Leyla/David/Alicia/Justin

[alan45]

Emmerdale star Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi has decided to leave the soap after three years in the role of Leyla Harding.

The actress chose not to renew her contract with the ITV1 show and will film her final scenes as Leyla later this month, the Daily Star Sunday reports.

Speaking to the newspaper, Ghawam-Shahidi confirmed: "I have had an amazing three years at Emmerdale and it has been a really tough decision to leave."

News of Leyla's departure comes just days before viewers will see her receive an unexpected proposal from boyfriend David Metcalfe, played by Matthew Wolfenden.

The feisty character has also been tipped for further clashes with sister Alicia Gallagher (Natalie Anderson) before making her departure. Emmerdale's sibling duo have frequently been at odds over youngster Jacob, who was raised by Alicia despite being Leyla's biological son.

Details of Leyla's exit storyline are currently unknown. However, teasing the possible consequences for Alicia, David and Jacob, a source told the tabloid: "There will be more than one broken heart when she goes."

Corrinne Wicks (Ella Hart), Sapphire Elia (Mia Macey), Kelsey-Beth Crossley (Scarlett Nicholls), Kirsty-Leigh Porter (Roz Fielding) and Suzanne Shaw (Eve Jenson) are among a number of other Emmerdale cast members who are due to depart screens in the coming months.

[Perdita]

Awww crap, another relationship down the pan

[tammyy2j]

Hopefully her annoying sister leaves as well

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi has confirmed that viewers will see a "desperate" side to her character Leyla Harding in the build-up to her departure.

The actress left the ITV1 soap earlier this year and her final storyline is exploring the dynamic between Leyla, her son Jacob and sister Alicia.

Alicia (Natalie Anderson) has raised Jacob since he was a baby and Leyla has recently been left panicked by her plans to move to Spain with the youngster.

As the moving date draws ever closer, Leyla's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and while she is escorting Jacob to a friend's party, she suddenly decides to take him on a trip into Leeds instead, Soaplife reports.

Ghawam-Shahidi told the magazine: "Time's running out and Leyla's desperate. Leyla asks Jacob if he would prefer to stay with her than go to Spain and when he says yes, she's blown away by it.

"She calls up and cancels the party, then heads to Leeds. It's a knee-jerk reaction."

Revealing what happens when Leyla then receives a phone call from her worried fiancé David (Matthew Wolfenden), the actress continued: "She tells David she thinks it would be much more simple if Jacob knew she was his real mum. I think it would be more simple for her, but it would be a huge thing for Jacob to find out."

Since news of Leyla's departure emerged last month, fans have speculated over whether she could do a runner with Jacob.

Discussing the possibility, Ghawam-Shahidi remarked: "She's in two minds about whether to tell him and whether to take him."

Leyla's final Emmerdale scenes air next month.

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi has admitted that she was in "floods of tears" when she filmed her final scenes for the soap.

The actress decided to bow out from her role as Leyla Harding earlier this year and her last episode airs at the end of next week.

Leyla is currently struggling with her motherly feelings towards son Jacob, who has been raised by her sister Alicia (Natalie Anderson). The situation is expected to reach a dramatic conclusion in Leyla's exit plot.

"I cried the whole time on my last day. Luckily, I was filming lots of sad scenes - but Natalie Anderson and I were in floods of tears constantly," Ghawam-Shahidi told Inside Soap.

"I've had a great time at Emmerdale - it's such a beautiful place to work and so much fun. But I've enjoyed three great years there and now it's time for me to do something different - so I'm really excited about what might be coming up in future."

Leyla's relationship with fiancé David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) reaches breaking point in next week's episodes after she pulls another stunt by taking Jacob away on a trip without telling anybody.

"He tells Leyla she has to give up Jacob or they're finished," Ghawam-Shahidi added. "That's something Leyla could never do - if she has to stop seeing her son to be with David, she could never love him in the same way ever again. It's an impossible choice - Jacob will always come first for her."

Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn recently told Digital Spy that Leyla's departure will be "so emotional, so powerful and so full of consequences".

[alan45]

Emmerdale star Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi has admitted that she took a long time to reach her decision to leave the soap.

The actress bowed out from her role as Leyla Harding in June after three years in the part, and viewers will see her final scenes later this week.

In an interview with We Love Telly, Ghawam-Shahidi explained that her screen sister Natalie Anderson (Alicia Gallagher) supported her while she was considering her future.

Asked how she reached her decision, Ghawam-Shahidi replied: "It took me about six months. In the end, Natalie Anderson helped me. She has experience of leaving a long-running serial - The Royal - and she encouraged me."

She continued: "Everyone is like a family [at Emmerdale] and I've become really good friends with Natalie. She is as bubbly as I am."

Ghawam-Shahidi confirmed that she is now hoping to pursue new roles.

Discussing how Emmerdale has changed her life, she added: "I've got a nice car and a house in York, but the material gains haven't been the main thing. It's all about TV experience. I feel so much more confident going to auditions now. The camera doesn't bother me."

Leyla's last episode airs on Friday.

[tammyy2j]

I hope she dont take Jacob with her

[alan45]

Emmerdale shopkeeper Leyla Harding feels the full force of her sister Alicia's fury as she finally returns to the village with Jacob in tonight's episode of the soap.

When Jacob sends a picture message to Alicia (Natalie Anderson) revealing his location, the feisty barmaid is determined to bring him back home. However, when David points out that a huge row between the sisters would only confuse Jacob, Alicia agrees to stay behind while David heads off to sort the situation out.

Later, David tracks down Leyla (Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi) and firmly insists that it's time for her and Jacob to come back to the village. A reluctant Leyla agrees, but is dishonest with David about how much she's told Jacob.

Returning home, Leyla is left devastated when Alicia refuses to forgive her and slaps her hard across the face, while David also refuses to talk to her.

With Leyla leaving the village on Friday, could there be more heartache ahead for everyone before she makes her departure?

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has confirmed that his character David Metcalfe is likely to set his sights on Alicia Gallagher following the departure of her sister Leyla Harding.

David's relationship with Leyla is currently at crisis point and the troubled shopkeeper will leave the village in tonight's episode.

Discussing the aftermath of Leyla's exit, Wolfenden told Soaplife: "[David's] really awful to Alicia because he kind of blames her for all that's happened between him and Leyla - her bringing Jacob into their lives, stirring everything up from the past and all the bad memories. It'll take a different turn eventually, but that's the way it is now."

Asked whether David could fall for Alicia, he replied: "That's what people want in general. I didn't think that was ever on the cards but it's the way it's looking, even though she's with Andy at the moment. We'll have to see how that one goes."

The actor also predicted that David's heartbreak over Leyla will not have a long-lasting impact on his life.

"He'll get over it - people always do in soap world," Wolfenden said. "He'll move on and have to make a go of it with someone else. Alicia's the definite candidate for him."

Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi, who played Leyla, announced her decision to leave Emmerdale in June.

[Chloe O'brien]

Maybe Alicia and David will get together if Andy is devoting all his time to Sarah and Debbie with Sarah being ill.