmed that (more)...

Lynne McGranger has reflected on the success of her Home and Away character Irene Roberts as the Summer Bay matriarch enters her 20th year on screen. Irene first appeared on the soap in 1991 with actress Jacqui Phillips in the role, before McGranger took over in 1992 when the part was recast. In an interview with TV Week to mark the milestone, McGranger described Irene as "a rough diamond with a heart of gold". She continued: "Her journey over the past 20 years has been enormous. Possibly the only thing missing in Irene's life is true love. She hasn't had a lot of success - every time she gets involved with a guy he ends up dead or in prison!" McGranger is Home and Away's second-longest-serving cast member behind show legend Ray Meagher (Alf Stewart). Asked whether she has ever (more)...

Lynne McGranger has revealed that she would love for Kimberley Cooper, who plays Gypsy Nash, to return to Home and Away. McGranger, who has played Irene Roberts for 18 years on the soap, also said that she is happy to be working with Zac Drayson (Will Smith) again. The plot sees Irene torn between Will and her close friend Alf, who is accused of murder. When asked what it's like to be working with Drayson again, the actress replied to Holy Soap: "Fantastic. I love him to pieces. Zac has always been a natural, and I hope to see him getting a lot more roles." The 58-year-old said that (more)...

Lynne McGranger has expressed her joy that Zac Drayson has returned to the cast of Home and Away. The Aussie soap's long-time regular, who portrays mothering diner owner Irene Roberts, told the soap's official website that she is happy to be working with Drayson, who played Will Smith, one of Irene's foster children, on-and-off until 2005. McGranger said: "I have to say it's fantastic to (more)...

Home and Away returnee Zac Drayson has teased that there will be a surprise in store for fans when the reasons for his character Will Smith's current personal problems are revealed on screen. In scenes which aired in Australia last week, Will returned to Summer Bay for the first time in five years following a rough patch in his marriage to Gypsy. Meanwhile, forthcoming episodes of the soap will see Will finally open up to his former foster mother Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) - explaining the real reasons why his relationship is in tatters. Speaking to TV Week, Drayson commented: "He finally reveals what happened and the secret shocks Irene. When Will came back to Summer Bay, Irene (more)...

The woman who plays Home and Away's Irene has a dark side -- and she loves it.

On Home and Away she plays concerned foster parent Irene Roberts. But when she steps foot on stage in the United Kingdom, Lynne McGranger lets rip with her nasty side -- and she loves it.

McGranger is an unashamed fan of British pantomimes, and like many soapie stars before her, still beats a path to Britain to tread the boards.

This year she will return to the UK in her summer break for another regional...  More >>...

Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has revealed that she loves the "excitement" of never knowing what is in store for her soap character. The actress has played the role of Irene Roberts on the Summer Bay show since 1992, making her the programme's second longest-serving cast member after Ray Meagher (Alf Stewart). Speaking to TV Tonight about her time on the drama, McGranger commented: "Being very pragmatic, I love my job. You couldn't be doing this for 18 years if you didn't love it. You would go stark raving nuts, because it is intense. "But one of the things that attracts me to it is that every week is completely different. But (more)...

Home and Away star Zac Drayson has revealed what fans can expect from his character Will Smith's forthcoming return to Summer Bay. Last month, it was confirmed that Will is to pay a visit to the town after a five-year absence, to the delight of his former foster mother Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger). In scenes which air in Australia next week, Will turns up in the Bay alongside his young daughter Lily - and soon admits that all is not well with his marriage to Gypsy. Speaking to TV Week, Drayson explained: "He and Gypsy are going through a rough patch, so he comes home to clear his head. They're not divorced - they're (more)...