Emmerdale’s Paula Lane has confirmed she has a busy week of filming ahead, as her departure from the show nears ever closer.

Paula’s character Ella Forster arrived in the village at the start of last year. After beginning a new job at the local surgery, Ella started dating Doctor Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).

As time ticked on, however, it became increasingly clear that Ella was hiding something from her new friends.

She was seen visiting a care home to see a lady called June, but failed to tell Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) about their connection.

It was attending June’s funeral that saw Ella’s past exposed in front of Liam. Viewers of the ITV soap discovered when Ella was a child, she killed her best friend – June’s daughter – in a state of rage.

After spending time behind bars, Ella was never able to live comfortably anywhere. She would attempt to settle down, only for residents in the area to discover her secret, and then she’d be forced to leave.

Before 2024 ended, Paula Lane’s departure from the show was reported. It was said she’d film as Ella until February and recently, the star posted a behind the scenes picture at Emmerdale on her Instagram, confirming she has a ‘busy’ week of filming ahead.

Oh, and Ella’s also got herself some new boots!

Just how Ella will leave the village remains to be seen right now, but we do know she won’t be one of the victims in the upcoming ice lake stunt.

In another picture on her Instagram posted a few days ago, Paula is stood beside Lisa Riley, who plays Ella’s friend Mandy Dingle. They are both wearing ITV robes and because of how far in advance they film, it more or less suggests she isn’t leaving in the coming weeks.

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.’