Emmerdale star Sally Dexter says she is “hugely sad” at being given the chop from the soap and would have preferred to have had a different exit.
But the actress – who has played Shadrach Dingle’s ex-wife Faith in two spells since 2017 – admits the storyline she bows out with is “far more important” than anything she could dream up.
Viewers will be moved to tears when she says her goodbyes next week as part of the ITV hit’s month-long 50th anniversary storylines.
Faith had been battling cancer and going through gruelling chemotherapy – and decided she would rather halt her treatment and die than lose control of her body and live in pain.
Fans will not see her suicide, only the character calmly laying the tablets out when she has made sure everyone is out of the house.
Cain and Chas later find their mum dying when it is too late and stay with her until the end.
Sally, 62, said of learning her character’s fate: “I found it really quite poignant to film. I knew it meant Faith’s time in Emmerdale was up and so was mine. I have enjoyed being back.
“I’m hugely sad that Faith can’t return. My idea was to have her save Cain and Chas from some sort of attack in the Woolie – say from a bullet or a knife aimed at her children from a crazed intruder! I could picture her sliding down the side of the bar, with them declaring her a heroine!
“But the story Jane [show boss Hudson] and the team wanted was a far more important and difficult one to tell. I only hope we have done it justice. This subject has caused a lot of debate – and so it should. The research team has dug deep for us throughout this whole storyline.”
In scenes from Monday, Faith plans a party to celebrate her life during a seaside trip with loved ones. But a fall means she is unable to make the journey, so the Dingle children rally round to bring the seaside to her.
Sally said: “We filmed this over a few days up at the Dingle Homestead, on a week we were told was about to turn cold and rainy. The brilliant costume team were ready with the thermals and the hand warmers.
“Then the sun came out and the whole thing sprang into joyous life.
“We all knew we’d be emptying sand out of our shoes for the next week or so, but it didn’t stop us having a ball.
“This is the scene where Faith realised she couldn’t be happier – and she determines to carry out her plan the very next day so she can go out on a high.”
Show bosses have promised an explosive month to celebrate the soap’s golden birthday with surprises galore – and the return of old favourites like Aaron Dingle and Diane Sugden.
