EMMERDALE’S Roxy Shahidi has revealed how a behind-the-scenes illness almost derailed Leyla Harding’s death.

On Wednesday night, Emmerdale viewers were left in bits after Leyla died following the epic limo crash into a frozen lake.

She became the second victim of the week after Suzy Merton also passed away.

And the grim reaper wasn’t finished with the villagers as in tonight’s episode, a third character was killed off.

The cast filmed the epic stunt week over a number of night shoots, but Roxy, 41, has revealed how she became ill and was forced to miss filming.

In her only interview, Roxy told The Sun how a virus wiped her out.

She said: “We filmed the crash at night and unfortunately I was ill for four days.

“I’d only ever had one day off in the 16 years I had been there, and I was worried this would cause a big issue. But our producer, Laura Shaw, was amazing.”

The actress revealed she was initially stunned to learn last summer that Leyla would be killed off.

And when it came to filming her final scenes with on-screen son Jacob – played by Joe Warren-Plant – she struggled to keep it together.

Roxy said: “My exit was really explosive and my scenes with Joe-Warren Plant were brutal.

“I have watched Joe grow up on the soap and, when we were filming these scenes, I would see him have a little wobble. And then I would go.

“We were awful because we were just constantly crying! It really worked well for Joe with his scenes.

“But at one point, I was supposed to be dead and I had tears streaming down my eyes. I was a weeping corpse.”

While Roxy is sad to be leaving Emmerdale, once the news of Leyla’s death sunk in, she agreed it was the right move.

She explained: “Of course it’s sad to see my character die, and I have loved playing Leyla because she is so funny, camp and a brilliant character.

“But at the same time, if I had left it another five years, I might not have felt as excited as I do now.

“I have had a long time to process everything and I am looking forward to my next chapter.”