A Love Story Straight From a Movie

Beloved Home and Away actress Lynne McGranger, best known as the warm-hearted Irene Roberts, has charmed television audiences for more than three decades. But behind the scenes, her own love story is just as heartwarming. As she joins Patrick Kielty on The Late Late Show this Friday, fans are once again fascinated by the story of how Lynne met the man who has stood by her side for over 40 years — her partner, Paul McWaters.

The Dinner That Changed Everything

Their story began like something out of a romantic film. Back in 1984, Lynne and Paul met over dinner, and from that night, they never looked back. In a 2014 interview with New Idea, Lynne recalled their first meeting with her trademark wit: “I invited him round to my place in 1984 [after having dinner together] and he never went home. Still hasn’t.”

What started as a casual evening soon blossomed into a lifelong partnership built on laughter, trust, and a shared sense of humour.

Four Decades of Love, No Wedding Bells Needed

While many might assume a relationship lasting this long would end in a wedding, Lynne and Paul have always done things their own way. Together for over four decades, they’ve chosen to remain partners rather than husband and wife.

In true Lynne fashion, she has often joked about their decision not to marry. “We always say we’ll do it when we want some white goods,” she laughed, “and I’m here to tell you now, we need a new washing machine.”

Proud Parents to Clancy

Lynne and Paul share one daughter, Clancy, born in 1991. Their small but close-knit family has remained at the heart of Lynne’s life, even as her acting career has continued to thrive.

When Clancy married her husband Luke in August 2023, Lynne was the proud mother of the bride. Dressed in a vibrant pink suit, she described the day as “perfect and magical,” celebrating the union surrounded by friends and family. “We laughed, we ate, we drank, we danced, and we partied,” she wrote, “all in celebration of the two gorgeous newlyweds.”

Comfortable Without Convention

Despite four decades together, Lynne and Paul have no plans to make things official — and she’s perfectly happy that way. Speaking again to New Idea in 2021, she shared, “I was married once, and I didn’t breed well in captivity. He was a nice man, but the wrong man. Marriage has never been on our radar.”

For Lynne, love isn’t defined by a ring or a ceremony. Instead, it’s in the everyday moments, the laughter shared, and the unbreakable bond that has lasted a lifetime.