Home and Away fans are divided over a controversial new storyline set to rock Summer Bay in the coming weeks. A teaser for next week introduces viewers to Bronte, a new character played by Stefanie Caccamo, who arrives at the Bay with Irene (Lynne McGranger) after she had a health checkup in the city.
The pair met in the hospital when Bronte was in “quite a state” and Irene allows her to come live with her while she gets back on her feet. However, not all is as it seems as Bronte is shown speaking to someone on the phone about how she can exploit Irene.
The storyline is very similar to a recent plot involving Leah (Ada Nicodemou) after she returned from a mental health clinic with a new friend Valerie (Courtney Clarke) who ended up manipulating Theo (Matt Evans).
While Bronte will be officially introduced on the show on Monday 10 July, many fans have taken to social media to share their frustration with the new promo.
“I don’t like this storyline already,” one person wrote, while another added, “Too many scam stories over the years”.
“I’m getting sick of some of these storylines. I’m thinking I don’t want to watch H&A anymore. It’s getting ridiculous…” a third shared, followed by someone else who said, “Can we not have some nice people arriving for a change”.
“Oh geez we just had Leah manipulated now this. Predictable,” a different user replied, with another commenting, “What an absolutely stupid storyline this is going to be. Been there, done that”.
‘Hasn’t Irene been through enough?’
Viewers also agreed that Irene, who has been on the show since 1993, deserves to be involved in a more wholesome storyline given how much chaos she has endured over the years.
“Oh no… someone else in Summer Bay to take advantage/manipulate/rip off/torture Irene. How much can this woman endure?” one fan remarked.
“Here we go again. Didn’t something similar happen to Irene a couple of years ago? Once bitten twice shy,” another said, followed by someone who simply asked, “Hasn’t Irene been through enough?”.
“I’m sorry but getting fed up now and bored. It’s the same old Home and Away sending someone in to manipulate Irene. Give her a break will ya,” another shared.
Over the past three decades, Irene has suffered from a heart problem, painkiller addiction and alcohol abuse.
She’s also fallen in love with a murderer, been involved in a bomb explosion, been kidnapped, and became involved in a criminal storyline last year when she let Harper (Jessica Redmayne) live with her while she was secretly harbouring her sister Dana (Ally Harris) who was on the run.