We’re all excited to see what’s in store for the locals of Emmerdale in 2025, but who’s leaving this year? There have already been huge changes to the Emmerdale cast with three deaths.
It isn’t all about the goodbyes, however. The next 12 months will mark the arrival of exciting new faces to the Dales and quite possibility the return of a few old ones, following the exciting comeback of Joe Tate! Here is the lowdown on who’s coming and going in 2025.
*WARNING: Spoilers below for episode to air on ITV on Wednesday February 19, that is already available on ITVX, but is yet to air on ITV*
Who’s leaving Emmerdale in 2025?
Martelle Edinborough has left as Suzy Merton (Credit: ITV)
Suzy Merton
In dramatic scenes in February 2025, Suzy Merton was killed off. She was travelling in a limo for a girls’ night out with various other villagers and it crashed. Driver Charity Dingle had swerved to avoid hitting Noah who had stumbled dazed and confused into the road. The limo then skidded onto an iced over lake and gradually began falling through the ice.
Sadly, Suzy was killed immediately on impact. She was left in the limo as it sunk to the bottom of the lake.
Martelle Edinborough, who played Suzy, confirmed she has left the soap with a message to followers on social media platform, X.
“And just like that….Suzy is no more and a new chapter begins!! What an ep!
“It’s been such a blessing to have been a part of such an iconic show that I grew up on and loved by so many!!”
We want a happy ending for Leyla (Credit: ITV)
Leyla Harding
Reports first surfaced back in October that actress Roxy Shahidi had decided not to renew her contract. According to The Sun, the actress wanted to ‘spread her wings’ and try other things.
Its source said of Roxy’s decision: “She is really excited about her meaty exit storyline, which will see her character Leyla die on screen. She’d rather go out in a blaze of glory and be remembered.”
And now that has come to pass. After the lake limo crash, Leyla was impaled with glass in her side and slowly bleeding out. By the time she got out of the limo she was barely conscious and Kerry and Vanessa had to drag her to safety.
She was taken in an ambulance, however she was sadly declared dead on arrival at the hospital. She had lost too much blood to survive.
Leyla first arrived in Emmerdale in 2008 before leaving in 2011. She returned for a brief spell in 2014 before reprising her role permanently later that year. She was involved in several big storylines, including her romances with David Metcalfe and Liam Cavanagh and the revelation she was Jacob Gallagher’s birth mum.
Who else is leaving Emmerdale?
Receptionist Ella revealed a dark past in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV)
Ella Forster
According to reports, actress Paula Lane is bidding farewell to Emmerdale after only a year on screen. Her character, Ella Forster arrived in the village in January 2024, but isn’t long for the exit door.
News of Ella’s imminent departure was revealed on Paula’s talent Spotlight page, which is linked to the star’s Instagram bio. It states that Paula is set to wrap filming on Emmerdale in February 2025. This means that Ella is likely to bow out some time in the spring. Emmerdale Insider contacted Emmerdale, who told us they do not comment on cast member’s contracts.
Ella’s been an interesting addition to the village and has definitely brought the drama. Fans were excited to have former Corrie star Paula Lane back on our screens, and she hasn’t disappointed.
The past 12 months have seen Ella find a new bestie in Mandy Dingle and start a romance with dishy doc Liam Cavanagh. But then came the shock revelation that Ella was a killer and took the life of her childhood best friend when she was just 11 years old. Ella was briefly ostracised by the locals, but hoped she could make a fresh start after discovering she was pregnant with Liam’s baby. Sadly, her dream of a happy family was dashed when Ella suffered a miscarriage and Liam rekindled his relationship with Chas Dingle.
Since losing Liam to Chas, Ella has gone all creepy stalker on us. Her psycho behaviour has led fans to suggest she may even return to the dark side. Will Ella commit her second murder and end up in prison?
Losing Heath and dealing with Pollard’s behaviour have kept Brenda busy in 2024 (Credit: ITV)
Brenda Walker
After 16 years in Emmerdale, 2025 is reported to be Lesley Dunlop’s last on the Yorkshire-based soap.
Although yet to be formally announced, Lesley’s departure was revealed via a recent article in The Mirror.
A source told the publication: “There have been so many exits recently and the talk is of more. With people like Lesley and Roxy potentially in the mix, nobody feels safe.”
“The show has grown a lot bigger in recent years but soaps are expensive to make. It’s inevitable saving money means losing people.”
Emmerdale declined to comment when contacted about Lesley’s rumoured exit, and there are no further details on how her character might be written out.
Brenda has been part of village life since April 2008 and has featured in nearly 1500 episodes. As the co-owner of Cafe Main Street, she’s one of the most loved locals. After a disastrous short-lived marriage to Bob Hope, Brenda found happiness with Eric Pollard. Emmerdale’s longest standing character is played by actor Chris Chittell, who’s actually Lesley’s real-life husband.
Brenda has been Eric’s rock as he’s come to terms with his Parkinson’s diagnosis and was overjoyed when he popped the question. But their relationship and upcoming wedding ended after Brenda discovered Eric had squandered her life savings to invest in a cryptocurrency scam. But with no money left, what will prompt her to depart the Dales?
Who’s joining Emmerdale in 2025?
Emmerdale are yet to reveal any new permanent cast members for 2025. But with the wedding planning business now down two members of staff, they could definitely do with some new people on board.
Who’s returning to Emmerdale in 2025?
The rumour mill has been in overdrive with fans speculating which former faces might make a comeback in 2025.
Pete Barton is top of the list, and it would be perfect timing given his brother Ross’s recent return to the village. The Barton brothers were caught up in a toxic love triangle with Debbie Dingle. However, they made up and when Pete left the Dales in 2020 he went to join Ross in Liverpool. Are they about to reunited again?
And then there’s the comeback that all Robron fans are holding out for – Aaron’s soulmate, Robert Sugden. There’s some serious unfinished business between these two and we’d love to see Robert and half-brother John go toe to toe for the man they love.
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