Emmerdale favourite Samantha Giles has announced she will be leaving the ITV soap later this year.

The actress, who plays Bernice Blackstock, made her first appearance in Emmerdale over 25 years ago, but has confirmed she's now departing the soap for good.

Samantha, 52, confirmed the news on Friday's episode of This Morning, as she discussed her love of witchcraft with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary.

When asked if she was leaving her soap role, Samantha confirmed she was but said it hadn't been officially announced yet. The actress' final scenes will air in mid-November.

Speaking on the ITV show on 20 October, Samantha confirmed her departure but remained tight-lipped about her exit storyline and whether Bernice would be returning to the Dales in the future.

Her upcoming exit will be the fourth time that the actress has left the show since she made her debut back in 1998.

Rumours surrounding Samantha's exit began circulating earlier this year, shortly after she announced that she will be joining the cast of Cinderella at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford and is taking on the role of the Wicked Step Mother over the festive period.

Samantha will be joining the likes of Strictly Come Dancing finalist John Whaite, who is taking on the role of Dandini, and Billy Pearce, who is taking on the role of Buttons.

Speaking about the exciting new role, Samantha said: "I am beyond excited to be playing the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre.

"I’m really looking forward to working with Billy Pearce, the absolute King of Panto, and the Alhambra itself is such a beautiful theatre that I have long wished to work at."

A synopsis for the upcoming performance promises "laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses." It will run from 09 Dec 2023 to 21 Jan 2024.

When Samantha first arrived in Emmerdale in 1998 she stayed until 2002. During that four years stint on the show, she managed to scoop a TV Quick Award for Best Actress. Following her exit in 2004, Samantha then made a very swift return to Emmerdale.

Four years later, Samantha returned to the world of soap, but this time in Cheshire with Hollyoaks. The award-winning actress played Valerie Holden from 2008 until 2010.

Two years later in 2012 Samantha then made her return to Emmerdale once again. That time she stayed in the village for seven years before leaving to write a book.

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