Home and Away officially confirms Irene's "emotional, unmissable" exit story after 33 years

 Her storyline will build towards "an episode that will go down in soap TV history".

Home and Away has officially confirmed Irene Roberts's exit storyline.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Lynne McGranger would be bowing out as the character after 33 years in the role.

The soap has recently hinted that her departure storyline will involve memory problems, and it has now been revealed that is indeed the case.

Teasing one of the show's "most emotional and unmissable storylines yet", the scenes will begin in the coming weeks as Irene suffers a number of concerning memory lapses – notably an incident where she forgets she was babysitting Archie and nearly leaves him home alone.

She will later begin to confront the truth, with John Palmer supporting Irene as she meets with Dr Bree Cameron for a consultation. She then faces a gut-wrenching truth from which there is "no coming back from".

"As word spreads, the Bay will rally to support one of its most-beloved residents through her biggest challenge yet, building towards an episode that will go down in soap TV history," the synopsis adds.

Lynne revealed earlier this year that she herself was involved in crafting the storyline, telling The West: "I went and spoke to the producers and the head writer and ran it past them, and they loved [my idea].

"[The story] is very pertinent, and very important, and I am really very proud of it. From what I have read, and from what we have filmed so far, it is so well written – I just hope I can do it justice. But I know my fellow actors will support me, and I'm happy with the way it is all unfolding."

Speaking upon the announcement of her departure in February, Lynne admitted it was "bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life".