Emmerdale star Fiona Wade said she 'didn't 'stop crying' as she filmed her exit as Priya Sharma. Her final scenes in the ITV soap hit screens on Friday night (January 27) with Fiona bowing out of the show after 11 years.
Priya arrived in the fictional Yorkshire village in 2009 with her brothers Jai and Nikhil. She was given a job by the pair at their new sweet factory but quit after her brothers make her acting supervisor. She only spent a short time in the Dales, admitting that she was tired of the country life and being bossed about by her siblings and so left the village in a taxi.
However, she returned in 2011 with her parents, Georgia and Rishi, to meet Jai's then-fiancée, Charity Dingle and it is then that Priya also announced that she is staying and moving back in with Jai and Nikhil and the rest, as they say, was history with the character facing all kinds of storylines from her battle with anorexia, to an affair with Pete Barton, the fiancé of her best friend Leyla Cavanagh and being scarred for life in the horror maize maze fire started by serial killer Meena Jutla.
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But in October 2022, rumours began circulating that Fiona had quit Emmerdale after nearly 12 years. Following her last scenes, Fiona appeared in a video posted on Emmerdale's social media channels.
In the video, she said: "I just finished filming my very last scene as Priya. My goodness, I feel so emotional. I haven't stopped crying. It has truly been the most incredible ten years on this show. I have loved every second of being here. I have loved playing Priya. Just coming into work every day, being made up to be so glamorous, all the wonderful costumes and the wonderful storylines.
"It's just been a dream job. I am so thankful to everyone at Emmerdale. I love you all and I'm going to miss you so much." She concluded: "Thank you so much to all the viewers for all your support over the years, for watching and supporting me and Priya. I just wanted to send you all my love and a huge thank you."
Her final week in the soap saw her offered a new job in London after her past trauma triggered a panic attack at a Take A Vow event. After bumping into Justin and explaining the reason for her reaction to a small fire in the office caused by candles and a veil, he was impressed by her attitude and offered her a job he had already offered to Leyla.
However, it wasn't all plain sailing as after a war of words with Leyla, her ex David tried to kidnap their daughter Amba after struggling to accept her move. But with Leyla's help, David returned and on Friday night, viewers saw Priya having a goodbye party at The Woolpack before packing up the car, sharing an emotional farewell with her family and driving off to pastures new.
And fans were sad to see her go. @DanJBrownMUFC tweeted: "Sad to see Priya go on #Emmerdale, she is a character synonymous with the time I really got into Emmerdale and has had some important storylines over the years." @RyanTheSoapking posted: "Goodbye Priya!!!! We will miss you #Emmerdale.
@jadenalyssabarber said: "NOOOOOO DON'T GOO FIONA!! we need Priya!!!" @elinlinnea03 shared: "I'm already hoping she'll come back in the future." @sarah_princess_00 wrote: "She was my fav. So sad to see her go. Girl crush gone."
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