As Emmerdale actress Isabel Hodgins – known to millions as Victoria Sugden – prepares to become a mum for the first time in real life, she admits she was relieved when she filmed her dramatic leaving scenes airing on Thursday.
Like any – who has played Victoria for nearly 20 years after joining at the age of 12 – has been keen to rest as she awaits to give birth any day now.
Isabel Hodgins has opened up about why she’s relieved to be leaving EmmerdaleCredit: Getty
She’s been a staple on the soap for over 20 years playing Victoria Sugden
Our exclusive pictures show the moment she leaves the villageCredit: ITV
And it’s not surprising she’s after some quiet time given the actress has been at the heart of some of Emmerdale’s most gripping plotlines recently.
Indeed, ever since the Corriedale special, her character has been wracked with guilt knowing she .
Even though a formal suicide verdict has now been delivered, Victoria knows deep down she killed him.
To make matters worse, Joe Tate has also been blackmailing both her and her other half-brother, Robert Sugden, as he has video footage confirming this.
Yet rather than giving the police the video, he has forced Victoria to persuade Moira, who is wrongly facing two murder charges, to sign the farm off to him.
And now faced with constant reminders in the village of the upset she has caused; Victoria starts to contemplate this week whether to start a new life afresh or hand herself in to the police and pay the consequences for what she did.
In an exclusive interview the actress, 32, who lives in Manchester with her husband Adam, told The Sun: “Victoria is ready to lay on her sword.
“She has killed John and she is bogged down with so much guilt – especially as Moira has been like a mother figure towards her. She is in a total mess.
“Does she go away and start a new life or does she do the honourable thing and turn herself in?
“I am not going to spoil what happens but Victoria will definitely be leaving the soap – that’s because I am having a baby in real life!”
The star is expecting her first baby with husband Adam WhiteheadCredit: Splash
The couple announced the happy news just months after they marriedCredit: Instagram
Isabel, who discovered she was pregnant shortly after tying the knot with Adam, a teacher, in April 2025, admits she can’t wait to embrace her own next chapter.
“I thought I would be really emotional when I filmed my final scenes,” she explains.
“Emmerdale is all I have ever known. But pregnancy does funny things to you and the truth is I felt ready not to have to film on Emmerdale!
“I live in Manchester and I’ve been driving over to Leeds to film. By the end, I felt exhausted and I knew it was time to have a rest before the baby arrives.”
Isabel filmed her final scenes in December and says she has been taking care of herself ever since.
She adds: “It suddenly feels very real now. I am so excited about becoming a mum for the first time and this will be, by far and away, my biggest role I’ve ever had.
“Adam is going to be a great dad. He pours his heart into everything he does and we both feel so lucky to be having a child.”
Aside from a few first weeks feeling sick, Isabel says she has thankfully felt well.
“I felt sick early on but that was it,” she says. “Mind you, I have had every craving! At the minute, I am craving mashed potato!”
Isabel has been in the soap since she was 12 years oldCredit: Handout
She’s grown up on set but after 20 years she’s ready to tackle a new challenge – motherhoodCredit: Handout
Isabel and Adam chose to not find out whether they are having a boy or a girl.
“I keep talking about it with Adam,” she confides. “I think I keep annoying him as I keep asking what he thinks it will be. He points out we could have found out! But it’s nice to find out when I give birth.”
A gym lover, she has also been making sure she has continued to exercise.
“I am pleased I have been able to keep it up,” she says. “It’s part of my life and it’s my medicine. I like exercising.”
The door is being firmly left open for Isabel to return – much to her relief.
“They told me it was up to me when I come back to the soap, which is lovely,” says Isabel. “I’ve been in Emmerdale for 19 years and it’s been a huge part of my life. Everyone has been so nice.”
Ryan Hawley, who plays half-brother Robert, and , who plays Aaron Dingle, have been brilliant.
“Ryan is a father, so is Danny, and they have been so sweet,” says Isabel.
“They have really spoilt me, making sure I have somewhere to sit down in between scenes.
“I remember once I’d missed breakfast and Danny went to the canteen to get me toast. They are always getting me snacks and both have been really caring.
“They are like my two naughty brothers as they also have a great sense of humour!”
Isabel is very fond of her co-stars Ryan Hawley and Danny MillerCredit: ITV
She also praised actor Oliver Farnworth who played serial killer John SugdenCredit: ITV
Laughing, she jokes how her departure will mean less retakes. “They have asked me on occasions to stand another way because you could see my bump.”
The actress is also relieved her own life is not nearly as dramatic as the character she plays, admitting: “My life is very boring by comparison. But I love it.”
Isabel was twelve when she joined the soap. By her own admission, she had a lot to learn.
“I didn’t have a clue,” she admits. “I knew nothing and I had to learn on the job but what I have learnt over time is that everyone at Emmerdale has an incredible work ethic. Everyone works so hard.”
From a hole in her heart to being raped and then bravely choosing to have her son Harry, now six, she feels lucky to have been handed so many big storylines over the past two decades.
Now as she turns out to be the person who has killed evil John, she is proud to have also played such a big part in Corriedale – even if she didn’t watch it live at home.
“It was on ridiculously late for me,” she chuckles.
“I’ve been going to bed at 7pm but I watched it the next day. It was the second time I’d seen the episode though as I attended the Corriedale screening too.
“The traction it gained was great and it really did affirm the place soaps have in the nation’s hearts.”
She has enjoyed working with Oliver Farnworth, who played John. “He is the dreamiest actor ever,” she says.
“It was great working with him and I didn’t want to be the person that killed him but he told me: ‘I wouldn’t want to be killed by anyone else’. That broke my heart as he was so lovely about it all.”
Now as Isabel makes her final baby preparations, she is understandably excited. “I am in my own baby bubble now,” she says.
“I will be back in time but now it’s time to be with my baby and Adam. We can’t wait to be parents.”
Emmerdale airs every weekday at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1. Episodes can be downloaded at 7am on .
Victoria’s exit comes as she is being blackmailed by Joe TateCredit: ITV
Victoria is forced to get Moira to sign the farm over to the Tates
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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