Home and Away, the long-reigning titan of daytime television, is facing an unprecedented crisis as its UK audience abandons the show in droves. The alarming ratings collapse has prompted a stunned reaction from one of the soap's most beloved veterans.
Irene Lynne McGranger, who has portrayed the iconic Summer Bay stalwart Irene Roberts for over three decades, did not mince her words when confronted with the dismal new viewing figures. Expressing sheer disbelief, the actress labelled the plummeting numbers 'pathetic' and a stark contrast to the show's former glory days.
A Staggering Decline in Viewers
The numbers paint a bleak picture for the Australian import. Recent data reveals that a mere 180,000 viewers tuned in for a recent episode on Channel 5, a far cry from the millions who once followed the lives of the Summer Bay residents. This represents a catastrophic drop, with the show now attracting less than a quarter of the audience it commanded just a few years ago.
This downturn is part of a wider, more worrying trend for the programme, which has seen its loyal fanbase gradually erode amid fierce competition from streaming giants and a shifting television landscape.
A Pillar of the Show Reacts
McGranger's candid reaction underscores the deep concern felt by those at the heart of the production. Having joined the cast in 1991, her character Irene has become a bedrock of the community, dealing with everything from personal tragedies to running the famous Surf Club.
Her forthright comments highlight the emotional investment the cast has in the show's success and their shock at its rapid decline in a key international market like the United Kingdom.
An Uncertain Future for Summer Bay?
The dramatic slump in ratings inevitably raises questions about the show's long-term future on British screens. While it remains a staple of Australian television production, its international appeal has historically been a significant measure of its success.
Whether this ratings crash is a temporary blip or a sign of a permanent sea change in viewer habits remains to be seen. For now, the cast and crew, led by stalwarts like McGranger, face an anxious wait to see if the audience can be wooed back to the sun-drenched shores of Summer Bay.
