Leading Emmerdale star leaving after 8 years with explosive exit plann

Dawn in the Emmerdale village
Dawn Taylor’s exit looms (Picture: ITV)

Emmerdale’s Olivia Bromley is leaving the ITV soap after 8 years.

The actress, who is 30, joined the cast as Dawn Taylor in 2018.

Dawn has managed to change her life completely in the eight years she’s been in the Emmerdale village. When we first met her, Dawn was struggling with a drug addiction, which impacted her attempt at being mum to young Lucas.

The character got a taste of how the other half live when her dad Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) started seeing Kim Tate (Claire King). Dawn moved into Home Farm and spent quite a few years living there happily with husband Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) and their children Lucas, Clemmie and baby Evan.

Everything changed for Dawn when Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) returned to Home Farm. She began an affair with the troublesome character, which eventually saw her end her marriage to Billy, believing that choosing Joe was the right option.

Olivia Bromley
Olivia Bromley is a hugely loved cast member (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Dawn is continuing to live at Home Farm with Joe, and recently decided that she’s ready to try and have a baby with him. The character currently remains unaware that Joe was responsible for destroying Holly Barton’s memorial a couple of days ago. Dawn told Joe that if it was him, she couldn’t continue their relationship.

Dawn’s life with the Tates looks set to fall apart soon, as actress Olivia Bromley is leaving the show.

Metro understands that a final explosive story will play out for Dawn in the summer, with Olivia still currently filming.

When approached, an ITV spokesperson told Metro that they don’t comment on cast contracts.

Dawn speaks to a police officer in Emmerdale
Dawn Taylor has changed her life around since arriving in the village (Picture: ITV)

‘Olivia is adored by everyone at Emmerdale so the decision to axe her has not gone down well at all’, a source told The Sun.

‘She’s a popular member of the cast and if they can get rid of Olivia then the feeling is virtually no-one is safe. Olivia understood their decision and is preparing to film her exit in the coming months.’

Earlier this year, it was revealed that both Emmerdale and Coronation Street will be reducing the amount of screen time some actors have.

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The Sun previously reported that the stars of both soaps faced ‘harsh changes to their contracts’ due to ITV ‘drastically reducing the number of guaranteed episodes offered to its actors’.

A soap insider spilled: ‘The way things are being handled by ITV bosses is appalling, and some big stars are talking about walking away altogether.

Dawn speaks to Joe in Home Farm in Emmerdale
Dawn ended her marriage with Billy to be with Joe (Picture: ITV)

‘They are completely fed up’ the insider added.

A further source provided additional information: ‘Many feel ITV is bending the rules for some favoured stars, quietly assuring them they will be looked after, while others are being hung out to dry and are prepared to walk if necessary.

‘It’s a total mess – a mixture of anger towards bosses and now jealousy and irritation among the castmates themselves because it’s such an uneven playing field.’

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