Emma Atkins, who plays the role of Charity Dingle, confirms pregnancy rumors followed by her exit at "Emmardale" as her character was convicted and will spend two years in jail for insurance fraud on Tuesday's episode, Daily Mail reports.
Emma, who is eight months pregnant, announced her temporary exit on the show in a video posted at the ITV website.
"I think some viewers will be delighted at what they have seen. The possibility of these two people and what might be when she eventually comes out of prison," Atkins said.
"I am leaving. Probably for about a year because I'm leaving to have a baby which is really exciting. I will miss Emmerdale so much but it is a new little journey in my life that I'm taking on now. Argh! I can't wait to come back - hopefully within a year," she adds confirming then news.
Speaking about her character's future, she added: "I would love to think that prison would really change Charity in some respects and teach her a really good lesson. I'd love to think that prison would straighten her out in a moral sense."
According to the Mirror the 39-year-old mum-to-be has kept her pregnancy a secret from everyone outside the show.
"No one has guessed she's pregnant so didn't see Charity's prison sentence coming. Everyone assumed she would get away with it like she has so many times in the past," a source from "Emmerdale" told The Sun.
"But the fact that Emma is pregnant gave the writers a perfect opportunity to finally punish Charity. She's going to be rotting in jail for at least a year."
Meanwhile, Emmerdale co-star took to Twitter to congratulate Atkins.
"Finally-everyone knows Emma is leaving to have a baby. Can't wait to be an 'Aunty' again. Emmerdale will miss 'Charity' but she'll be back!" @MissCharleyWebb
