Emotional Emmerdale fans said goodbye to stalwart Elizabeth Estensen who has left the ITV soap after two decades.
The actress, who has been dubbed an “icon” after playing Diane Sugden for 22 years, has tonight left the much-loved soap.
Elizabeth, 72, was involved in some of the show’s major storylines, she had a memorable marriage to Jack Sugen and was landlady of The Woodpack.
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She revealed she wouldn’t be retiring from acting as a whole but would continue to work earlier this year.
Speaking to The Mirror she said: “I’m not retiring from acting altogether, I simply want to keep working if I can.
“People of my age that are greyhaired aren’t heavily featured in things anymore. But I’d like to keep on working.”
Fans took to social media to declare the show “isn’t going to be the same”.
One person said: “#elizabethestensen @emmerdale A fitting farewell for Diane; she sorted out Kim and it was good to see the two of them bonding. Have an enjoyable retirement Elizabeth, but I hope that you still continue acting! You will be missed.”
A second said: “Aww that was sad @emmerdale Diane was an amazing character one of my favourites and Elizabeth Estensen is a fantastic actress another soap icon leaving the show!!”
A third said: “Emmerdale isn’t going be the same with Diane gonna miss her.”
A fourth added: “An emotional #Emmerdale and lovely farewell to Diane, with all those who meant so much to her there and the way she took on Kim Tate. Elizabeth Estensen has given us a character that is part of the very fabric of this show over the years. An end of an era.”
A fifth said: "Diane was in the very first episode of #Emmerdale I ever watched. One of my most-favourite soap characters. I’m not ready to say goodbye."
