Emmerdale’s Duncan Preston has quit the ITV soap.
The soap star's final appearance as Doug Potts will air later this week.
He took on the role of Doug Potts in 2007, but show insiders have let slip that Duncan has already filmed his final scenes and there are "no plans" for him to return.
Emmerdale bosses have confirmed Duncan is indeed stepping down and the fact the door isn't being left open by script writers will no doubt set the rumour mill turning that a death is set to shake up the farm this week.
A source told The Sun Online: "Duncan's already filmed his final scenes at Emmerdale and fans will see Doug's exit onscreen later this week."
Doug Potts has been dogged by explosive storylines since he was introduced as the father of Laurel Thomas and Caroline Swann more than a decade ago.
Emmerdale fans have seen Doug be put the the wringer after he suffered a breakdown after his divorce from wife Hilary and was involved in an awkward STI storyline when he caught the infection from Bonnie Drinkwater.
He’s been helping Diane with her cancer diagnosis, and more recently was caught secretly smoking cannabis around the village in order to treat his back pain.
Duncan's current storyline sees him console his daughter Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy, after she received tragic news about Sandy Thomas, played by the late Freddie Jones.
Laurel has been left devastated by her father-in-law Sandy's death, who passed away off-screen earlier this month.
Fans will have to wait and see how Doug bows out of the show.
Actor Duncan has played a number of roles on the soap scene including Dennis Stokes in Cornation Street, Gerald Payne and David Cousins in Holby City, and Tommy Tanner and Don Foster in Heartbeat.
*Emmerdale continues weekdays on ITV at 7pm
