Emmerdale viewers fear icon has 'gone for good' after 16 years as she goes 'missing'

Emmerdale enthusiasts are expressing concern over the potential departure of a much-loved character from the ITV series.

Leyla Harding, portrayed by Roxy Shahidi, has been a fixture in the Dales since her arrival in 2008, captivating audiences with a mix of intense storylines and light-hearted moments.

Her journey has seen her grapple with addiction and engage in tumultuous love affairs, ensuring that Leyla's life is never devoid of excitement. Notably, she became a victim of the infamous Meena Jutla (played by Paige Sandhu), who shot her earlier this year.

But recently, fans have grown anxious as Leyla seems to be conspicuously absent from the show. With Emmerdale currently exploring various plots, including Belle Dingle's (Eden Taylor-Draper) ordeal and Will Taylor's (Dean Andrews) blackmail saga, Leyla's absence has not gone unnoticed, reports Leeds Live.

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Devotees of the soap have taken to an Emmerdale Facebook fan group to voice their concerns. One member speculated: "Wonder where Leyla is it's about time she had a new storyline a happy romance for a change."

Another shared similar sentiments: "I was thinking this too, hope she's not gone for good." Meanwhile, a third bluntly hoped: "Gone I hope! " Contrasting opinions emerged as another commented: "OMG no can't stand the character at all, haven't missed her one bit.."

Speculations abound, with a fifth fan suggesting: "She might have moved to be closer to David or Jacob." While another simply asked: "Where is LEYLA???" Earlier this year, Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi, who plays Leyla, was among the celebrities who participated in ITV's Dancing on Ice. She was paired with Sylvain Longchambon and was the fourth contestant to be voted off.

Additionally, over the summer, Roxy appeared in the ITV reality show Drama Queens, which gave viewers a glimpse into the lives of several soap stars from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm