Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa Woodfield, has broken her silence on the death of her on-screen girlfriend, calling it “heartbreaking”.

Vanessa’s girlfriend Suzy Merton died from a head injury after her limousine crashed into an icy lake during Monday’s episode.

Speaking to and other press, Hardwick opened up about the episode, describing scenes where Vanessa has to leave Suzy behind in the limo as “horrific”.

Hardwick said: “It was so heartbreaking. It was horrific. It was so upsetting to do. Obviously it was Martelle [Edinborough]’s last few days filming as well. It was really hard, really upsetting.”

Asked what it was like to film such emotional scenes, Hardwick said: “It was one o’clock in the morning when they get Suzy out of the limo and it was heartbreaking to film. It was really, really sad.

“I think because it’s in the middle of the night in December and your emotions are heightened anyway, there was one point where I just broke down in tears off camera, because it all got quite a lot, actually.

“It was really emotional but it was bittersweet because it was one of the best things I’ve ever filmed in my career because it was like being on a Hollywood film set. I can’t stress that enough, it was unbelievable.”

Prior to the crash, Suzy was having doubts about the relationship, a fact Hardwick said Vanessa was unaware of as her character was planning their future together.

Speaking about how Vanessa would feel if she learned that Suzy wasn’t as committed to the relationship, Hardwick said: “I think she would be absolutely heartbroken, but she probably wouldn’t believe it. She’d be so heartbroken if she found that out, because Vanessa always puts 100% into everything she does. It would break her heart.”