Emmerdale actress Gemma Atkinson has addressed rumours she’s leaving the soap for new opportunities – including pursuing a Bollywood career.
Gemma took on a co-hosting gig at Key 103 Manchester’s breakfast show at the beginning of February, but denied reports she was leaving her role as Emmerdale’s Carly Hope.
Speaking to Manchester Evening news at the time of the announcement alongside her new co-hosts Matt Haslam and Mike Toolan, she revealed she would juggle both jobs in a feat of good forward planning and commitment.
“It will mean lots of coffee, and lots of the M62, but I can’t wait.
“Emmerdale have been great, and I feel really fortunate to be able to combine both.
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead!”
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But now reports have suggested she’s definitely set to quit the soap so she can focus on her radio presenting job as well as her budding Bollywood career.
Gemma made her Bollywood debut in suspense thriller Fever, last year, and it seems like she might have been bitten by the bug.
While Emmerdale have yet to comment on the news, a source at the show told The Sun:
“Gemma has loved her time at Emmerdale, and she isn’t saying it’s for good, but she’s taking an extended break to focus on other avenues.”
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However, Gemma took to the airwaves this morning to clarify exactly what is going on.
“We’re not supposed to discuss contracts, but in this case, I will,” The Manchester Evening News reports she told her co-hosts.
“I’ve just renegotiated a contract with the Dales to make sure I can do that and this so I’m doing both.
“I’m not going anywhere for a while.”
So she’s definitely going to be on our screens for “a while” at least, but what does that mean?
Could she be leaving at some point in the near future? And what would that mean for the future of Carly and Marlon?