Emmerdale legend 'gone for good' fans predict after 16 years as she 'disappears'

Emmerdale enthusiasts are expressing concern over the potential exit of a cherished character from the ITV soap.

Leyla Harding, portrayed by Roxy Shahidi, has been a fixture in the Dales since her arrival in 2008. Her tenure has been marked by a mix of intense storylines and comedic turns.

From drug addiction to tumultuous love affairs, her stint has not been short of drama. Last year she was involved in a dramatic shooting by the notorious Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu).

But recently, fans have been alarmed by Leyla's conspicuous absence from the screen.

With a plethora of plots unfolding lately, such as Belle Dingle's (Eden Taylor-Draper) ordeal and Will Taylor's (Dean Andrews) blackmail saga, Leyla's lack of presence has not gone unnoticed. Concerned viewers took to an Emmerdale Facebook fan page to voice their fears.

One fan remarked: "Wonder where Leyla is it's about time she had a new storyline a happy romance for a change.", reports Leeds Live.

Another shared their apprehension: "I was thinking this too, hope she's not gone for good."

A third bluntly hoped for her departure: "Gone I hope! " While another added: "OMG no can't stand the character at all, haven't missed her one bit."

Speculation abounds, with one suggesting: "She might have moved to be closer to David or Jacob." And yet another simply asked: "Where is LEYLA???"

Earlier this year, Roxy Shahidi, known for her role as Leyla in Emmerdale, joined the star-studded line-up of ITV's Dancing on Ice. Paired with Sylvain Longchambon, she was the fourth contestant to leave the competition.

In addition, over the summer, Roxy featured in ITV's reality show Drama Queens, which offered a glimpse into the lives of various soap stars from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm