
Gold Logie nominee Lynne McGranger's health scare ‘nudges' her towards Home and Away exit
McGranger, 72, spent 33 years breathing life into Irene Roberts on Home and Away, beaming warmth and that signature grit into our living rooms.
'If I'd have known this was going to happen, I would have left years ago,' she said of her nomination for Aussie TV's grand prize.
With her daughter as her date, McGranger is looking forward to having fun.
'Win, lose or draw, it's been one hell of a ride,' she said.
Her famous character Irene has had a rocky ride, facing addiction, a kidnapping and, in her final act, Alzheimer's.
McGranger was off air last year after undergoing emergency surgery for an overactive thyroid.
So did her own health battles shape her decision to leave the the show that made her a household name?
'That's a very interesting question. I wouldn't say my health scare shaped it, but it certainly gave me a nudge,' she said.
'It certainly made me realise that I'm not immortal.'
McGranger decided late last year it was time to let Irene Roberts go and pursue her passion for theatre.
'I want to enjoy life, I want to remain fit for as long as I possibly can,' she previously told Australian Women's Weekly.
'To be more regular with my friendships and staying in touch with people that I may have lost touch with over the years.
'I look forward to being a nanna down the track. And if that's not to be, still maintaining a great relationship with my daughter and my son-in-law.'
But she admitted, 'until the day I die I'll probably still be called Irene!'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
ABC dominates at this year's Logie Awards
Home and Away stalwart Lynne McGranger has taken out the Gold Logie for 2025 while ABC comedy Fisk was the biggest winner for the night, taking home all five of the awards they were nominated for.

ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Lynne McGranger wins Gold Logie, ABC dominates with wins in numerous categories
Lynne McGranger, who has been playing Irene Roberts on Home and Away on the Seven Network since 1991, has won the Gold Logie at the 65th TV Week Logie Awards. "Thirty-three years, I've done this amazing show," McGranger said when receiving her award. "I'm thrilled and honoured. "Before I forget, this is going to be pride of place next to my 1974 Wagga Wagga Drama Festival Best Actress [award]. "And it's true, it's absolutely true. "That's when I went, 'This acting thing is kind of good! Maybe I will be better at it than I am at teaching.'" McGranger, who is retiring from the show, received emphatic applause during her speech. Earlier, she won her first Logie for Best Lead Actress in a Drama for the same role. "I know I've only got 30 seconds, but I'm old," she said then. "I want to thank the beautiful cast of Home and Away, who have just been my family and my friends. "I love you all. "And I am truly overwhelmed. "And I love my daughter, and I love my husband. I asked him to come tonight and he said: 'I would rather swallow a hammer.'" The Logies kicked off with a performance from Jimmy Barnes singing Working Class Man to a dancing TV industry audience. "Jimmy Barnes singing Working Class Man," Sam Pang said during his opening monologue. Bluey would later win the Logie for Best Children's Program, with Pang offering early praise. "Congratulations too to Bluey, which was the most-streamed show in the entire world this past year," Pang said. "Bluey is massive in the United States and is officially the most watched children's content in America just ahead of a school shooting safety video." Pang pointed out that Farmer Wants a Wife has had an incredible success rate. "Over its 15 seasons, the show has resulted in 11 marriages and 27 children, meaning it is now officially the main way for farmers in this country to get screwed outside of Coles and Woollies," he said. Married at First Sight also failed to escape scrutiny. "This season MAFS was criticised for breaching ethical standards — producers strongly defending themselves saying every contestant had to undergo a mental health evaluation, an STI test and IQ test — and if they failed all of those, they were on the show," he said. "Next season, I think they should cast the mushroom lady … as the caterer." He said reality TV shows were all the rage. "One of the most popular is Dancing with the Stars, where viewers try to guess which one is the dancer, and which one is the star," he said. Last year's Gold Logie winner was also in his sights. "After a hugely popular win last year, Larry Emdur is not nominated for gold this year," Pang said. "Larry goes from winner to not even nominated. "Hard to think of a Channel 7 game show host with a bigger fall from grace in recent years." A reference, of course, to former host Andrew O'Keefe and his legal woes. Later, Pang announced that audience members were safe as there was no kiss cam. Lisa Millar expressed shock when Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies won Best Structured Reality Program. "Oh my God," Millar said. "Thank you to everyone who voted for this beautiful show that is all about authentic people who have told their stories. "The participants out there, we love you, you are our family, thank you so much." Guy Montgomery won the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent for Guy Montgomery's Spelling Bee. "This is really crazy," Montgomery said. "I am from New Zealand. "I know, so I am so sorry to all of your country, but suck it, we got one up on you this time." Australian Story won the Logie for Best Current Affairs Program, with Leigh Sales accepting that award. "The Australian public has been so supportive of this program for 29 years," Sales said. "Thank you so much for everyone watching and to everyone who voted for us." Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report went to Betrayal of Trust on Four Corners with investigative journalist Adele Ferguson accepting the Logie. "This is such a shock," Ferguson said. "Thank you so much to everyone who voted. "1.5 million children go to childcare every day and expect that they'll be looked after. "This investigation showed that doesn't always happen. "Thank you so much to the parents, the educators and the whistleblowers who made this happen." Return to Paradise won Best Drama Program. "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness," Anna Samson said. "This is such a cliche to say I wasn't expecting this, but it's true." Fisk was a massive winner, taking out the following awards. When A Current Affair's Ally Langdon won the Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter, she was handed the award by the man himself. "To this incredible man right here, thank you," Langdon said. "I think for a lot of us in this industry you are a big part of why we got into it. "Just jump off my dress, thank you." She called Martin a "guiding light". Magda Szubanski's video message received a standing ovation when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She revealed a bald head after recently revealing her diagnosis of stage 4 blood cancer, saying she got her hair done to match her Logie. "I do want to say thank you so much for this honour," Szubanski said. She was overcome by emotion, saying she did not intend to cry. "When I go online and look at those messages, every time, my heart lifts," she said. "And I feel that much stronger to deal with the cancer. "So, thank you for the love that you are pouring my way, I really feel it. "I am grateful to have had 40 years in this industry, in this country." Best Factual or Documentary Program went to Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story on the Nine Network. "Oof! I know you said 30 seconds, but I will need at least 30 to gather myself," Dokic said. Dokic singled out Todd Woodbridge, who she said encouraged her to be a commentator and bring her story to life. "You believed in me professionally. I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did." Woodbridge later won the Bert Newton award for most popular presenter.


Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Who won what at the 2025 Logies
All the winners at the 2025 Logies (Explainer): WHO WON WHAT AT THE 2025 LOGIES: * Gold Logie - Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network * Best Lead Actress in a Drama - Lynne McGranger, Home and Away, Seven Network * Best Lead Actor in a Drama - Sam Neill, The Twelve, BINGE/FOXTEL * Best Lead Actress in a Comedy - Kitty Flanagan, Fisk, ABC * Best Lead Actor in a Comedy - Aaron Chen, Fisk, ABC * Most Popular New Talent - Guy Montgomery, Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee, ABC * Best Drama - Return To Paradise, ABC * Best Entertainment Program - The Voice, Seven Network * Best Children's Program - Bluey, ABC * Best Supporting Actress - Julia Zemiro, Fisk, ABC * Best Supporting Actor - Glenn Butcher, Fisk, ABC * Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter - Todd Woodbridge, 9Network * Best Lifestyle Program - Travel Guides, 9Network * Best Structured Reality Program - Muster Dogs: Collies & Kelpies, ABC * Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report - Betrayal of Trust, Four Corners, ABC * Best Miniseries or Telemovie - Apple Cider Vinegar, Netflix * Best Factual or Documentary Program - Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, 9Network * Best Competition Reality Program - LEGO Masters, 9Network * Best Sports Coverage - The Olympic Games Paris 2024, 9Network/Stan Sport * Best Current Affairs Program - Australian Story, ABC * Best Scripted Comedy - Fisk, ABC * Best Comedy Entertainment Program - Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network 10 * Ray Martin Award for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter - Ally Langdon, 9Network * Logie Hall of Fame - Magda Szubanski