Isabel Hodgins, who has played Victoria Sugden since 2006, is preparing to step away from Emmerdale as she begins maternity leave. The actress, glowing as she attended the Cure Usher Ball alongside her co-stars, admitted the thought of leaving the soap temporarily feels surreal: “The idea of not being [at Emmerdale] while I’m on maternity leave, that’s crazy!”
A Big Year for Isabel
It has already been a milestone year for the 31-year-old, who married partner Adam Whitehead just months before announcing her pregnancy. Now, with a new chapter on the horizon, Hodgins is preparing to juggle personal joy with Victoria’s dramatic onscreen departure.
Victoria’s Exit Still a Mystery
Despite her impending leave, Hodgins confessed she doesn’t yet know how Victoria will exit the village: “It’s still a surprise. They’re still cooking something up and we’ll see!”
What viewers do know is that Victoria will once again be drawn into the middle of chaos as her brother Robert Sugden becomes the focus of a shocking storyline.
Robert Confronted by His Past
Upcoming episodes will see Robert blindsided when a man from his prison days turns up at his doorstep. Desperate to avoid the watchful eyes of the village, Robert ushers him inside. But the tension escalates when Victoria walks in and finds her brother holding hands with the mysterious visitor.
Suspicion rises, and Robert scrambles to get rid of him—while Victoria is left wondering what her brother is hiding.
“It’s a great twist to the story,” Hodgins teased. “It’s a great character. I’ve really enjoyed working with them, and the audience are going to be in for a ride!”
Raising Awareness Beyond the Screen
Away from the soap, Hodgins joined castmates Mark Jordon and Laura Norton at the Cure Usher Ball, a fundraising event to support research into Usher syndrome—a rare genetic condition that affects hearing, vision, and balance. The cause is deeply personal to Jordon and Norton, whose children, Jesse and Ronnie, were both diagnosed.
The event was filled with support from Emmerdale stars, showing once again how tightly knit the cast remains beyond the screen.
What Comes Next
Victoria’s future remains uncertain, Robert’s past is about to explode, and John Sugden’s shadow still looms over the family. For fans, Hodgins’ exit won’t be quiet—it will be a turning point in the Sugden saga.
