Emmerdale issued an emotional tribute at the end of Thursday’s episode, which is available on ITV X.

As the credits rolled for the latest instalment, an emotional message came on-screen as the ITV soap paid tribute to a ‘friend and colleague’.

The tribute read: “Dedicated to our friend and colleague Stephanie Ives-Stevens 1979 to 2023.”

Leeds Live has contacted ITV for further comment on the emotional tribute.

It comes as Thursday’s hour-long episode saw a series of storylines play out with Ella Forster arrested while Cathy Hope agreed to go on the three month cruise with Brenda Walker.

Viewers will remember that Brenda recently discovered she’d won two tickets for an all-inclusive luxury three-month cruise.

Emmerdale issued an emotional tribute at the end of Thursday’s episode, which is available on ITV X (Image: ITV)
But following her break up with Eric Pollard last year, Brenda initially didn’t want to embark on the trip.

However, Brenda eventually decided to embark on the cruise and Cathy was also persuaded to join the once-in-a-lifetime trip on Thursday’s episode.

At first, Cathy was hesitant to leave her dad Bob Hope after the loss of her twin brother and his son Heath Hope.

Yet Nicola King, who had eyed up the cruise for herself, managed to persuade the worried youngster.

Thursday’s episode saw Cathy Hope agree to go on the three month cruise with Brenda Walker (Image: ITV)
Nicola said: “You still worried about leaving your dad?” to which Cathy replied: “I feel d3ad guilty about it, me off enjoying myself while he’s here feeling lonely.”

Nicola responded: “He’ll be fine, I promise you. He’ll have me and Jimmy, and all his other friends, and April too, she’s family!

“He wants you to go and enjoy yourself, and if you did cancel it because of him how guilty would that make him feel.

“You’ve been through a lot these last couple of years, losing Heath and struggling with your PMDD, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and no one deserves it more than you.”

Elsewhere on Thursday’s episode, Ella Forster was arrested (Image: ITV)
Cathy then spoke to her dad, Bob, who said: “Three months of peace and quiet? I can hardly wait! Of course I’m going to miss you but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to go!”

He added: “Your happiness is the most important thing, right? So get out there and enjoy yourself!”

It was reported earlier this year that Brenda star Lesley Dunlop, Cathy star Gabrielle Dowling and Ella star Paula Lane would be leaving the ITV soap.

And with Thursday’s episode, it appears the trio’s exit storylines have been revealed with Ella arrested and Brenda and Cathy going on the three-month cruise.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.