Barbara Pappas: Hey Lynne I am such a huge fan, you have done a wonderful job with Irene's new story line. Is it hard getting into character for those emotional scenes?

"It was actually, because when we filmed it, I had literally just stepped off the plane from England. I’d been over doing pantomime so I came back to work with a thud. It was more grueling than hard and I do remember going home with headaches at the end of the day, particularly after a lot of the prison stuff."

Terry in Ireland: Hi Lynne, do you prefer big controversial stories like these or do you prefer it when Irene is just working in the Diner and have you any plans to visit Ireland again soon?

"Well of course I love doing big controversial story lines. As one of the older characters one tends to be the lynch pin around which the younger characters and their story lines circulate. Alf is much the same, and Colleen and to a degree Leah. I have to say when I do get my own meaty storyline it’s fabulous because it reminds why I love this job, which is to climb into another skin and take people on a journey and hopefully affect their emotion. In terms of going back to Ireland, I would love to – as soon as possible. No immediate plans but it’s my favourite place in the world I think the West Coast of Ireland (if not my favourite, is one of my favourites) so we will do darnest to get back there asap."

Anthony Owen: Great meeting you again In Crewe did you get the photos and letter I sent you as I have not had a reply and concerned that they haven’t got to you? Can you please confirm whether they have or not? Will you be doing pantomime this Christmas?

"Yes I did and I’m so sorry…I really am very, very remiss with my fan mail. I apologise to all my fans out there that have never heard back from me. Every so often I get a dose of the guilts and I sit down and try to write as many as I can but I don’t always get back to people and I am very, very slack and I’m a very naughty girl and I apologise but thank you so much to all my fans that write to me.

[on doing pantomime this Christmas] I’m just in the throws of sorting that out, I’m hoping to be over in England again doing pantomime but I’m just not sure where at the moment. I’ve got two options: one way up north, one way down south and I’m just waiting to hear from the producers of the pantomime and then of course, I have to ok it with our producers here."

Robbi: We're so excited to see you back on our screens in Ireland, we're 11 episodes behind. I remember being a kid and watching you with my brother, playing Irene Roberts. And Alf, my he's grown!! Delighted you'll be having another full storyline, it'll be great to see you act it out full-scale!

Thank you! Thank you very much to all my lovely Irish fans! I’ve been to Ireland about 3 times and not only are they the most welcoming and delightful, friendly people in the world but I know that they are really great fans of the show and all of us here at Home and Away are very very grateful for their following and commitment to the show – it’s fantastic and we love you all."

Deanna: I really like the show and would just like to congratulate you on the success of your story line. It's really great and keeps me on the edge of my seat. I would like to ask Lynne if she has a hard time adapting to the story line, like all the crying scenes. I have seen her at my shopping center many times and am embarrassed to go up to her haha.

"Obviously Lynne’s never been an alcoholic nor has she ever shot a policeman so when you get those sort of story lines, all you can do is use your intuition and observations in life so playing the full-on drunk stuff I actually really enjoy it because I get to be a bit brave and to experiment and I just have to rely on the directors to tell me if it’s too much or not working.

[on seeing her in the shopping centre] Come up and say hello! Just don’t call me Irene!"

Jane Baker: Can you give us UK fans any pointers to the storyline that you are doing at the moment as we are about 2 weeks behind. Ps you are fantastic as Irene and your UK fans love you.

"All I can say is that if you’re watching the television now, you’ve seen what Irene’s going through. I know I just got an email from a friend today and Irene’s first stuff in the police questioning room with Angelo literally hit the airwaves last night so possibly the biggest storyline that I’ve done in 5 or 6 years is on the air right now so just keep watching."

Abbey: What has been your favourite storyline on Home and Away?

"I would have to say the one that’s on air at the moment. We always used to joke that when Lynne left the show that Irene would be carried out in a straight-jacket having downed a bottle of Absinthe. So when I found out about this story line, I could never foresee that they could ever write Irene going back on the grog back into the storyline and still keep her on the show but of course, the writer’s are so very clever and they’ve been able to do that. For that reason I’d say this is probably the most stretching I’ve had to do and the most fun I’ve had. The other storyline that I really loved doing too was when Irene was being poisoned by the wicked policeman, Cory. And that was another real stretch because I had to actually research what Mercury poisoning did to you. We’ve all seen drunk people but we haven’t seen too many people suffering from Mercury poisoning. Those two story lines certainly stand out for me."

Amanda: What would you like to see happen for Irene in the future?

"You know what, I’d like to see her get married. She’s never walked down the damn aisle! With Ken, a car fell on him; with Barry, he went to prison and then Paris (the young gorgeous one!) – they always get so close and then it all just goes. And then of course Lou – oh my gawd! He was gorgeous, lovely David Robertson. I would actually like to see her wedding day come off but it is Summer Bay and if Irene does get married, chances are she’s not gonna live happily ever after, but I’d just like to get dressed up in a nice dress and be fussed over for a day."

Irene's powerful story line continues, so keep watching.