Emmerdale is preparing to deliver one of its most emotionally charged storylines in years as Victoria Sugden’s dramatic exit finally begins to unfold.

After two decades at the heart of the Dales, actress Isobel Hodgins is stepping away from the ITV soap to go on maternity leave — and the show is ensuring

that Victoria’s departure is anything but quiet. Isobel, who first took on the role of Victoria at just 12 years old in 2006, has quite literally grown up on screen.

For 20 years, viewers have watched Victoria evolve from a grieving child into a resilient woman, a mother, and a survivor of repeated trauma. Now, as the actress prepares to welcome her first baby with husband Adam Whitehead, Emmerdale is crafting a powerful and unsettling storyline that could permanently change the Sugden legacy.

Victoria’s exit comes at a time when her world is already collapsing. Recent episodes have seen her pushed to breaking point following the most shocking act of her life — killing her own brother, serial killer John Sugden, during the explosive CorrieDale crossover event. The death was not premeditated, but an act of desperate self-defense when John attempted to kidnap her. Even so, the emotional toll has been devastating.

While Victoria initially escaped justice, her nightmare was far from over. Enter Joe Tate — ruthless, calculating, and all too willing to exploit her darkest secret. Discovering the truth about John’s death, Joe used the information as leverage, blackmailing Victoria and Robert into signing over their share of the farm in exchange for his silence. It was a cruel power move that stripped Victoria of her family security and left her trapped in a web of fear and guilt.

Since then, viewers have watched Victoria unravel. Once known for her emotional strength, she has become haunted by flashbacks, panic attacks, and overwhelming remorse. The weight of taking a life — even to save her own — has left her barely functioning. As a mother, the fear of losing her child has only intensified her anxiety, pushing her closer to a full breakdown with every passing episode.

Now, Emmerdale is teasing two very different — but equally heartbreaking — possibilities for Victoria’s exit.

One option looming over her future is confession. As the guilt becomes unbearable, Victoria may decide she can no longer live with the lie. Haunted by the idea that justice has not been served, she could choose to turn herself in, fully prepared to face prison. If so, her story would tragically echo that of her brother Robert, who also found himself behind bars after being consumed by his own mistakes.

Such a choice would mark a devastating end to Victoria’s journey — a woman who has survived abuse, loss, and betrayal, finally surrendering her freedom in an attempt to reclaim her conscience.

But there is another path being hinted at — one steeped in fear rather than redemption.

As pressure mounts and Joe Tate tightens his grip, Victoria may begin to believe the walls are closing in. Convinced that the truth is about to be exposed, she could make the impulsive decision to flee the village altogether. This would mirror the fate of her brother Andy, who was forced to leave the Dales under a cloud of guilt and unfinished business, disappearing to avoid prison.

If Victoria runs, it would mean leaving everything behind — her family, her child’s stability, and the only home she has ever known. It would be a heartbreaking but very human response from a woman who has reached the limit of what she can endure.

Sources suggest that Victoria’s exit storyline will reach its climax in the spring, marking Isobel Hodgins’ on-screen departure as she begins maternity leave. However, fans have been left anxious by the actress’s own words, which hint that this goodbye could be more permanent than initially expected.

In a candid interview, Isobel reflected on her long history with the show and the life-changing moment she is about to embrace. “I will miss it,” she admitted. “I love the people there, but I’ve worked there for 19 years, so I feel like I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do and been selfish with my career.”

Her honesty struck a chord with viewers who have watched her dedicate most of her life to the role. She went on to explain that her priorities have naturally shifted. “Now, it’s time to devote my life to being a mum — that feels right to me.”

While Isobel reassured fans that she won’t disappear entirely — joking that “there’s still FaceTime, so they won’t forget me” — her comments have fueled speculation that Victoria’s exit could mark the end of an era rather than a temporary pause.

For Emmerdale, losing Victoria Sugden — even temporarily — is a monumental shift. As one of the last remaining original Sugden connections, her presence has anchored the show’s history while driving some of its most powerful modern storylines. Her departure leaves a significant emotional gap, not just for viewers, but for the characters left behind to deal with the fallout of her choices.

Whether Victoria exits in handcuffs or disappears into the night, one thing is clear: her storyline is being handled with the gravity it deserves. It is a farewell steeped in tragedy, moral conflict, and emotional realism — a fitting send-off for a character who has endured so much.

As Emmerdale builds toward this heartbreaking turning point, fans are bracing themselves for tears, shock, and the possibility that Victoria Sugden’s chapter may be closing for good. And if this truly is goodbye, it will be remembered as one of the most poignant exits in the show’s long and dramatic history.