LYNNE McGRANGER 'I'LL ALWAYS LOVE IRENE'

After 33 years, the Home And Away icon waves goodbye to Summer Bay

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It's hard to imagine Home And Away without Irene Roberts, the fiery redhead who's kept the residents of Summer Bay on their toes, and audiences entertained, for more than three decades. And yet, that's the reality we're faced with as the incomparable Lynne McGranger takes her final bow on the long-running Seven drama this week.

“Oh honey, it’s time,” Lynne, 72, tells Woman's Day in her iconic Aussie twang.

“I’ve loved Irene and I'll always love Irene. But now, I’m going off in another direction, but she'll always be there.

“And look - no one’s died. We're all still here. We're all still seeing each other, you know, God, I've been back to Channel Seven more times than I’ve had hot meals in the last couple of weeks,” she laughs.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

Lynne said she's had a long time to process her exit and “shed Irene” after dropping the news to the cast last year.

"I always guessed I'd know that when the time was right, it was going to be right. And around this time last year I just knew it was time for me to say goodbye and move on while I’ve still got my marbles and still physically fit," she says.