Three characters leave Emmerdale after worrying news - but fans feel a fourth departure is 'sealed'

Three members of the Dingle family left the show for a temporary break

Three characters have left a popular soap, and viewers are speculating that a fourth may be leaving soon. The episode of Emmerdale that aired on Friday, February 2, saw three members of the Dingle family leave the show for a temporary break after recent drama.

Sam Dingle made the decision to visit his father Zak, who is staying in Scotland with Sam's niece Debbie Dingle. Sadly in real life the actor who plays Zak, Steve Halliwell, passed away in December 2023.

It isn't clear why Sam went to visit his dad, if the scenes were written prior to Steve's passing, or if this is a possible exit storyline for his character. However, whilst Sam departed the village and prepared for some time away, he didn't leave on his own reports the Daily Mirror.

Read more: Emmerdale's Chas Dingle actress Lucy Pargeter's life from pop star past to heartbreaking IVF journey

Chas Dingle and her young daughter Evie also left the village, after deciding to go on a holiday. Sam then drove Chas and Eve out of the village, as she asked to be taken to the train station.

The exit of the pair comes days after Chas broke the news to her family that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After finding a lump in her breast, Chas learned she had the disease which her mother had died from in 2022.

She had decided to keep it just to herself and Liam Cavanagh, but then Chas decided to be honest with her loved ones and told them about her diagnosis. She then told young Eve about it all, before deciding to go on a holiday before she begins treatment. Chas has been told she has stage one cancer and that they caught it early, so doctors are confident her treatment will be a success.

The mum said she wanted to spend time with Evie and have some fun whilst she could before the treatment, which led to the duo going on a trip away from the village. However, viewers think another character may soon be exiting.

Scenes this week suggested that Angelica King would be sent to a youth detention centre after the character accidentally killed Heath Hope last month after joyriding in a car, despite not being able to drive. For weeks Angelica blames Heath's sister Cathy Hope for the crash, but then the 14-year-old admitted she was the driver.

She has been told that she will likely receive a custodial sentence and be taken away from her family - but will she leave for good?