Home and Away ratings shock for Irene Roberts' final episode - after Lynne McGranger's exit was slammed by viewers

Daily Mail​

5 hours ago

Home and Away was a winner in the ratings on Tuesday night as a record number of viewers tuned in to say goodbye to one of the show's most beloved characters.
Irene Roberts, played by Lynne McGranger, made an emotional farewell as she headed off to see the world after learning that she has Alzheimer's disease.
Channel Seven was the place to be, with Home and Away becoming Tuesday's number one drama.
It was also the number one entertainment program for the night across all networks.
The soap's national reach was an incredible 1.61 million, with a sizeable national audience of 1.1 million.
Irene's farewell was the highest rated episode of 2025, also pulling in a record audience on 7plus.
As Irene headed off to see Europe before her illness prevents her travelling, many viewers were moved - but others felt the episode fell short.
The chief complaint made by fans of the show was the lack of old cast members showing up to see Irene off - with some pointing out that even the current cast was oddly absent from the emotional final scenes.
'Would have been nice to have some flashbacks as she was leaving or some old faces to send her off felt a little off that the whole cast wasn't there,' wrote one person on X.
'Those cast members who didn't show up to Irene's farewell, shame shame,' said another.
One more chimed in: 'They seriously couldn't even get all the current main cast in let alone previous characters. Low key as bit s**t.'
'Where the f**k is the rest of the bay?! Surely not working!' wrote someone else.
'Not bringing back ANY old faces ruins the legacy of Irene and taints her exit forever. Well f**king done,' one more complained.
'Why is only like two per cent of the cast there at Irene's farewell? Like where's Cash, Tane, Mackenzie?' someone else chimed in.
'What a terrible send off for Irene! Lots of randoms, why didn't they bring back some old familiar faces!' one fan wrote.
'I'm digging this party send off vibe for Irene, but why the random extras at an intimate gathering?' someone else said.
Others were unimpressed by Irene's send-off in general.
'Well, that was.. underwhelming,' said one, with another posting, 'Did they really just send Irene (who has Alzheimer's) on Home And Away off travelling around the world?
'I thought they would have pulled a last minute death on the beach or something.'
Plenty of fans loved the episode, however, with many left in tears over the emotional plot.
'Oh I'm heartbroken at Irene leaving. She's been in it since I started watching. It's not gonna be the same!' said one person.
Another wrote: 'Irene's speech at end of tonight episode was just emotional. I can't believe she is gone for good now.'
As Irene headed off to see Europe before her illness prevents her travelling, many viewers were moved - but others felt the episode fell short
Fans were in for an emotional rollercoaster as Irene prepared a farewell party.
Irene, who has been struggling with the onset of Alzheimer's disease, said she wants to 'see old friends while I still remember them'.
Viewers have watched with distress over the last few weeks as McGranger's character, known for her sharpness, has suffered memory loss.
In her exit storyline, Irene is leaving her life in Summer Bay to travel the world, 'while she still can'.
In March, it was revealed that McGranger had filmed her final scenes as Irene on Home and Away, with the series sharing moving scenes from her last day on set.
The 72-year-old has been a Home and Away fan favourite for three decades playing the character of 'Aussie battler' Irene.
The actress, who won the Gold Logie at this year's 65th Awards, announced her departure from the show earlier this year.