Bradley Johnson has officially confirmed he is leaving ITV soap Emmerdale after seven and a half years playing Vinny Dingle, with his exit storyline set to air very soon.
Speculation had been mounting for months over the actor's future in the village, particularly as Vinny has been at the centre of major drama in recent weeks. Now Johnson has ended the rumours by confirming his time on the show is coming to a close.
Emotional goodbye confirmed on This Morning
Appearing on This Morning, a mention of his 'exit storyline' caught the attention of soap expert Sharon Marshall, who was sitting alongside him. After seemingly letting the news slip, Johnson opened up about saying goodbye to the show that has been a huge part of his life.
He said: 'Seven and a half years, it's been an incredible journey. I've loved every second of it.'
Discussing the emotional goodbye after years working closely with the cast and crew, he added: 'Honestly, everyone says it's like a big family, but it really is, and you know, I've had the most incredible time with the most amazing people, all the cast and crew, directors, everyone I had the fortune to work with, incredible.'
New chapter and music plans
Johnson explained that reaching a milestone in his own life helped convince him now was the right time to make the change. He continued: 'I'm 30 next year, and I feel it's a perfect time in my life to start a new chapter, and it's daunting and scary because this industry is hard, but I'm excited to get out there and see what's next.'
He also revealed plans to turn some attention towards music, something he has previously had to put aside while concentrating on acting. He said he plans to give music 'a good go' after having 'put it on the back burner' for a while.
Vinny's fate hangs in the balance
Before Vinny says goodbye, the character is heading to court in next week's episodes. Johnson was careful not to reveal whether Vinny's legal troubles will ultimately be responsible for his departure, instead teasing several possible outcomes.
He said: 'Will they whisk him away to Ireland where the rest of them are? Will he get a long sentence? Short sentence? Will he even go to jail?'
Johnson also had warm words for Lisa Riley, who plays Vinny's on-screen mum Mandy Dingle, describing her as 'incredible' and saying she will be a 'friend for life'.
Following his This Morning appearance, he shared photos from the visit on Instagram and described having a 'lovely morning' alongside 'lovely people'. Fans reacted to the confirmation with messages of support, saying how much they will miss seeing him as Vinny.
With Vinny's court appearance looming, the full circumstances surrounding his exit remain under wraps, meaning viewers will have to tune in to discover whether he is heading for prison, leaving for a new life elsewhere, or if Emmerdale has another surprise in store.
