Emmerdale star reveals she's taking a break from the soap to ‘devote herself to being a mum'

The Irish Sun

3 days ago

The star made an emotional announcement last night
SOAP SHOCK Emmerdale star reveals she's taking a break from the soap to 'devote herself to being a mum'
EMMERDALE star Isabel Hodgins has revealed she will be taking a break from the soap after revealing she's pregnant.
The actress - who plays Victoria Sugden in the ITV soap - has been with the show for 19 years after joining as a child.
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Victoria Sugden actress Isabel Hodgins has revealed she'll be taking a break from Emmerdale
Credit: ITV
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The actress is expecting a baby with husband Adam Whitehead
Credit: Splash
Last night she announced that she and new husband Adam Whitehead are expecting their first baby just months after their wedding.
But now Isabel has hinted that she may be leaving the soap to focus on being a mum.
She told the Mirror: 'I will miss it. 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.
'Now, it's time to devote my life to being a mum, that feels right to me. But there's still FaceTime, so they won't forget me!'
The actress announced she was expecting her first child last night in an emotional Instagram post.
She captioned the picture of her holding the scan with: 'First comes love, Then comes marriage, Then comes… Baby Whitehead ❤️.'
Isabel's co-stars rushed to congratulate her.
Mandy Dingle star Lisa Riley said: 'Congratulations-absolutely wonderful news 💛💛💛 made up for you both.'
Daisy Campbell said: 'Omg iz!! So happy for you both, big congratulations!'
And former co-star Charley Webb commented: 'Cutest.'
Emmerdale star reveals she's pregnant with third child in emotional post NOTES Grab of the scan
The ITV screen star said I Do to partner Adam Whitehead in a stunning ceremony in Manchester, earlier this year, after it was confirmed her "affair partner" made the guest list.
On-screen, Isabel, 31, has played Emmerdale's Victoria Sugden since 2006 - and the beauty confirmed a host of her co-stars had witnessed their nuptials at the city's Castlefield Rooms in April.
She let slip details of her special day a month on, including the 63-strong guest list, how she did her own speech and that Adam even forgot her name during the vows.
In 2023, Isabel announced she was engaged to her boyfriend.
Real-life soap couples
Soaps are renowned for their sweet and scandalous romances – but it's not just in scripted storylines where love is blossoming. A number of our favourite small-screen actors have fallen for co-stars and soapland rivals when the cameras have stopped rolling.
Max Parker and Kris Mochrie Despite playing brothers Luke and Lee Posner on Emmerdale, the pair never actually shared any scenes together. But the pair still fell in love after meeting on set. Max and Kris got together in 2020, moving in together later than same year and got engaged in 2022. In a sweet Instagram post, the couple confirmed they're planning a 2025 wedding.
Beth Cordingly and Ian Kelsey Beth, who plays Ruby Fox-Miligan, announced her love for her co-star Ian Kelsey, who played Dean Glover, shortly after she joined Emmerdale at the beginning of 2024. 'I am very in love with Ian and very happy. I think it really does work him being an actor too. He has been so fantastic," she gushed.
Laura Norton and Mark Jordan Kerry Wyatt and Daz Eden actors Laura and Mark met on the set of Emmerdale in 2014. The couple, who got engaged in 2018, told Loose Women they spent a long time deciding whether they should "just stay as friends." Although it seems they were meant to be and the pair now share two children together.
Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley Emmerdale favourites Zoe and Jeff, who play Rhonda Goskirk and Cain Dingle met at drama college in 1994 and have been together ever since. While working together might be too much for some couples, that's definitely not the case for Zoe and Jeff. Zoe previously told The Sun: "Working on the same show as Jeff also helps because if one of us is having a bad day then the other will completely understand."
Lesley Dunlop and Chris Chittell Lesley and Chris are another Dales romantic success story. Unlike some of the other soap stars, the pair who play Brenda Walker and Eric Pollard, are together on and off screen, officially tying the knot in 2016. They also adore working together, but have clear home-work boundaries. "We make a point of not talking about Emmerdale when we're at home, though – that would be just too sad, wouldn't it?" Chris revealed.
Sally Carman and Joe Duttine Abi Franklin and Tim Metcalfe actors Sally and Joe got together after meeting on the set of Coronation Street in 2017 and they tied the knot in July 2022. But unlike some of the Emmerdale stars, Sally and Joe prefer that their characters don't interact much. Sally previously admitted it "would be horrendous" to work on a storyline with Joe because "he's too funny."
Anthony Cotton and Peter Eccleston Sean Tully may have been unlucky in love on the cobbles, but in real life Antony's met his Prince Charming. The soap star started dating long-term partner Peter in 2005, after they met when he was working as an assistant props buyer on Corrie.
Jane Danson and Robert Beck Corrie favourite Jane Danson tied the knot with soap star Robert Beck in 2005. The actress, who plays Leanne Battersby, shares two children, Harry and Sam, with the former Brookside star. During their marriage, Robert has also done a stint in Weatherfield playing criminal Jimmy Dockerson.
Caroline Harding and Chris Gascoyne Chris, who played pub landlord Peter Barlow, married soap star Caroline in 2002. Although she is best known as an Emmerdale star, Caroline did visit her husband at work when she did a two-episode stint as doctor on the Manchester soap in 2020. The couple share a daughter called Belle, plus two children, Pip and Freddie from Caroline's previous marriage.
Nadine Mulkerrin and Rory Douglas Speed Nadine Mulkerrin, and Rory Doulas Speed are known for their Hollyoaks alter egos Cleo McQueen and Joel Dexter. The loved-up pair got engaged on a December 2018 trip to Amsterdam - just over a year after they announced they were dating. They now share two kids, Reggie and Dougie.
Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward Former Hollyoaks star Sophie, whose best known for playing villain Lindsay Butterfield, was introduced to singer and ex-Corrie star Shayne through mutual friends. She gave birth to their daughter Willow in December 2016 and they welcomed a son in 2022.
And two years later they made it down the aisle watched by her co-stars.
Eden Taylor Draper was a bridesmaid while Danny Miller, Mark Jordon, Laura Norton, Jeff Hordley and Zoë Henry were all in attendance.