Emmerdale icon Victoria Sugden is set to leave the village temporarily, with her final scenes confirmed.
Emmerdale has confirmed that Victoria Sugden, portrayed by Isabel Hodgins, is set to leave the ITV soap.
Isabel, 32, has played the iconic role since 2006 and recently spoke about her decision to take a break from the character.
Victoria, who was born on the show in 1994, has been a familiar presence in the village for years. This week, it was announced that she would be temporarily departing Emmerdale.
Fans need not worry, as both the actress and her character are expected to return in the future; this is not a permanent exit.
Her final scenes will be available on ITVX ahead of the broadcast on ITV1, which airs on Thursday evening, February 12.
So, what led to Victoria’s temporary departure, and why has Isabel Hodgins decided to step away from the role? Back in August last year, the actress revealed she was expecting her first child, according to the Mirror.
She shared that her due date was in early 2026, signalling to fans that Victoria’s exit from Emmerdale was on the horizon. Isabel finished filming several weeks ago and is now on maternity leave.
While there’s no official word on when she’ll return to the show, fans shouldn’t expect her back anytime soon due to her maternity leave.
Isabel has not yet confirmed the birth of her baby, but fans have been sending their best wishes following the announcement of her final scenes.
Victoria’s exit storyline takes a dramatic turn. Viewers will remember that her life was rocked at the start of January when she unintentionally became a killer.
After her sinister brother John Sugden tried to harm her, Victoria defended herself with a syringe, unaware of its contents, which tragically led to John’s death.
In the aftermath, she covered up the incident with help from her brother Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) and Robert’s partner Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).
Eventually, the truth caught up with them when villain Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) revealed video footage of Victoria causing John’s death, making it appear as though he had committed suicide, before fleeing the scene.
Victoria’s world has been turned upside down in the aftermath of recent events, as she battles guilt while being blackmailed by Joe.
He has forced the Sugdens to give up their farmland and manipulated Robert into framing Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) so he can seize her property as well.
The combined weight of Moira being set up, John’s death, and her young son Harry’s questions about him has become too much for Victoria to bear, prompting her temporary departure. As previously mentioned, this exit is not permanent, and Victoria is expected to return in the future.
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