Not to worry, Perdita. Thank goodness Lynne is just off to the UK to do pantomime over the Christmas period once again. She will be straight back to Summer Bay when the season is over. Last time she did panto, they wrote her out of H&A when she was kidnapped by Mick & she disappeared for a month or so. It will be interesting to see what the reason will be for her absence this time (with filming so far in advance, this will not be till at least a few months into next year in Aust).
Once again, with all the headlines yesterday about her 'departure', Lynne had to go online to clarify things:
The Digital Spy article:
Home and Away star Lynne McGranger responds to claims of a shock exit for Irene Roberts.
Home and Away legend Lynne McGranger has hit back at claims that she's leaving the show.
The actress, who plays Summer Bay favourite Irene Roberts, has made headlines today (November 13) with reports that she's bowing out from her role after 24 years.
Fortunately, the "news" was just as much of a surprise to Lynne herself, who took to her Twitter page and set the record straight by clarifying that she's going nowhere.......
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/home...s-exit-claims/
...and this is the actual TV Week article that Daily Mail were referring to (& added their own sensationalist headline to!):
Is Irene Leaving Summer Bay?
Lynne McGranger Sets The Record Straight Once And For All About Quitting Home And Away.
Fans of Home and Away may need to brace themselves - much loved character Irene is preparing to leave Summer Bay. Or rather, the actress who plays her, Lynne McGranger, is getting out of town - and the country.
"I get bored very easily," Lynne, 64, tells TV WEEK. "I'm one of those people who needs a bit of a change-up and something different."
When TV WEEK earlier this year reported Irene was leaving the Bay, upset fans assumed Lynne, who has been with H&A for more than two decades, was quitting the show.
Recently, those same rumours have resurfaced, much to Lynne's disbelief.
"I'm like, 'That was six months ago, people,'" she says. "Let it be."
However, Lynne is able to look on the bright side - fans really do care about Irene.
"At least people aren't saying, 'At least she's leaving,'" she says. "They're going, 'No, please don't.' That's nice."
In truth, Lynne is heading to the UK to do pantomime.
It's an annual pilgrimage for the veteran actress.
"I'm off to York to play the wicked fairy in Beauty And The Beast," she enthuses. "I'm really looking forward to it."
After filming emotional scenes involving her H&A character's son Mick, Lynne is excited about her panto role.
"It's physically demanding." she says. "We do 12 shows a week. And we rehearse it in about nine days.
"Ray Meagher [her H&A co-star, who plays Alf] always tells me I'm mad for still doing it. But I love it."
When she's back from the UK, Lynne will return to the Bay.
"Irene can be a polarising character," she says. "But it's when people don't care about you that you start packing your bags."
Reply With Quote