Emmerdale viewers have been left baffled by actress Paula Lane’s disappearance from the ITV soap.
Paula, 38, found fame as Kylie Platt in Coronation Street before crossing the pennines to play Ella Forster in January last year.
After a huge storyline – but just 82 episodes (to date) – she set to depart the serial in the coming weeks.
She did not appear at all during December, and was last seen on January 16th.
On Paula’s acting Spotlight page, a brief description reads: ‘Currently appearing as series regular Ella in Emmerdale ITV filming until February 2025.’
Ella was introduced with an air of mystery, with nobody quite guessing correctly what it was she was hiding.
She developed a connection with Liam when the pair began working together in the GP surgery, though any chances of a relationship were blown apart when her secret was revealed.
She would regularly visit a lady called June in a care home, who turned out to be the mother of a girl that Ella killed when she was a child.
More recently, Wendy Posner (Susan Cookson) exposed her past in a tell-all with the Hotten Courier.
Now, fans are speculating that she could have already filmed her final scenes, and will have somewhat of a lowkey exit.
On social media, one pondered: ‘Know the actress quit suddenly, she’s not mentioned in the spoilers. Is she gone already?
‘Did she leave when Wendy ratted her out?’
‘I feel bad for Paula Lane. Apart from that one episode where her secret was revealed, they really gave her NOTHING to work with’ said another.
A third fan continued: ‘She’s really good it’s a shame they didn’t use her much.’
This definitely isn’t the last we’ve seen of her – as the star recently posted a behind the scenes picture on her Instagram, confirming she had a ‘busy’ week of filming ahead.
In another picture, Paula is stood beside Lisa Riley, who plays Ella’s friend Mandy Dingle. The pair were dressed in ITV dry robes to try and combat the cold weather.
Just how Ella will leave the village remains under wraps, but she has been ruled out as one of the victims in the upcoming ice lake stunt.
Discussing what’s ahead with this exciting stunt, producer Laura Shaw said: ‘With winter nights having drawn in, our audience are enjoying cosy nights indoors whilst our fantastic team at Emmerdale have been recording gripping drama to bring to their screens.
‘The stunning backdrop of the village, from its rugged woodland to its wilder landscapes, set the perfect stage for what’s to come.
‘I’m thrilled for our audience to experience these episodes as they unfold, taking them on a chilling—quite literally—and perilous journey across the frozen ice.’
