LIFE in the Dales has no shortage of drama for the rest of the year but who will stay to watch it all unfold?
ITV recently confirmed another upcoming exit. Here’s your guide to all of Emmerdale‘s comings and goings.
Who will stay in the Dales?
Darcy Grey is ready to turn a new leaf
Marcus Dean (Darcy Grey) – leaving
The son of serial killer and rapist Pierce Harris, Marcus Dean was said to be ready to keep his legacy alive.
But after a year of drama, actor Darcy Grey has reportedly called it quits and Marcus is set to pack up and leave the eponymous village in upcoming weeks.
Soap bosses have confirmed Darcy has filmed his final scenes as the mysterious character.
Since his arrival, Marcus struck up a romance with solicitor Ethan Anderson (Emile John) and the pair had big ideas for their future.
More recently, Marcus was approached and seduced by Ethan’s shady boss Greg and the drama escalated into a physical altercation.
The pair’s relationship is set to draw to a close – but will it be permanent.
“Marcus’ time in the village came to a natural end. Darcy is keen to spread his wings but the door has been left open”, a source told The Celeb Report.
What will be the final straw for Marcus?
Priya Sharma left the Dales for a new job opportunity
Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade) – left
More than a decade has passed since Fiona Wade first stepped into Emmerdale and the soap star has decided it’s time for her to move on.
After less than twelve years in the show, the actress left the role of Priya Sharma behind.
For the past year, the wedding planner was focusing on her long-term recovery from burns sustained in the maze fire in October, 2021.
It became clear she still had lingering trauma from the horrific ordeal.
Priya Sharma’s exit storyline aired in late January, 2023.
The beloved character moved to London for a new job opportunity.
But matters became harrowing when a spiralling David Metcalfe refused to lose his daughter Amba and resorted to kidnapping her when he spiralled out of control.
Home Farm welcomed a new employee
Nicky (Lewis Cope) – joined
Vera star Lewis Cope was first introduced to Emmerdale fans in December, 2022.
His character, Nicky, was hired as the new Home Farm nanny and has been employed to take care of Dawn Fletcher and Gabby Thomas’ children.
He was instant hit with Lucas and Clemmie and has taken his job seriously ever since.
But the hunk also caught Gabby’s eye and she recently made her attraction for him clear.
Off-screen, however, soap fans believe they can see right through Nicky and are convinced he’s too good to be true.
According to a handful of them, he could even be trying to help Jamie Tate get custody of his son Thomas.
Jamie himself faked his death in September, 2021, and has been lurking in the shadows of the eponymous village ever since.
Are viewers right to suspect a sinister twist involving Nicky?
Former Waterloo Road star Will Ash joined the line-up
Caleb Milligan (Will Ash) – joined
The Emmerdale line-up welcomed a new face as former Waterloo Road star Will Ash took on the role of Caleb Milligan, Cain and Chas’ secret brother.
A successful businessman, Caleb rocked up the village in search for answers about his blood relatives and even paid Cain a visit in prison on Christmas Day.
While Cain knew of his existence, it became clear that Chas had no clue she had another sibling.
Caleb is in stark contrast with his quick-tempered brother Cain as he’s seemingly “calm and in control” but also “rich and successful”, as teased by soap boss Laura Shaw.
In recent episodes, Caleb became determined to help his brother get his freedom back once Kyle Winchester confessed his involvement in Al Chapman’s murder.
However, Cain wasn’t ready to trust him, much like viewers who suspect he has an ulterior motive.
Both brothers have shown very little to no mercy to one another.
But against all odds, Cain is warming up to his long-lost brother while Caleb’s true motives are slowly uncovered.
Laura Norton welcomed her second child
Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) – left
Laura Norton is on maternity leave after she announced her pregnancy.
Her and her partner (former co-star Mark Jordon) welcomed a daughter named Ronnie in October.
On-screen, however, Kerry was met with major heartbreak when she found out her late boyfriend Al Chapman had been unfaithful to her.
Her long-lost daughter Chloe Harris made the discovery but had no clue who could be the businessman’s mystery lover.
As viewers know, Al was planning to leave Emmerdale with Chas Dingle and her daughter Eve.
In the aftermath of Al’s secrets being revealed, Kerry found herself demoralised and, unable to cope, she decided to leave the Dales.
She took a job on a cruise ship, leaving Chloe and her eldest daughter Amy behind.
Can soap fans expect to see more of her?
Michelle Hardwick is on maternity leave
Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) – left
Much like Laura Norton, actress Michelle Hardwick left the ITV village to go on maternity leave at the end of November.
The soap star gave birth to her second child with Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks at the same time her final scenes were aired.
The village vet left the village for a year-long job in Canada after falling out with her pal Rhona Goskirk.
Her relationship with Suzy Merton was also impacted due to a lack of trust as she feared the newcomer would become addicted to drugs again.
But Vanessa eventually made up with Rhona and even shared a final kiss with Suzy before departing with her son Johnny.
Will she return?
Tracy came back ahead of Emmerdale’s 50th anniversary
Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh) – returned
After finding out that her fiancé Nate had been unfaithful to her, Tracy struggles to forgive his lies and kicks him out of their home.
But when she is offered a new job in Nottingham, Tracy weighs out the pros and the cons before deciding to leave the Dales.
Tracy’s exit storyline aired on screens in January, 2022, as both Nate and her sister Vanessa tried to convinced her to stay.
The former then had a change of heart and encouraged Tracy to shoot her shot and go pursue her dream job.
Tracy left the village with her daughter Frankie.
Off-screen, however, actress Amy Walsh left on maternity leave.
She welcomed her first child after a “tough” birth with partner and EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith in January, 2022.
During her Emmerdale exit chat, Amy teased a potential return for her character.
“If she fails, then she can always come back, which she will probably do in about a year’s time!”
In recent weeks, Nate found out through Tracy that she has a new fella in her life – while Toby-Alexander Smith has been rumoured to join the Emmerdale cast as his other half’s on-screen boyfriend.
Tracy made an explosive return ahead of Emmerdale’s anniversary, shocking viewers and former fiancé Nate Robinson when she announced she was engaged to another man – but this didn’t stop her from shacking up with Nate.
Ready to rekindle their relationship, she was shocked to see Nate alongside his new girlfriend Naomi Anderson.
Hurt, Tracy made the decision to pack up and return to Nottingham.
Could she return?
PC Harriet Finch’s exit was aired amid a dramatic week
Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) – left
Nine years were enough for actress Katherine Dow Blyton to move on from Emmerdale.
In tear-jerking scenes aired in October, 2021, just in time for the show’s fiftieth anniversary, her character Harriet Finch made her last ever appearance.
The former vicar and policewoman was the first death of the soap’s storm week after being involved in a dramatic quad bike accident alongside love rival Kim Tate.
At the time, Harriet had set off to find a heavily pregnant Amelia Spencer while Kim rode on horseback to help find the teen mother.
This was despite the women’s feud over Will Taylor, who Kim tied the knot with.
But what will Katherine be up to next?
“I think I need time to decompress and to re-evaluate what I want the next part of my life to be”, she told Leeds Live.
“I have so many big decisions but I’m going to feel my way for the rest of this year and reconnect with my friends in London. Just live my life for a bit and not set my alarm for 5.30am.”
Isobel Steele was one of the latest soap stars to leave the eponymous village
Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele) – left
Reports claimed Isobel Steele, who has been playing Liv Flaherty since the character’s first appearance in February, 2016, was ready to start afresh away from the village.
Fans were shocked to learn from a source speaking to The Celeb Report that the Hide Bistro barista could even be killed off during Emmerdale’s anniversary week.
“It’s been a big decision for Isobel but she’s ready to try new things”, the source claimed, before adding: “She feels like she’s done all she can at Emmerdale and wants to focus on her music career and make a real go of it.”
“Bosses have pulled out all the stops for the 50th anniversary month and Isobel’s exit will be no different.”
Liv was indeed killed off during an explosive storm week in October, 2022.
The beloved character succumbed to her injuries from being crushed by a caravan, thrown at her and her husband Vinny during the storm.
Or could his young daughter take care of that without him?
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV.
