Channel 5 has announced huge changes as to how Home and Away fans will be able to watch the show.
At present, the Australian soap airs in the UK weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5, with a ‘first-look’ episode broadcast Monday to Friday on 5STAR at 6.30pm.
Well, now fans will be able to get their fix of drama from Summer Bay even earlier.
To coincide with Channel 5 and its catch-up service My5’s collective rebrand as simply ‘5’, the soap will switch to a streaming-first model.
This means that, from Monday 10 March, fans can stream new episodes of Home and Away from 6am each weekday on 5.
This will be more than 12 hours before the episode airs on 5STAR, and nearly 20 hours before the Channel 5 showing.
These are not the only big changes ahead for Home and Away fans.
Last month, long-serving cast member Lynne McGranger announced she would be leaving her role as Irene Roberts after 32 years.
The 72-year-old is the longest-serving female actor in an Australian drama, having taken over the role of Irene in 1993.
‘After almost 33 years in my dream role and working everyday with people who I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life,’ Lynne said in a statement.
‘I am forever grateful to the best production crew in the world and to our genius writers – whose doors are always open – for everything they have done for Irene over the past 33-odd years, and I am so proud of the storyline which will see Irene out of the Bay.
‘Above all, a massive, heartfelt thank you to the fans for your continued love and support.’
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Lynne is set to finish filming at the end of March, with her emotional exit set to play out on screen later this year.
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