Disaster in the sky
Is it a case of Goodnight Irene with the latest disaster unfolding in Home And Away? Lynne McGranger talks to Kerry Harvey about what the future holds for her character.
W ith her kidnapping ordeal only a few weeks behind her, it looks as though Irene’s world in Home And Away is about to come crashing down again.
“She’s been through the mill and it’s not over yet,” says actress Lynne McGranger, of Irene’s past few months on the Aussie drama.
Irene is one of nine Summer Bay residents on board a small plane – piloted by Alf’s son Duncan (Kiwi Benedict Wall) – that reportedly crashes after being sabotaged by criminals targeting the newly arrived Morgan family.
Also on board the flight to a winery to celebrate the 30th
birthday of Dr Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) are Evie (Philippa Northeast), Leah (Ada Nicodemou), Mason (Orpheus Pledger), Nate (Kyle Pryor), Billie (Tessa de Josselin) and Brody (Jackson Heywood).
After 23 years on the show, Lynne thinks it is odd that Irene is even on the plane.
“She’s an alcoholic. Who would send an alcoholic to a winery? Now there’s a good idea,” she says, laughing.
“I think that one slipped through quite frankly.
“I don’t think anyone thought it through. Anyway, Irene would have had a nice time drinking tea and eating scones – if we got there.”
The plane crash is
the latest in a series of ordeals Irene has had to endure in the past year. First came the revelation that she had given up a baby for adoption after becoming pregnant when she was abused as a teenager. Facing up to her past trauma led to her falling off the wagon. No sooner did Irene stop drinking, than she was kidnapped and kept prisoner by Mick Jennings (Kristian Schmid) who was later revealed to be the son she gave up. “She has had a massive year and that was extremely harrowing,” Lynne says, adding that the