Home and Away scene sparks major fan theory about how beloved character Irene will leave Summer Bay after 33 years

Daily Mail​

a day ago

Home and Away fans are convinced they've cracked the mystery of how one of the show's most beloved characters will make her dramatic exit from Summer Bay.
It was announced in February that Lynne McGranger, who has graced screens as Irene Roberts for an astonishing 33 years, is set to bid farewell to the iconic soap.
Speaking to TV Tonight, Lynne revealed that when it came to her character's final goodbye, she had the final word.
'I had an idea and they loved it,' she said.
Stopping short of divulging any potential spoilers, Lynne said Irene's exit will 'hit home' for fans of the series and said it will be 'very relevant' for a lot of people.
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However after Tuesday night's episode, a flurry of viewers believe they've pieced together the puzzle.
One fan took to a popular Facebook group to theorise that Irene could be diagnosed with dementia after displaying concerning signs of memory loss.
'Did anyone notice in last night's episode that when Irene and John were talking about her watch and Irene looked confused and had a brain freeze like she lost her memory?' they posted to the group, sparking a frenzy among die-hard viewers.
'We know that she leaves our screens in August 2025, do you think this is leading to a dementia storyline and leading to her leaving?'
The episode in question saw Irene bafflingly being told the same information twice about Roo Stewart (played by Georgie Parker).
Adding to the intrigue, John Palmer (played by Shane Withington) queried why Irene had suddenly started wearing her watch again as she had 'stopped wearing that ages ago' and she appeared visibly confused.
While the specific storyline has been kept tightly under wraps by Channel Seven, Lynne has hinted at a character-driven narrative.
The Facebook post was met with a deluge of comments from eagle-eyed fans who had also noticed the unsettling scenes and said the concept was definitely 'plausible'.
'I was thinking the exact same thing myself, maybe dementia or a brain tumour," one person grimly shared, while another chimed in, 'Exactly what I said to my family last night! Irene was forgetting things!'
'Yes, I caught that too. Very clever and subtle I thought. I'm tipping it's Korsakoff's as well,' a third speculated, with a different user concurring, 'Maybe dementia due to the alcohol abuse.'
'Well picked! Alcohol related dementia, Korsakoff Syndrome. An adult and relatable storyline,' another fan astutely observed.
'This, if it turns out to be true, will open discussions and make people aware that it is just not "silly old people" that suffer from dementia.'
However, some loyal viewers are holding out hope for a more uplifting send-off for their beloved Irene, wishing for a happy ending rather than a tragic demise.
'I hope she doesn't die as an exit. She deserves a happy ending,' a fan pleaded, with another commenting, 'I hope she just leaves, she's been through enough. Let her go and retire.'
The Logie-nominated actress joined Summer Bay in January 1993.
Her character Irene burst onto the small screen as a recovered alcoholic on a mission to turn her life around and reconnect with her daughter Fin (Tina Thomsen).
Since then Irene has become an indispensable part of the tight-knit seaside community, famously taking in multiple foster children over the decades.
She's been at the epicentre of some of soap's most explosive storylines, including her ongoing battle with alcoholism, a terrifying breast cancer diagnosis, the shocking reveal of a long-lost son, a dramatic ferry boat sinking, a devastating bomb explosion, a horrifying plane crash, and even a stint in prison for a murder she didn't commit.