Emmerdale stars who have quit the ITV soap this year – and the reasons they left

ITV's Emmerdale has recently bid farewell to several beloved characters, leaving fans heartbroken as they adjust to the absence of familiar faces on-screen.

The sombre mood started with the death of teen twin Heath Hope at the end of 2023 and continued into the new year. Viewers were also left reeling after Sam Hall, who portrayed Samson Dingle for an impressive 15 years, made his exit following his character's journey into fatherhood with Amelia Spencer.

Moreover, Jurell Carter, the actor behind heartthrob Nate Robinson, also took his leave from the long-running soap after five years of service. Yet these departures barely scratch the surface of the growing list of actors who have taken their final bow in 2024.

We investigate the slew of stars that have departed and uncover the reasons behind their exits.

Emile John

Having portrayed Ethan Anderson for three years, Emile John's tenure ended with a hit-and-run plot that saw his character meet a tragic demise, leaving Ruby Fox-Miligan, implicated but medically exonerated, and her son Nicky struggling to cope with the truth, reports Leeds Live.

Paying homage to his time on the show, Emile turned to Instagram with this post: "After three years, Ethan's journey on Emmerdale has come to an end!"

Expressing his gratitude, he added: "I feel extremely privileged to have entered this industry working on such an iconic show. I honestly had the time of my life! Sharing the space with such talented folk on and off screen for the last few years has been a huge honour and an experience that'll stay with me always.

"Huge thank you to those of you who have been invested in any of my storylines throughout my time on the show, seeing your reactions and opening important conversations have made it all the more worth it!"

Lewis Cope and Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana

Acclaimed for their portrayals of Nicky Miligan and his partner Suni Sharma, Lewis Cope and Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana bid adieu to the series simultaneously. Post their departure, the pair have been seen posing together on Instagram – and have clearly remained pals.

The dramatic exit of the duo was marked by a compelling family saga ending with Ruby being accused of Ethan Anderson's death in a hit-and-run while he tried to harm Nicky.

An insider shared with The Sun: "It's not going to go unnoticed that three of the village's gay characters have been written out within a matter of weeks of each other. The optics aren't good, especially when it's Pride month. The fact is decisions are taken months in advance and there are lots of different factors that go into things like this. It's very unusual for three actors with the same character profile to leave at the same time."

Sam Hall

Sam Hall also bid farewell to his long-standing role as Samson Dingle after a storyline which saw his character incarcerated for four years due to an assault charge, leaving behind a heartbroken Amelia and his father.

Sam Hall reflected on his departure from the beloved soap, stating: "So, as you've seen, Samson has now left the village. It's been a great storyline, so I'd like to thank everyone who's been with me, cast and crew, over the last 15 years. Hopefully, we'll see Samson again."

Despite whispers that his character might have been permanently written out, fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Samson's exit has been left open-ended.

Jurell Carter

Famed for his role as the dashing farmer Nate Robinson in Emmerdale, Jurell Carter has decided to hang up his farming boots after five years, leaving viewers and his on-screen ex Tracy in shock. His sudden departure has sparked speculation among fans that his character may have met an untimely end.

Taking to social media, Jurell Carter shared his reasons for leaving, expressing gratitude to his supporters: "So after 5 years, my time at Emmerdale has come to an end. I always say I don't know where the time has gone but I genuinely don't have a clue. I want to thank every single person who has supported me, rooted for me, watched me develop and grow over these past 5 years, I truly appreciate you."

He continued, cherishing his time on the show: "It's been a massive chapter of my life and will always hold a special place in my heart. Emmerdale is a big family, from the minute I walked in the building on my first day I was made to feel welcome and wanted and I've been truly blessed to be a part of it."

"Making the choice to leave a place that felt like home, a place I was constantly learning, excited to be and where I was working alongside some beautiful and very talented people was never going to be easy."

"Being a part of a show that's always been a family favourite, my mum's, my late grandmother's (Mamma's), a show that became my dad's favourite and making them all so proud, will honestly forever mean everything to me. So from the bottom of my heart, I'm forever grateful and I thank you all. God bless."

Anil Goutam

Recognised for his portrayal of Jai Sharma's secret father Amit, and brother to the late Rishi Sharma, Anil Goutam found himself in the midst of a dramatic plotline when he narrowly escaped being killed by his own son.

He was subsequently tied up and silenced by Jai, who finally consented to let him depart the village permanently on the condition that he didn't bid anyone farewell. Reports suggest that Anil chose to step down from the role after a six-month stint.

Alan McKenna

Most notably remembered for his role as Rhona's abusive ex-husband Gus Malcolms, Alan McKenna also made his exit from Emmerdale in 2024.

Gus deceived Rhona about using her eggs to impregnate his new wife Lucy, and following Lucy's death during childbirth, he left his newborn daughter at Rhona's doorstep. He continued to exploit her throughout an extended court trial, eventually receiving an eight-year prison sentence leaving a chasm between Rhona and Marlon.

James Chase

Emmerdale's Tom King, the character fans love to hate, is set to exit the show, leaving viewers with mixed feelings as they'll miss actor James Chase despite his harrowing domestic abuse storyline.

The Sun reports that James has decided to leave, with insiders suggesting his character was always meant to have a "shelf life".

Currently, he's still causing havoc for Belle Dingle and Amelia. A source revealed: "The story isn't over yet. Things are going to get even worse before they get better. It's the right time to leave. James has loved his time on the show playing such a powerful story but the truth is that characters like Tom have a shelf life for a reason."

"There's no long-term redemption for Tom coming - he has to leave one way or the other. And either way it will be dramatic. James is rightly proud of the part he's played in raising awareness of the issue with the story but it's time to go and spread his wings."