Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins has confirmed that her character Victoria Sugden will return to the ITV soap after an abrupt exit earlier this year. Victoria fled the village following the accidental killing of her brother John Sugden and being exposed by Joe Tate. In real life, Hodgins went on maternity leave and has since welcomed her first child.
Isabel Hodgins Discusses Return Timeline
Speaking on co-star Danny Miller's podcast You Don't Know You're Born with Nigel Clucas, Hodgins revealed that she has not been forced by bosses to give a definite decision on her return. She shared: "I will need to find a way to manage that. For 20 years, work has been my priority. To be honest, I still don't know when I'm going back. In my ideal world, it would be September. And then it's all systems go. [That's when] it really starts with the juggling and potential mum guilt, and whatever."
Hodgins added of Emmerdale's bosses: "It was very much at my discretion how much [time] I wanted off." Victoria told her brother Robert Sugden that she and her son Harry would return when she departed.
New Sugden Family Member Arrives
In Victoria's absence, the Sugden family is expanding. West End star Casey Al-Shaqsy will join the cast as Serena Sugden, debuting in a matter of days. Her exact link to the family remains unclear, with some spoilers suggesting she is Robert's cousin and others linking her to Sarah Sugden.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw teased: "The Sugdens are a core part of the Emmerdale fabric, and we are thrilled to welcome Casey to the family. Her character will be at the heart of some extremely gripping and unexpected storylines, forcing her to make difficult choices that will have dramatic consequences for some of the village's biggest names."
Casey shared her excitement: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining such an iconic show and playing a Sugden! Serena is a fantastic character with so much going on beneath the surface. I can't wait for the audience to see the drama unfold."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
