Former Emmerdale star Adele Silva turned down the chance to return to the soap after discovering she was pregnant.
The Kelly Windsor actress revealed how she decided against returning to the ITV show after discovering she was expecting her first child following a string of miscarriages.
Adele Silva
© Getty Images / Ben Pruchnie
Adele Silva
Silva revealed that she turned down the chance to return to the soap for her on-screen sister Donna's funeral in order to focus on the pregnancy.
Speaking to Hello! magazine, she said: "I want this to be a success story. It sounds awful but I wasn't remotely excited before my five-month scan.
"I didn't want to think about it just in case it was bad news. Now I'm excited but I always touch wood. I know I'm extremely lucky to get this far."
Silva has played Kelly intermittently since 1993 and last appeared in the soap in 2011.
Viewers saw a terminally-ill Donna fall to her death in a multi-storey car park over the summer following a showdown with villain Gary North.
Shame, I have always liked her character but wish her all the best for her pregnancy