Home and Away’s iconic Lynne McGranger has revealed why she decided to leave the show after 33 years ahead of her onscreen departure next month.

With McGranger’s last scene set to air mid-August, she revealed that it was late last year it was time to let Irene Roberts go and pursue her passion for theatre.

“I want to enjoy life, I want to remain fit for as long as I possibly can,” she told Australian Women’s Weekly.

“To be more regular with my friendships and staying in touch with people that I may have lost touch with over the years.

“I look forward to being a nanna down the track. And if that’s not to be, still maintaining a great relationship with my daughter and my son-in-law.

“Being able to spend more time with the people who are important in my life instead of having to work as a priority. And yes, I’d like to be known as Lynne…which might happen in some quarters, but i think until the day I die I’ll probably still be called Irene!”

When McGranger arrived on set to play her alter ego, it was only supposed to be a three-month gig. But the actress must have known what she was in for when she joked to her partner, Paul, that he would have to give up work if it turned into full-time work.

And that it did. McGranger and her daughter, Clancy McWaters, opened up about non-traditional parenting roles.

McGranger said her partner couldn’t wait to raise McWaters during her formative years while she was at work, bringing in the money.

“He would do the reading. Take her to ballet, to netball. He loved it. I don’t know how parents cope with young children when they’re both working,” she said.