Isabel Hodgins Returns to Emmerdale as Victoria Sugden
Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins has confirmed she is returning to the ITV soap as Victoria Sugden, much sooner than fans anticipated. The actress, who took maternity leave earlier this year, posted photos on Instagram showing herself at the Emmerdale village set with her baby daughter Georgia.
Victoria's Dramatic Exit
Victoria left the Dales in February after a deadly confrontation with her serial killer half-brother John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). She killed him in self-defence with his own syringe, then tried to make it look like a suicide and fled the scene. The truth was uncovered by Joe Tate (Ned Porteous), who blackmailed Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) into framing Moira Dingle. Wrestling with guilt, Victoria took her son Harry and fled to Portugal to stay with former stepmother Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen).
Maternity Leave and Return Tease
Isabel Hodgins announced her maternity leave after almost two decades on the show. 'I will miss it. I love the people there, but I've worked there for 19 years, so I feel like I've done what I've wanted to do and been selfish with my career. Now, it's time to devote my life to being a mum, that feels right to me,' she said. She gave birth to her first child, Georgia, with husband Adam Whitehead in February.
Her Instagram post included photos with the Emmerdale sign and a video of her pushing Georgia around the village, showing her the church, the garage, and the grave of her on-screen father Jack Sugden. Adam also rode the roundabout in the village playground. 'For the first time, I got to show Georgie (and Adam) around the village that's been such a huge part of my life. I've been lucky enough to call this place work since I was 12 years old, so sharing it with my little family meant so much. GG's verdict? She'd quite happily move in,' Isabel wrote.
Fan and Co-Star Reactions
Fans quickly reacted with excitement. One user said: 'Are you going to be back on our screens very soon?' Another shared: 'Come back!' A third added: 'Already? Wow! Fantastic news.' Co-star Chris Coghill, who plays newcomer Kev Townsend, joked: 'Just so you know, I've alerted security.'
Cast Shake-Up and New Dynamics
Isabel's return comes amid a major cast shake-up, including the exit of Jack Downham (Noah Tate) after 17 years, and departures of Jimmy King (Nick Miles), Olivia Bromley (Dawn Taylor), Bradley Johnson (Vinnie Dingle), and Caroline Harker (Doctor Todd). Victoria's return may stir trouble with new Sugden clan member Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy), who showed interest in John Sugden and was recently revealed to be a police officer.
