Amy Walsh has long delivered some of Emmerdale’s most devastating, resilient and emotionally charged moments. But this week, it was the actress herself —

not Tracy Robinson — who left fans reaching for tissues. In a candid and heartfelt social media update, Walsh revealed she was heading into her last day

on set before stepping away for maternity leave, marking the end of an era — at least for now — in the Yorkshire Dales.

After more than a decade in the role, the announcement carried enormous weight for viewers who have watched Tracy endure grief, betrayal, passion and unimaginable loss.

A goodbye, for now

Sharing a photograph outside the ITV Studios entrance in Leeds, Amy kept her caption short but loaded with feeling.

“Last day. Let’s do this.”

Four simple words, yet they signaled the close of a chapter that began back in 2014 when Tracy first arrived in the village as a potential love interest for Sam Dingle. Few could have predicted just how deeply woven into the fabric of Emmerdale she would become.

Over the years, Tracy evolved from newcomer to central figure, standing at the heart of some of the soap’s most explosive and tragic narratives.

A decade of drama in the Dales

Walsh’s tenure has been anything but quiet.

Tracy has buried her father, Frank Clayton, survived scandals that ripped through relationships, and embarked on complicated romances that kept audiences divided. Her affair with Caleb Milligan sent shockwaves, while the catastrophic limousine crash last year left lasting scars across the village.

But perhaps nothing defined Tracy’s recent journey more than the brutal death of her husband, Nate Robinson.

Murdered by the calculating John Sugden, Nate’s loss shattered Tracy’s world and propelled her into one of the rawest portrayals of grief the series has seen in years. Walsh’s performance drew widespread praise, with fans and critics alike applauding the vulnerability and fury she brought to the role.

It is little surprise that during her time on the show, she has collected an array of award nominations, including recognition at the National Television Awards, the Inside Soap Awards and the ITV talk awards circuit. Her ability to balance strength with fragility has made Tracy one of the drama’s most relatable figures.

Life beyond the camera

While Tracy’s life has been marked by turmoil, Amy’s off-screen world is entering a period of anticipation and joy.

The actress is married to former EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith, and together they share a four-year-old daughter, Bonnie. Now, the couple are preparing to welcome their second child — a milestone that prompted Amy’s temporary farewell to the cobbles and countryside of her television home.

Just a day after announcing her final shoot, Walsh updated fans again, this time glowing after a quiet “babymoon” with her husband at a Yorkshire retreat.

The pair filled their time with pool, chess, Uno, long conversations, rest, and heartfelt planning for the arrival of their new baby.

“Feeling so grateful,” she wrote — a sentiment that resonated deeply with followers who have watched her juggle demanding storylines with motherhood.

Honest motherhood fears

In another intimate video, Amy opened up further, thanking fans for sharing their own experiences of family life. The discussion turned to a challenge many parents know well: sleep, change, and the emotional balancing act of expanding a family.

Walsh admitted she treasures the nights Bonnie climbs into bed for cuddles and insists she never wishes the phase away, exhaustion and all. Yet with a newborn soon to arrive, practicality has begun nudging emotion.

How do you comfort two children at once?
How do you divide yourself without feeling divided?

It was a refreshingly unfiltered moment from a star often seen in full character armour on screen.

Tracy’s rage is far from over

If viewers feared Tracy might fade quietly into the background before Walsh’s leave, Emmerdale has other plans.

In upcoming scenes, grief and vengeance collide in spectacular fashion. Still burning from Nate’s murder, Tracy takes a shocking step: she steals John Sugden’s ashes, intent on denying him even the dignity of rest.

The act is messy, impulsive, human — everything Tracy has become.

It is also classic Emmerdale: pain rippling outward, forcing the community to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, closure and how far a broken heart can be pushed.

What Amy’s absence means

Walsh’s maternity break will undoubtedly leave a noticeable gap. Tracy has been a vital emotional conduit, often reflecting the audience’s outrage or heartbreak when tragedy strikes.

But the door remains open.

Soap exits are rarely final, and insiders expect Tracy to return once Amy is ready, bringing with her the next stage of a woman forever reshaped by love and loss.

An actress viewers have grown up with

For many fans, Amy’s pregnancy feels personal. They met her in their own younger years. They watched her character fall apart, rebuild, fall again. They saw themselves in her.

Now they are cheering her into a new chapter of her real life story.

The next scene awaits

As Walsh walked into the studio for that final day, it was not a farewell soaked in despair but one filled with gratitude, pride and expectation.

The Dales will keep turning. Tracy’s fury will burn. And somewhere beyond the cameras, Amy will soon cradle a new arrival, beginning another extraordinary role — mother of two.

For now, viewers simply whisper the same thing:

See you soon.