As Brenda and Cathy exit Emmerdale, only one of them will return

Tonight’s Emmerdale bid farewell to Brenda Walker and Cathy Hope, as Lesley Dunlop and Gabrielle Dowling bowed out of their roles.

But as they head off on a world cruise for three months, one of the characters will be returning – but for the other this is a more permanent exit. So who has gone for good?

Brenda and Cathy sail away from Emmerdale

After finding out she’d won a three-month round-the-world cruise in a magazine competition, at first Brenda did not want to go. But after Nicola made her see it was the opportunity of the lifetime (in order to bag the tickets herself!) Brenda changed her mind.

With the cruise leaving in less than a week, she didn’t have mucn time to prepare. Planning to go on her own, Brenda then decided to take Cathy, who had just given up college so she could take a different path in life. So before she starts that path she’s heading off around the world!

Cathy did have a little wobble when April pointed out how much Bob would miss her. Realising she is all Bob has left after Heath’s death Cathy wavered. But Bob insisted she went and he would be fine.

Meanwhile, Brenda was also unsure when she realised Eric had had a turn thanks to his Parkinson’s. Determined she would stick to her promise of always looking after him whether they were together or not, Brenda offered to stay. But Eric knew she had to go and decided to set her free, despite his own heartache.

Brenda and Cathy said farewell to their loved ones and left for their trip of a lifetime.

Has Brenda left Emmerdale for good?

After 16 years in Emmerdale, Lesley Dunlop’s departure from Emmerdale was revealed via a recent article in The Mirror.

A source told the publication: “There have been so many exits recently and the talk is of more. With people like Lesley and Roxy potentially in the mix, nobody feels safe.”

“The show has grown a lot bigger in recent years but soaps are expensive to make. It’s inevitable saving money means losing people.”

Emmerdale declined to comment when contacted about Lesley’s rumoured departure. However now she has left on-screen it seems this is her goodbye and we won’t be seeing Brenda again.

Brenda has been in the village since April 2008 and is the co-owner of Cafe Main Street. She had a short-lived marriage to Bob Hope, and then found happiness for a time with Eric Pollard. Emmerdale’s longest standing character is played by actor Chris Chittell, who’s actually Lesley’s real-life husband. Pollard will remain on the soap.

And what about Cathy, has she left for good too?

Actress Gabrielle Dowling, who plays Cathy Hope, is reportedly only stepping away from Emmerdale for a break. A source revealed to The Sun last month that the actress was taking time off to focus on her exams.

“Gabrielle has been working solidly on the show for her entire life but with her A levels coming up thought it was best to take a break to focus on them,” they said.

“She will be gone for a matter of months and will return later in the year once exam season is over.” They went on to say her exit was a “temporary one”.

Cathy has had quite the turbulent time in the Dales. The daughter of Viv and Bob Hope, Cathy and twin brother Heath lost their mum at an early age when Viv died in a fire.

Cathy has since been through teen troubles that included her bullying niece April Windsor as well as suffering from PMDD. Then on New Year’s Eve 2023 she lost brother Heath after they went joyriding.

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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