Give Irene a decent storyline!

[Lesley Bee]

We hardly seem to see Irene at all these days, it is such a waste of a great character and a waste of Lynne's talent. Get irene back to the days when her house was filled with kids, love and laughter.

[Taz]

People in our house all like Irene, she is very matriarchal, and loves her brood. She is less text book parent than some of the others, and thats what I like.

Corey was cute, so yeah bring him back too .

[Eve Jacobson]

I think she was in only one scene in the Australian episodes this week. What is going on?

[Boomerang]

I think she was in only one scene in the Australian episodes this week. What is going on?

A very good question. For me the week seems rather empty, as if something or someone important is missing if Irene is not there. It's an odd feeling but it's one I have always had. Lynne is an excellent actress whose range and capabilities they make very poor use of, and I have never understood why. I would like to see Irene face some new and difficult challenges in her life, without going back to alcohol dependency, and she is in serious need of some kids to be living at her place for her to fuss over.

[Eduardo Bearo]

My family love Irene, my husband adores her, and my little daughter wants "Weenie" to be her Mummy. (What am I doing wrong?) Lynne is a wonderful actress, and is greatly under used and under rated in my view.

What I like about Irene is that she is fallible, she was never perfect and has faults like the rest of us. She always picks herself up no matter what happens and gets on with things. That is an admirable quality. I would hate to see her go back to the booze, but I could see her being tested. A return to the bottle would be insulting to the characters progress so far. She needs new challenges, not old ones. I also agree that the current set up at The Beach House has enormous potential. I may be wrong but I think Belle's adoptive parents were quite religious and Belle rejected that. Annie was brought up in a religious household and has embraced it. We know that Irene has faith, though she is not a regular church goer, so the potential for conflicts and exploring issues in that set up is enormous. I would also like to see Geoff in that household as well. I have always liked Irene's relationships with the boys in her care, she is great Mum to teenage boys, and Geoff is very different from all of the others.

Of course, if I had a magic wand, I would also like to see Barry come back, as that relationship was another one which worked wonderfully but was virtually ignored by the writers for some reason. I often wonder if the writers actually noticed how magical they were and if not why they did not. (Something like the story in the winning entry by Eduardo Bearo in the script writing competition would be excellent way to bring him back).

I always felt that Daniel Bennett never "got" Irene, although the poisoning story line was one of my all time favourites. He missed a lot of opportunities in that by making the fall out about Martha and not about Irene. She is far too good to be confined to doling out cups of tea and the odd bit of sage advice. It was so nice to see her going into bat for Annie last week, and I hope that this was the beginning of the comeback. As Bevan is now returning I am hopeful that he will recognise what he has in Irene and that we will see some really gutsy and meaty stories for her. It is long over due.

Thank you - you are very kind. I also felt that Dan Bennett did not really get a handle on Irene, which is a shame as the character has, in my view, enormous potential. Some new challenges would indeed be refreshing.

[Welshfan]

Ask Frankie

I did.

Query: What are all the whip references?

I'm waiting for the pictures!! Are we about to see the mods in leather?

Frankie is a wimp John, so you may have a long wait. I do however have a photo of her aged 5 brandishing a horse riding crop if that would do? I will look it out when I get home(I am in Taipei this week).

I am sure someone could find some of you too dear should Frankie's honour need protecting.

Seriously on the subject of Irene. I very much agree. I love Irene and very much hope that she gets some strong story lines in the coming year. I was very sad when Barry left as I felt that they made a very well matched couple who were good to watch, amusing as well as dramatic, and with a bit of romance in their too. Alas it was not to be. Stranger things have happened. Perhaps that nice Mr Lee will bring him back for us older fans. If not, give Irene a jolly good story line any way please.

[Terry]

It's all been said. I can not sing Irene's praises highly enough, I can add no more. Other than to say: PLEASE GIVE IRENE A DECENT STORY LINE!

[John]

I'm loving Irene's interraction and support of Annie and the way she went into bat for her was pure, vintage Irene. Let's hope that this trend continues.

[IloveReenie]

I'm loving Irene's interraction and support of Annie and the way she went into bat for her was pure, vintage Irene. Let's hope that this trend continues.

I totally agree with you there. As the girl playing Annie is quite young, we can hopeshe will be around for more than the usual 2- 3 years, she is about the age Bec/Hayley was when she arrived on the scene. It would be nice to see a long term Mum/foster child relationship develop between them. I am also loved the fact that we could see her visibly moved and re evaluating her position with regards Jonah. This is very reminiscent of her reactions to Kane. I hope they keep both trends going.

[Wal Harisse]

I noticed that as well. It was quite touching. If he sticks around things we may see her on the phone to Tasha, as I always thought Tasha felt some sympathy for him as well. If both Annie and Jeff move in with Irene I think we could see some of the Irene we all know and love, but she does need some story lines of her own as well.