Lynne McGranger is an undisputed soap icon and now, after 30 years of Home and Away, both she and her alter ego, Irene Roberts, are saying goodbye to Summer Bay.

Irene originally arrived as a villain, a violent and abusive alcoholic who had a severely damaged relationship with her children Nathan (David Dixon), Damian (Matt Doran) and Finlay (Tina Thomsen), who’d been taken from her care.

After realising that she’d hit rock bottom, she turned her life around, got sober and dedicated her life to becoming a foster parent. More drama followed, including dating a murderer, battling breast cancer and a relapse into drinking, though her final storyline, being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, saw her consider her future.

Why Lynne McGranger is leaving Home And Away

Discussing how long it took her to make the decision to leave the show, Lynne said: ‘I had probably been thinking about leaving the show for a year or two, just in passing – just thinking maybe the time is drawing nigh to change direction and to do a little bit of theatre.’

Did she have any doubts? ‘I never had any doubts, no. And I haven’t had any regrets or any doubts since. I just feel like it was the right thing to have done at the right time.’

Discussing the fan reaction to the news, she said: ‘Many, many people have come up to say, ‘oh why did you have to leave, it’s not the same’ and I’m like: well it was time for me to move on.

‘No, its not the same but it will be different, and it will be better in some respects. Someone else will step into the fray. I remember back in the day when Shane and Angel left, and it was like ‘it will never be the same’. And when Pippa left, when Sally left ‘it will never be the same’. No, it won’t but it will be different. It will be as good but in another way.’

Of course, Irene was asked about her final storyline; would she have changed anything? Apparently not.

‘No, I don’t think I would change anything. I loved the way she left, physically left after the party. I loved her relationship with John (Shane Withington). You can have a truly deep platonic relationship; they are like husband and wife with the bickering.

They talk to each other like husband and wife. They do not hold back in the way they behave with each other but there is a deep love and concern there. For Irene to be able to encourage John to come and meet her in Paris was just the icing on the cake.

Lynne really misses Shane because we are great mates, and our lives are very parallel. He and his wife have been together for forty years; Paul and I have been together for 40 years. We met each other’s partners doing a show, we both have one daughter who is in her early thirties. Our lives just mirror each other. It is quite remarkable.’

When asked if she’d continue to watch the show, Lynne said: ‘Yes, I will keep watching when I can. Last night it happened to be on, and I watched. I am doing so much at the moment and don’t have time for a lot of television.

I am an avid MKR (My Kitchen Rules) watcher but didn’t see my first episode of this season until last night because I have been away. When I am touring ‘The Grandparents Club’ the show starts at 7.00pm which is when Home and Away airs in Australia.’

…and of course, that all-important question: would Lynne ever return to the show and bring Irene back to Summer Bay?

‘Never say never! I’m currently touring our show The Grandparent’s Club around Australia. When I finish the tour mid-October, I am off overseas to do some appearances in Ireland and Norway – and maybe London! After that I am back home, and we will see what happens after that.’