TWO major Emmerdale stars have quit the soap and have already filmed their final scenes.
The Sun can exclusively reveal that Lewis Cope and Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana – who play couple Nicky Miligan and Suni Sharma in the ITV soap – will soon bow out in a shock exit.
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The actors will leave this summer in what’s said to be a controversial exit.
Actor Lewis joined the soap as Nicky Miligan in December 2022 as part of a major revenge plot against Kim Tate while Brahmdeo followed a year ago in July 2023 as Jai Sharma’s brother Suni.
The soap will risk a backlash from fans with the two high profile gay characters’ exits coming just weeks after bosses killed off gay lawyer Ethan Anderson.
A source said: “It’s not going to go unnoticed that three of the village’s gay characters have been written out within a matter of weeks of each other.
“The optics aren’t good especially when it’s pride month.
“The fact is decisions are taken months in advance and there are lots of different factors that go into things like this.
“It’s very unusual for three actors with the same character profile to leave at the same time.”
Viewers have watched as Nicky has spiralled out of control after discovering mum Ruby’s role in Ethan Anderson’s death.
Disgusted with her hit and run in the days before he died, Nicky has vowed to disown her, but will this be what sees him leave the village for good?
Meanwhile Suni was recently betrayed by his own brother Jai who ran their father out of the village, having forced him to hand over his business to cut Suni out.
Will that secret be exposed and will that lead to the characters’ exits?
The Sun can confirm that both actors have filmed their final scenes and will leave later this summer.
The source added: “The feeling is that the characters weren’t given a fair shot.
“They were barely used despite having lots of initial promise.
“Soaps can be great work for actors starting out – but only if they are given storylines to work with and sometimes things just don’t work out.
“They’re hungry to hone their craft to show what they can do and don’t want to be used as glorified set dressing.”
Emmerdale has been contacted for comment.
The shock exits come as the ITV soap revealed its new boss after former producer Kate Brooks quit to take over sister soap Coronation Street.
Emmerdale bosses losing one gay character is unfortunate but losing three seems careless
The Sun’s Soaps Editor Carl Greenwood explains why these shock exits could be mistakes…
Nicky’s arrival into the village as a mysterious nanny at Home Farm who seduced Gabby Thomas saw him be pegged as too good to be true – and he was.
He was soon revealed as Caleb Miligan’s secret son, Frank Tate’s secret grandson – and they were planning devastating revenge on Kim Tate.
This new slightly twisted edge made Nicky a much more compelling watch – and then he came out which should’ve added to the fun.
A gay, scheming Tate was just what the show needed.
But since then, Nicky has faded into the background and spent much of this year in a coma – either induced or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Suni was a breath of fresh air when he arrived.
He was fun, exciting and injected some much-needed positive energy into the village.
A year on and he’s been battered down by the dreariness of Emmerdale into a grey, dull, quasi-miserable existence.
Their exits coming so soon after Ethan Anderson – another gay character with wasted potential – isn’t a great look.
To lose one gay character like this is unfortunate, but to lose three is just careless.
Sophie Roper, former story producer and acting producer, has been confirmed as taking over.
She joins producer Laura Shaw as joint head of the long-running show.
Speaking about her appointment, she said: “As a lifelong soap fan, I feel privileged to be part of such an iconic and well- loved programme and I’m thrilled to be taking the show forward as Producer, alongside an incredibly talented and dedicated team.
“Emmerdale truly is a special place both on and offscreen and as we embark on this next chapter, I look forward to bringing more bold and groundbreaking drama to the Dales.”
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