Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper has shared a brief message after it was revealed that co-star Michael Wildman had bowed out of the ITV soap. The Al Chapman actor was seen lying lifeless after being shot following a final confrontation with long-standing enemy Cain Dingle.
Cain lured Al to a barn after discovering his affair with his sister, Chas. The Emmerdale favourite, played by Jeff Hordley, appeared suspicious of why his nephew, Aaron, was making a swift exit from the village despite laying his little sister, Liv, to rest just hours earlier.
But while in the back of the Woolpack during his mother, Faith's, wake, Cain discovered the truth about Chas and Al when he found Chas' secret phone ringing. Finding the device, he found text exchanges between the pair, confirming their affair behind Kerry and Paddy's backs and as he called the number, he heard Al's voice on the other end.
Thinking his was meeting with Chas, Al ended up being confronted by Cain with a shotgun. Words were exchanged between the pair before a scuffle broke out. There was a struggle between Al and Cain for the gun before a shot rang out. And during Tuesday night's trip to the Dales (November 1), it was revealed that Al was the one who was fatally shot.
As he appeared to be trying to cover up the crime, Cain was caught by Kerry who had heard the shot while walking nearby with Chloe Harris who she was trying to convince to stay in the village after revealing she is her real mum. And she was shocked to find her partner dead on the ground before Cain fled the scene.
Before he ran, he told her: "It's not what it looks like," as Kerry screamed at daughter Chloe to call the police and an ambulance. Cain was then frantically seen at home waiting for the police to arrive and saying his goodbyes to his wife Moira and his young kids, before armed police descended on the house and arrested him on suspicion of murder.
Later, Emmerdale viewers saw him being charged after Kerry gave the police a damning statement about the pair's long-standing feud. Taking to social media following the scenes, a video was posted on Emmerdale's official channels of Michael saying goodbye to viewers.
"The time has come for Al Chapman to move on," the soap star said in the video. "I just want to say a big thank you to all the fans. All you guys out there that have made this possible for me to play. I've enjoyed every single moment of playing this mischievous, complex character. Thank you to the 95% of you that absolutely hate him and the 5% of you that actually love him."
He added: "It's been a great time, my three years here. It's gone very, very quickly. But we've got into a good amount of mischief, so I'm happy with that. I've worked with some amazing people here and I will cherish them 100%."
Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle in the ITV soap, was quick to respond: "One of life’s true good guys playing one of the show’s great bad guys. Loved every minute of working with #MichaelWildman An absolute gent." While Eden, who stars as Cain's half-sister Belle in Emmerdale, replied: "My favourite man."
Sam Dingle star James Hooton commented: "So long to the coolest man in @emmerdale A great villain on the show and a true gentleman in real life." Billy Fletcher actor Jay Kontzle also added: "Miss you already Michael!"
Michael has also revealed he had a "lump in his throat" on his final day of filming but the actor said he had agreed with the soap's bosses that it was the right time for Al to go. "I've never been under any misconceptions about playing a villain in a soap," he told the Mirror.
"There is a passage of time and over the last year I felt things were coming to a head because there was less reason for him to be there. His son Ellis had gone and so when our executive producer rang me to say 'we are thinking of letting Al go', I told her 'I am with you – so long as Al doesn’t leave in a taxi'.
"I wanted Al to go out with a bang, and last night he most definitely did. I am so pleased. It's been brilliant to be part of the 50th celebrations and it’s a great time to die. I've died three or four times with different characters I've played over the years. But the difference is this is a character who I have given life to for some time. Al is much dearer to me than other characters I’ve said goodbye to."
He added: "I did have a lump in my throat when I finished filming because I’ve made some amazing friends with the cast and crew. You share so much together – like having babies, losing loved ones – and I feel like I've made a new family. A job like Emmerdale will always stay with you."
READ NEXT:
- Sobbing ITV Emmerdale fans praise moving moment before asking questions over funeral scenes
- Real life of ITV Emmerdale's Tracy Metcalfe actress Amy Walsh - famous sisters, heartache and 'twist of fate' that led to engagement and baby with soap star partner
- ITV Coronation Street fans work out Laurence's wedding riddle as Todd shares discovery with Sean
- ITV Coronation Street fans to see John Stape 'return' in scare with Hope set to do something 'awful'
- ITV Corrie star unrecognisable with blonde locks and in dazzling mini dress as he signs up to drag show
