Give Irene a decent storyline!

[James Martin]

Not read the whole topic but...

As easy as it would be to put her back on the grog, having thought about it, I don't think that's the way to go - especially given how far she's come. In the "real-world" universe, I can't see her touching a drop ever again. I'm actually quite surprised this hasn't happened in the last few years to be perfectly honest - that's not a stab at the writing team but it does, on the surface, seem an obvious (I daresay easy?) route to take.

I do however think that her ex-alco past needs to surface again but with a twist: what about her falling in love with someone who, unbeknownst to her, is an alcoholic?

Two reasons here:

a. I feel she's been a bit "distant" since Barry left.

b. She deserves to be happy - reforming said "alco-boyfriend" would, at the end of it all, provide a potentially very happy ending, one Irene deserves IMO.

It's also the perfect opportunity to get Finlay back - even for 2-3 episodes - this show is, in spite of everything, far more proud of its past than any of the four main soaps we have here in the UK. It's a nice viewer-baiter whilst gratifying the hard-core fans!

[Wal Harisse]

Not read the whole topic but...

As easy as it would be to put her back on the grog, having thought about it, I don't think that's the way to go - especially given how far she's come. In the "real-world" universe, I can't see her touching a drop ever again. I'm actually quite surprised this hasn't happened in the last few years to be perfectly honest - that's not a stab at the writing team but it does, on the surface, seem an obvious (I daresay easy?) route to take.

I do however think that her ex-alco past needs to surface again but with a twist: what about her falling in love with someone who, unbeknownst to her, is an alcoholic?

Two reasons here:

a. I feel she's been a bit "distant" since Barry left.

b. She deserves to be happy - reforming said "alco-boyfriend" would, at the end of it all, provide a potentially very happy ending, one Irene deserves IMO.

It's also the perfect opportunity to get Finlay back - even for 2-3 episodes - this show is, in spite of everything, far more proud of its past than any of the four main soaps we have here in the UK. It's a nice viewer-baiter whilst gratifying the hard-core fans!

They already did that with Ken, so it would be nothing new, as Ken was drinking a lot wen he first arrived and the fact they two recovering alcoholics was a big feature of their realtionship; they could of course please the Bareens by bringing back Barry and having him hit the bottle with a vengeance and Irene having to deal with a drunk Barry, getting him back on track and then getting some happier times.

It would be nice to see all of Irene's kids back even if just for a visit now and again. Didn't Damo go off and join the priesthood? If so he could could come and give Geoff a few pointers.

[alexx]

[Lynne is more than capable of portraying a wide range of emotions as well as putting in outstanding comedy performances, so the scope for the writers is enormous. I just wish they would use it. I have never understood why they don't.

They used to, that's what I mean by they have stripped back the original concept. Back, especially in the 90's - she was such a 'galla'h' of a character at times, made mistakes similarly to what Colleen does, such as getting words the wrong way and getting into sticky situations..etc

They did do that and go into quite a bit of detail with Ken - at one stage she refused to get married with him until he admitted he was an alcoholic and not an ''ex-alcoholic'' - that was a really good scene from the characters point of view. And he went to A.A with her...etc

To be honest I wouldn't mind seeing something like that again though, maybe not a love interest but her sister Wendy could return a total mess - we haven't seen or heard of her since 95, I think its about time we did.

I'd LOVE it if Fin and/or Damo returned.

[Boomerang]

Lynne would do the whole range of emotions as sated adn the cahracter can indeed be a bit of a gallah, Irene should be fun as well as serious, loving as well as fiesty, a well rounded character. I hate to admit it but I like the idea of a gin sodden Barry Hyde returning for Irene to turn him around and set him back on track.

The current writers need to do some research and look at some old episodes of Irene, the 1990's ones, and also the 2002/3 ones up to the time when Paris left, in order to get a handle on who she is and what it is we want to see.

[-Kevin-]

I think there was a good opportunity missed with a heart to heart with Annie when she got drunk and passed out at the beginning of the year.It would have been a nice scene with Irene telling her that alcohol isnt the answer and maybe include some flashbacks of some of Irenes drunken behaviour.

[Eduardo Bearo]

There is far more to Irene than just the recovering alcoholic, and whislt there have been one or two instances when they could have used her past experiences as an alcoholic, to do so often would be overkill.

For example - in recent weeks they have over egged the pudding by constant refences to Colleen and Bridget's past cancer and chemo sessions and it's getting monotonous.

They are repeating themselves and this is not necessary. Alcohol does not therefore have to be a feature of all of her story lines, or indeed any of them for that matter. Irene has a lot of character qualities which could lead her in many different directions, and also a lot of past experiences upon which to build. The writers have with Irene a virtually unlimited source of rich and varied material to work with they just have to decide to use it. To fail to do so is rather short sighted.

[stra gilr]

Yep, you can't rely on the booze to give her something to do, and she does the emotional things brilliantly so why not use that is my arguement. AND DO IT SOON!

[Jimbo]

And can Dan F please ask the people at Seven that he is in contact with to do something like has been suggested, like print off this thread and let (make ) the writers read it and also suggest they watch Alex's show reel when he does it

So how about this suggestion Dan? Are you game?

Obviously there are a many of us who want more Irene action. I am not keen on the grog suggestion above and agree with those talking about the emotional side of Irene, as well as as the comical side. We need more of these. Her kids coming for a visit would be a nice change, and some more exploration of what went on with them to move it on a bit more could be enlightening.

[hattie]

I would be happier if they began the process by having Irene interact with the young people living in her household, that is Annie, Geoff and Belle, in a more realistic fashion that at present. This needs to be done in the way that she used to do with the Smith's and with Selina, Chloe, and Joey. Irene is their carer and yet she may as well be their landlady for all they seem to see of her. Once they have that established they will also have the basis to give her some decent story lines for herself again. I really miss seeing Irene in the thick of the action. I'd like to know why they have side lined her because the fans certainly do not want this. They have rocks in their head if they think we do.

[alexx]

I would be happier if they began the process by having Irene interact with the young people living in her household, that is Annie, Geoff and Belle, in a more realistic fashion that at present. This needs to be done in the way that she used to do with the Smith's and with Selina, Chloe, and Joey. Irene is their carer and yet she may as well be their landlady for all they seem to see of her. Once they have that established they will also have the basis to give her some decent story lines for herself again. I really miss seeing Irene in the thick of the action. I'd like to know why they have side lined her because the fans certainly do not want this. They have rocks in their head if they think we do.

I agree, get ''back to basics'' with her so to speak first, then the story lines can follow.