Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins ‘ready’ to exit ITV soap after nearly 20 years
After nearly 20 years starring in the soap, Victoria Sugden actress Isabel Hodgins is "ready" to leave Ememerdale as she awaits the arrival of her first baby with her husband.
Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins is “ready” to leave the ITV soap.
The 32-year-old actress has starred in the programme as Victoria Sugden since 2006, but Hodgins will be exiting Emmerdale as she awaits the arrival of her first child with her husband Adam Whitehead.
During an interview with The Sun newspaper, she said: “I thought I would be really emotional when I filmed my final scenes.
“Emmerdale is all I have ever known. But pregnancy does funny things to you and the truth is I felt ready not to have to film on Emmerdale!
“I live in Manchester and I’ve been driving over to Leeds to film. By the end, I felt exhausted and I knew it was time to have a rest before the baby arrives.”
Isabel revealed she filmed her final scenes for the soap in December, and has been preparing for the big day with her husband since.
She said: “It suddenly feels very real now. I am so excited about becoming a mum for the first time and this will be, by far and away, my biggest role I’ve ever had.
“Adam is going to be a great dad. He pours his heart into everything he does and we both feel so lucky to be having a child.”
In Emmerdale, Victoria murdered her serial killer brother John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) during the programme’s crossover with Coronation Street, and Victoria’s fate will be revealed during Thursday’s (12.02.26) episode.
Isabel said: “Victoria is ready to lay on her sword. She has killed John and she is bogged down with so much guilt - especially as Moira has been like a mother figure towards her. She is in a total mess.
“Does she go away and start a new life or does she do the honourable thing and turn herself in?
“I am not going to spoil what happens but Victoria will definitely be leaving the soap – that’s because I am having a baby in real life!”
Even so, Isabel stressed she has been given the option to return to Emmerdale in the future.
She said: “They told me it was up to me when I come back to the soap, which is lovely.
“I’ve been in Emmerdale for 19 years and it’s been a huge part of my life. Everyone has been so nice.”
