Emmerdale have filmed an epic stunt that will see three favourites fighting for their lives – ‘sealing’ Leyla

Harding’s (Roxy Shahidi) exit after 16 years.

In October it was reported that the much-loved character character, who made her arrival way back in

2008, was being written out of the soap.

Leyla is mum to Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) and the ex-wife of Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) – and has seen a fair share of dramatic stories during her stint, so it’s only appropriate that she bows out in style!

The news of Shahidi’s departure came after a stellar year in her career, which saw her take part in Dancing on Ice and ITVBe’s fly-on-the-wall reality series Drama Queens.

Last week, close to the soap’s impressive purpose-built village set in Harewood, near Leeds, cast and crew braved the cold weather as they plunged a car into an icy lake.

According to The Sun, production staff covered a field in candle wax to replicate the frozen surface of the water.

‘The bosses want viewers to have their hearts in their mouths when they see the car career off the road and into the water’ a source told the publication.

‘It’s a nightmare scenario and everything was done to make sure this was a scene with real impact.

‘Hours were spent creating a layer of ice, then the actors spent hours out on the frozen field in the pitch black trying to do the storyline justice.

‘It will be a real heartstopper moment when it airs in January.’

We also know that Lesley Dunlop’s Brenda Walker is departing the Dales soon, could she be involved in the horrific incident?

Last month we exclusively shared pictures of a freshly dug grave on the set.

Posting in an Facebook fan group for the show, one viewer of the ITV soap shared a variety of snaps taken on a set tour. She took pictures of the iconic Woolpack, Mill Cottage…and a hole in the ground!

She wrote alongside the snaps: ‘Did the Emmerdale tour on Saturday and we got to meet the gorgeous Billy (Jay Kontzle). We flew in from Dublin first flight in last flight out it was great. Also, there was a fresh GRAVE!!! See pics.

‘I told Billy it better not be his grave and he said no but I am in that story line! – any guesses?????.’

Could the events be connected?