10 best exits in Emmerdale – explosive ends, grisly murders and heartbreaking goodbyes

In Emmerdale, characters come and characters go and while many have low-key departures, others are given blockbuster exits that go down in soap history.

We’ve looked back through the years and come up with the 10 best Emmerdale exits, ever.

These departures of icons range from tragic goodbyes to spectacular send-offs. So here they are, the most unforgettable farewells from the Dales…

Best Emmerdale exits: Zoe Tate

As far as Emmerdale exits go, Zoe Tate’s has to come out top for being pure dynamite.

The soap legend bowed out back in 2005 after a memorable 16 years. As the only daughter of Frank Tate, village vet Zoe broke boundaries by becoming the first lesbian character in a British soap.

She had a passionate affair with her brother’s wife Charity Dingle, and battled schizophrenia. But Zoe’s real stand out moment was her last one.

After getting off an attempted murder charge for injecting Scott Windsor with ketamine, Zoe planned to run away to New Zealand. Scott discovered her plan and held her hostage at Home Farm, threatening to take their daughter, Jean.

Zoe was able to escape his clutches, and Estate manager Callum Rennie helped her prepare a parting gift. The pair broke a gas pipe at Home Farm, to ensure maximum carnage for the incoming King family. So as the clan arrived at their new abode, a timer set off an explosion, and Zoe drove away watching in the rear-view mirror as her former home went up in flames.

Now that’s how you leave in a blaze of glory!

Carl King

Emmerdale delivered fans a shock blow when they killed off baddie Carl King in the soap’s 40th anniversary live episode.

Carl was one of the soap’s most central characters. He was best known for his toxic on/off romance with Chas Dingle and killing his own father, Tom. But more on that later.

Having got away with murder, there was always a sense Carl would get his comeuppance. And boy, did he get that.

After discovering Chas was having an affair with Cameron Murray, he blackmailed the pair. Events reached a dramatic climax on October 18, 2012 during a showdown between Carl and Chas. He attempted to rape her, and she defended herself by whacking Carl over the head with a brick.

His body was discovered the next day, and Chas feared she’d murdered him. But in fact, Carl was killed by Cameron, who delivered the fatal blow.

Carl’s final ironic words “I’m indestructible” have gone down in Emmerdale history.

Ashley Thomas

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when much-loved vicar Ashely met a tragic end in 2017. He’d been part of the soap since 1996 and fans had taken him into their hearts.

Ashley’s sad demise started in 2015 when he was diagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia after experiencing memory loss. News of his terminal condition prompted Ashley to make the most of what time he had left. He remarried his soulmate, Laurel, and they welcomed baby Dotty into their lives.

By late 2016, Ashley’s condition had begun to rapidly deteriorate and he was placed in a care home. In March 2017, Laurel was informed her husband hadn’t long to live, so she brought him home.

Ashley passed away at his beloved Mulberry Cottage in peace and comfort, and with Laurel by his side. Days later, after Ashley’s funeral he appeared in Laurel’s dream as the couple said their final farewells to one another.

Seven years on, and Ashley is still sorely missed by his family and friends.

Emmerdale exits: Butch Dingle

Butch’s deathbed wedding to Emily Wylie made the character’s exit even more tearjerking.

When Zak’s second son arrived in the village, he was a notorious bully and troublemaker. But underneath the mean exterior Butch was a softie with a genuine heart of gold.

After a disastrous first marriage to cousin Mandy – who only wanted his money – Butch fell for farmer’s daughter, Emily. The couple were set to wed, but then came a tragic twist in their love story.

In March 2000, Butch was travelling in a bus which collided with a lorry, causing him to suffer life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to hospital, but the doctors revealed he wouldn’t make it. Butch got his dying wish and exchanged marriage vows with his Emily.

He was laid to rest next to his brother, Ben, with a headstone inscribed ‘Dead but still Dingles.’

Tom King

Soap fans love a good old whodunnit, which is what they got with the death of Tom King.

It was Christmas Day 2006, and Tom had just married gold-digging Rosemary Sinclair. Guests had returned to Home Farm for the wedding reception, and the party was in full swing. But danger was lurking when Tom was confronted by a mystery figure in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

A fight broke out, Tom was struck over the head and came crashing through the window to the ground below. And that’s where he died.

Due to Tom’s ruthless and unpleasant nature there was a long list of suspects in the frame. But in the end it turned out Tom had been murdered by his own son, Carl.

He followed his father six feet under in 2012.

Jackson Walsh

Aaron Dingle’s first love, Jackson met a heartbreaking end in June 2011.

Jackson was the guy who helped Aaron come to terms with his sexuality. They had an on/off romance, but tragedy struck during a night out when Jackson crashed his van into a railway line and was hit by an oncoming train.

The impact of the crash left Jackson paralysed from the neck down and unable to lead an independent life.

After weeks of struggling to come to terms with his disability, Jackson came to the devastating realisation he no longer wanted to live. Aaron pleaded with him to find a reason to carry on, but he wouldn’t change his mind.

Unable to do it himself, Jackson persuaded Aaron and mum Hazel to administer a fatal overdose. They helped him die with dignity, and Jackson left behind a video explaining it had been his own choice to end it all.

Emmerdale exits: Holly Barton

The Barton family have given us some incredible exits. We’ve had John dying in a car crash, James falling off a bridge, Finn getting shot, Emma being pushed off a viaduct, but none of them were quite as shocking as the unexpected tragedy of Holly’s overdose.

Moira’s daughter had a long history of heroin abuse, but it seemed to viewers she’d finally turned a corner and got clean.

Viewers were given no pre-warning of what was to come as the episode began on September 29, 2016. Moira took a cup of tea up to Holly, who she thought was sleeping after a night out. But it was only later when she returned to check on her that Moira realised Holly had succumbed to an overdose in her sleep.

What made Holly’s sad departure even more gut-wrenching was the incredible performance given by Natalie J Robb (aka Moira). We felt every inch of her pain.

Andy Sugden

Actor Kelvin Fletcher grew up on Emmerdale, bringing fans 20 years of drama as troubled Andy Sugden. So it was only right his character was given a great exit.

In March 2016, Andy began seeing Chrissie White, who was the former wife of his brother and long-time nemesis, Robert. But when he cheated on her with Bernice Blackstock, Chrissie vowed it was the last time she was screwed over by a Sugden.

She framed Andy for the shooting of her father, Lawrence, and he was sent to prison. On the day of his court hearing, Andy busted out and made his way back to the village – but the police were closing in on him.

In a rare act of brotherly love, Robert agreed to help Andy escape the country. He fixed him up with a fake passport, and Andy set off for a life on the run.

The fugitive farmer is still running as far as we know, but there a lot of people who’d love to see him return one day.

Donna’s tragic exit was both sad and shocking (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

Emmerdale exits: Donna Windsor

When Donna Windsor revealed she was dying of terminal lung cancer in 2014, viewers thought they knew how her story would end. But they were wrong.

As a local police officer, Donna was a pillar of the community. But she was harbouring a huge secret. It turned out she’d been working as a bent cop, a discovery which local bad boy Ross Barton found a huge turn on.

The pair began a romance and hatched a plan to bring gangster Gary North to justice. Events reached a dramatic climax on the roof of a multi-storey car park. Donna went to arrest Gary, but he threatened to shoot Ross and harm her young daughter, April.

Knowing she was already on borrowed time, Donna made the brave/crazy decision to jump off the roof of the car park and she pulled Gary over the edge with her.

Donna was killed on impact (as was Gary) and died a hero, with her fellow colleagues non-the-wiser about her dodgy dealings.

Kim Tate

Kim is a woman who knows how to make an entrance. And exit!

Her ‘original’ departure from the Dales back in 1999 is still one of the best ever. And here’s why.

After a memorable 10 years which included affairs, rivalries, faking her own death and having a hand in her husband Frank’s demise, Kim decided it was time to go.

With the police on her tail for a robbery, Kim paid one last visit to Home Farm. There she had a final showdown with her stepson Chris, and took great delight in telling him she’d watched his father die in the same spot.

Chris was knocked out of his wheelchair, and Kim poured a glass of whisky over his face before turning to leave. She, and young son James, jumped in a waiting helicopter. And as Chris came crawling out on the drive, he could only watch on as Kim took off into the skies.

What a Queen!

Read more: Kim Tate and the other bad girls of Emmerdale 

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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