Covid-19: Why the cast of Home and Away aren’t social distancing

While the coronavirus pandemic has shaken the world to its core, there has always been a way for us to keep our minds off it – via the escapism of television.

And one TV show that has been seemingly unaffected by Covid-19 is Australian soap opera Home and Away, which hasn’t featured any social distancing on screen.

One of the show’s stars, Lynne McGranger, revealed on Twitter last week that this was done on purpose to distract viewers from the global health crisis.

Why the cast of Home and Away aren’t social distancing: Actress Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts, has explained why the Aussie soap beloved around the world has seemingly been unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic

Lynne, 67, who plays Irene Roberts on the Seven Network / Channel 5 show, was asked by a fan on Twitter about the total lack of social distancing on the show.

‘Okay, so there’s no social distancing in Summer Bay because the writers and producers (rightly) believe that our viewers desire some escapism,’ she replied.

In March last year, production on Home and Away was shut down over fears of a Covid-19 infection on-set. 

‘It [was] confirmed that no cast or crew had tested positive for Covid-19, but that the decision [to halt production] was made due to the increasing logistical hurdles related to the Covid-19 situation,’ a Channel Seven spokesperson said at the time.

The cast and crew returned to work almost two months later.

Burning questions: 'Okay, so there's no social distancing in Summer Bay because the writers and producers (rightly) believe that our viewers desire some escapism,' she tweeted last week

Burning questions: ‘Okay, so there’s no social distancing in Summer Bay because the writers and producers (rightly) believe that our viewers desire some escapism,’ she tweeted last week

Precautionary measure: In March last year, production on Home and Away was shut down over fears of a Covid-19 infection on-set. Filming resumed almost two months later

Precautionary measure: In March last year, production on Home and Away was shut down over fears of a Covid-19 infection on-set. Filming resumed almost two months later

In October, Lynne, who has played Irene Roberts for almost three decades, admitted she wants her character to have a ‘tear-jerking’ exit. 

She told Perth Now there’s no plan for Irene to be killed off in the near future, but when they time comes, she wants an emotional ending. 

‘As far as I know there is no death planned for her yet, but when I go I want her [Irene] to die what I call a “Molly death”, like in A Country Practice,’ she said.

How will she be killed off? In October, Lynne, who has played Irene Roberts for almost three decades, admitted she wants her character to have a 'tear-jerking' exit

How will she be killed off? In October, Lynne, who has played Irene Roberts for almost three decades, admitted she wants her character to have a ‘tear-jerking’ exit

‘She closed her eyes and it faded to black. The whole country was in therapy afterwards… I would love a tear-jerker like that.’

The death of Molly Jones (played by Anne Tenney) from leukaemia on A Country Practice was one of Australian TV most memorable moments in the ’80s.

Molly’s final moments were shown from her point of view, watching her husband flying a kite with their daughter.

Exit plan: 'As far as I know there is no death planned for her yet, but when I go I want her [Irene] to die what I call a "Molly death", like in A Country Practice,' she told Perth Now

Exit plan: ‘As far as I know there is no death planned for her yet, but when I go I want her [Irene] to die what I call a “Molly death”, like in A Country Practice,’ she told Perth Now

But Lynne noted that she would not get a final say on how Irene is killed off. 

‘That is my plan, but we shall see. I am sure they have lots of things planned for Irene before she is shuffled off in a box,’ she said.

In 2018, Lynne told Daily Mail Australia that she’d expected to be on Home and Away for a maximum of 12 months when she began the role in 1993.   

Memorable: The death of Molly Jones (played by Anne Tenney) from leukaemia on A Country Practice was one of Australian TV most memorable moments in the '80s

Memorable: The death of Molly Jones (played by Anne Tenney) from leukaemia on A Country Practice was one of Australian TV most memorable moments in the ’80s 

This is not the first time Lynne has spoken about how she wants Irene’s story to end.

She once told News.com.au: ‘I want viewers to be hysterical with sadness. I want people weeping for weeks afterwards.

‘To be honest, I thought it was three months, maybe six months to a year. But it just kept going and going.’

Still going strong! In 2018, she revealed to Daily Mail Australia that she expected to be on Home and Away for a maximum of 12 months when she began the role in 1993. 'I thought it was three months, maybe six months to a year. But it just kept going and going,' she said

Still going strong! In 2018, she revealed to Daily Mail Australia that she expected to be on Home and Away for a maximum of 12 months when she began the role in 1993. ‘I thought it was three months, maybe six months to a year. But it just kept going and going,’ she said