Four ITV Emmerdale stars leaving show in 2025 with one beloved character ‘set to die’

Emmerdale fans are bracing themselves for heartache as several more departures loom on the horizon.

In 2025, some beloved actors are rumoured to be exiting the iconic ITV soap, stirring emotions amongst its loyal following.

The departures of Daisy Campbell’s Amelia Spencer and Dean Andrews’ Will Taylor, who met a tragic end over Christmas, have already left viewers reeling, the Express reports.

ITV faces challenging times ahead, reconsidering the sustainability of stalwarts Emmerdale and Coronation Street in light of financial pressures.

An insider shared: “ITV is going through a cash crisis with the soaps and the money just isn’t there to pay for everyone any more.”

They added: “Ultimately if the character isn’t inspiring a lot of story from producers then there’s no space for them in the show anymore. There’s certainly a worry on set about who will be next to go.”

The source also remarked on the anxiety permeating the set: “It’s a really worrying time for a lot of cast and crew on the soaps – they don’t know if they’re going to have jobs after their current contracts end. Soaps used to be steady employment for people in the industry but it’s not that way anymore.”

Here are all the characters reported to be leaving the show in the near future:

Paula Lane

It’s been reported that among those expected to leave soon is actress Paula Lane.

Paula Lane, known for her role as Ella Forster, is leaving ITV’s Emmerdale. Her character has experienced a tumultuous journey, from her dramatic introduction as the feisty receptionist Ella Forster to forming a close bond with Mandy Dingle (played by Lisa Riley) and developing feelings for Dr Liam Cavanagh (portrayed by Jonny McPherson).

However, the plot took a shocking turn when Ella was revealed to be responsible for the death of a childhood friend, leading to her anticipated exit from the village in the spring. According to reports, Emmerdale bosses have decided to cut the character from the show.

An insider stated: “The days of characters coming in in low profile ways and being bedded in for a year or two are long gone. Newcomers need to make an instant impact with secrets and mysteries but they don’t always work. It’s brutal but it’s how things in telly work now.”

Before joining Emmerdale in 2023, Paula appeared in Call The Midwife and had roles in ITV’s The Royal and Heartbeat. However, she is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Kylie Platt in Coronation Street, another popular ITV soap.

Roxy Shahidi

In related news, Roxy Shahidi is also departing Emmerdale after an impressive 17-year stint. Roxy, who plays Leyla Harding, is seeking new opportunities.

Rumours are swirling that her character could meet a tragic end in upcoming episodes, with some viewers suspecting her son Jacob Gallagher might be involved. Shahidi’s departure comes after a busy year for the actress, who also appeared on Dancing on Ice and ITV’s reality show Drama Queens.

Susan Cookson

Susan Cookson, after seven years on the show, has reportedly filmed her final scenes as Wendy Posner in Emmerdale, according to The Sun.

A source shared: ” Susan was devastated at the decision. She loves the show and loves being part of it.”

They continued: “She’s really well liked in the cast but unfortunately budget cuts mean hard decisions need to be made and that resulted in Susan being one of a number of the cast leaving.”

Lesley Dunlop

Lesley Dunlop, an Emmerdale stalwart known for her role as Brenda Walker, is also set to bid farewell to the soap after an impressive 17-year stint.

The 68 year old actress, who is married to fellow Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell, has been involved in major storylines, including one where Brenda battled a brain tumour. Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1.

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here