Home and Away star Lynne McGranger has confirmed that she is taking a short break from the show to work on an exciting new project.
The actress will be temporarily leaving her role as Irene Roberts in the soap, so that she can take some time to star in original stage comedy show The Grandparents Club.
The star broke the news during an appearance on Australia’s The Morning Show today (January 29), during which she reassured fans that Irene won’t be away from Summer Bay for too long.
“[I’ll be going for] just a little while,” she said (via 7 News), adding that she is “not leaving anything permanently”.
McGranger, who has played Irene for 21 years, also teased some details about her role in the new theatre production, revealing that The Grandparents Club will be “a way of taking the mickey out of what people perceive grandparents to be”.
“Which is, of course, old and doddery,” she continued, “but in fact, grandparents can be in their 40s these days, bungee jumping or climbing Everest.”
The star added that the show will see her “getting back to my roots, singing and dancing, interacting with the audience”.
“I can hold a tune and I can belt-out a number, but I’m no Aretha Franklin,” she joked.
McGranger isn’t the only Home and Away star who has been working on an additional project away from the soap, as Leah Patterson actress Ada Nicodemou has revealed that she has written her first children’s book.
She has described Mia Megastar as “funny”, “warm” and “all about the crazy Greek culture”.