Home and Away’s Irene Roberts will seek support amid her ongoing drinking ordeal.
Irene’s world was recently turned upside down when she discovered that her “friend” Bronte Langford had been conning her for several weeks.
Struggling to cope with the betrayal, Irene pushed her loved ones away and started drinking again, after being sober for several years.
This week, Irene’s drinking continues to spiral out of control, leading her to go rogue during a sit-down chat with a Coastal News reporter about her recent ordeal.
She arrives to the interview drunk and harshly describes herself as a born loser and a perfect victim, claiming that this made her an easy target for Bronte.
She also vows to turn her back on the next person who asks for help, as she doesn’t want to make the same mistake again.
Leah tries to convince the journalist not to go to print with the article, but she refuses as it’s destined to be her first ever front page.
In scenes set to air next week, Irene orders a concerned John to leave her house after she cuts herself on a broken whisky bottle. Undeterred by her actions, John stays to cook Irene dinner and ends up staying the night.
The next morning, Irene tries to reassure her friend that it was a blip, and it won’t happen again. John remains with Irene when the Coastal News article is published, with Irene admitting she wants a real drink.
John then offers to accompany her to an AA meeting, which she reluctantly agrees to, as long as no one else finds out. John promises he won’t tell anyone.
Leah and Marilyn worry about Irene after the news article comes out, with John covering that she’s unwell with a cold – but in fact she’s attending an AA meeting. However, Leah doesn’t think John is telling her the truth.
Irene soon returns to Summer Bay in high spirits, no longer worried about the article. She says she’s turned a corner and offers to cook Leah and Marilyn dinner. But when the pair arrive, Irene pours herself a large glass of wine.
She continues to defend her actions, explaining that it’s time to stop punishing herself, before finishing the wine and pouring another glass.
Later, Dana shares a few mimosas with Irene following her fight with Xander. A tipsy Dana then returns to argue with her boyfriend, leaving Irene alone with the bottle.
Leah arrives to check on Irene and spots the remnants of her mimosas with Dana. She criticises Irene for her drinking, before Marilyn steps in and urges Leah to be supportive – but to no avail.
A frustrated Irene finally snaps and yells at Leah to stop talking about her drinking habits. She is adamant that she has changed since her last AA meeting, and decides she’s well enough to drink again – both with friends and during difficult times.
Will Irene listen to her concerned friends?
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with repeat screenings at 6pm on 5STAR and first look screenings at 6.30pm on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.