The New Year could bring a change in Emmerdale with a number of characters on a path that could see them leaving the soap during 2022.
While some might be driven by personal circumstances, other characters could find themselves out of the soap due their life in the show reaching the end.
While there has been no confirmation about who will be leaving during 2022, there are some that could be taking an enforced time out and might not be seen our screens as much next year.
Here is a look at who could be leaving the Yorkshire village in the coming months.
Amy Walsh - Tracy Metcalfe
The one certainty when it comes to characters leaving in 2022 is that there will be some time without Tracy Metcalfe in the soap.
Actress Amy Walsh revealed in September that she is pregnant with her boyfriend, EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith, and thought that she might have her hands full by the end of the year.
Speaking on Loose Women, Amy said: "It could be a Christmas baby. But my grandma was and she really hated it."
Michael Wildman - Al Chapman
Al Chapman is someone who is racking up the enemies in the village with everyone from Cain Dingle to Paddy Kirk via Marlon having an eye on his antics.
With rumours that there are a number of people ready to take Al done, especially after the explosion which caused substantial damage to The Woolpack over Christmas, he could do well to last the year out as the vultures circle.
Matthew Wolfenden - David Metcalfe
Matthew is on an enforced break from the soap as allegations cited in a race row are being investigated by ITV bosses.
Actor Aaron Anthony, who plays Ellis Chapman, reportedly quit after being left furious over the alleged behaviour against one of his cast members.
Matthew's character David Metcalfe was suddenly written out of after nearly being killed in the rapids during explosive episodes in October.
Matthew has since seen his wife Charley Webb, who has played Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale for the past 19 years, reportedly quit amid the race row fallout.
Whether Matthew returns will no doubt hinge on the outcome of the investigation, with the actor categorically denying all the allegations of wrongdoing.
Isabel Hodgins - Victoria Barton
Matthew's co-star Isabel Hodgins, who plays David's love interest Victoria Barton, was also written out of the soap after the allegations made in the race row.
In November, it emerged that Matthew and Isabel became embroiled in claims that a mixed race actress' accent was mimicked.
An ITV spokesperson told The Mirror at the time: "While we would never comment on individual cases, Emmerdale has robust policies in place to deal with any allegations brought to our attention and take the appropriate steps."
Isabel has also denied any allegations of wrongdoing but her future on the soap hinges on the investigation currently being undertaken.
Paige Sandhu - Meena Jutla
All good serial killers must come to an end in soapland and Meena must find herself on an increasingly dwindling timescale in Emmerdale.
So far she has 'taken care' of those who work out what she has done but sister Manpreet might be a different challenge.
While soaps like to have a serial killer on the loose, they also make sure they come to a sticky end themselves and whether Meena can make it to 2023 is sure long odds.
Rebecca Sarker - Manpreet Sharma
No-one who has rumbled the dark secrets of Meena have lived to tell the tale, let alone raise the suspicions of authority.
With Manpreet in the deadly clutches of her serial killer sister, there could be a good bet that she might be an early departure from Emmerdale, with Meena not showing much mercy in the past.
Will the fact that blood is thicker than water ultimately save Manpreet or whether Meena is so stone cold it becomes irrelevant, only time will tell.
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