As Moira heads in for brain surgery – is Natalie J Robb leaving Emmerdale? Here’s what we know

After months of living with a brain tumour, Moira Dingle is going under the knife to have it removed in tonight’s Emmerdale (Wednesday November 20). And as she prepares for the worst, what does this mean for actress Natalie J Robb’s future on the show? Is she leaving Emmerdale?

Well, Emmerdale has not confirmed or denied an exit for Moira, but Natalie herself has hinted Moira is going nowhere. In an interview with Emmerdale Insider, she said there was “more to come” for her character. And after tonight’s episode (no spoilers here!) we certainly think there is!

Moira has brain surgery in Emmerdale

Moira’s odd behaviour started some months ago. She was either snappy and nasty to everyone or overly affectionate. She also forgot things she said and did – particularly the bad stuff. The farmer even made a pass at Nate Robinson, Cain’s son, which nearly resulted in the end of their marriage.

Moira was then diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour. At first she adopted the ‘wait and see’ approach – living with the tumour and seeing if it developed and got worse. Cain was not on board with this and insisted she needed to have the op as soon as possible.

With her seizures worsening and her not being allowed to be alone with her kids or work on the farm after she killed her sheep, Moira knew he was right.

She has been practical about it, preparing a living will, visiting her eldest son, Adam, to say goodbye should the worst happen and trying to get Cain to accept she could die. All except the latter have gone well. Cain however, is not facing up to any of it and is brushing it under the table.

Tonight Moira goes in for the operation. The episode will be another format-breaking one for Emmerdale as the first half tells Moira’s story. The second half then tells Cain’s story in reverse chronological order.

So does Moira survive the surgery?

Although we don’t know for definite yet, it looks like Moira will make it through, which means Natalie J Robb is going nowhere.

Speaking to Emmerdale Insider and other media, Natalie recently said: “There’s still some things obviously to come out and I [Moira] still have to go through some treatment afterwards as well. So, we don’t know if everything is going to be hunky dory. But, there could be some slight personality change. It could be that she just deals with things differently because she’s been faced with such an ordeal.”

Ordeal or not, we’re just glad that Moira pulls through and Nat not leaving. Now as for Coira, that’s a whole other story…

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.

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

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