Emmerdale star Caroline Harker — who plays the Dales’ evil Dr Caitlin Todd — is leaving the ITV show.
The actress, 59, has played the role since last year but she is now moving on from the soap.
Viewers have seen Dr Todd bullying and tormenting Jacob Gallagher at work, and she’s even been blackmailing Charity Dingle.
And if that weren’t enough, bosses have revealed she’ll be getting up to even more foul deeds.
It includes her sexually assaulting Charity in a hard-hitting storyline which is set to play out later this year.
A source said: “Caroline has loved her time at Emmerdale but it’s time to move on.
“She always knew playing such an evil character came with a shelf life but she’s leaving with many fond memories.”
Caroline’s exit comes after a trio of stars have been axed following the brutal ITV budget cuts.
Olivia Bromley, Nick Miles and Bradley Johnson will all be leaving later this year.
But it’s not clear yet exactly when Caroline, who is probably best remembered for playing WPC Hazel Wallace opposite David Jason in crime series A Touch of Frost, will film her last scenes, or when they’ll be broadcast.
The source added: “Caroline only came in on a short term contract, and knew she would never stay long-term.
That’s the sad situation at the moment, with all the cuts people are rarely getting long contracts anymore. There just isn’t the money.”
Emmerdale were approached for comment.
