AN exit for an Emmerdale fan favourite has been confirmed as the character has revealed exactly how she will leave the Dales.

In tonight’s episode on ITV1, which is available to watch now on ITVX, Victoria Sugden reveals her plans to flee to Portugal.

The character has been wracked with guilt following her brother John Sugden’s death.

In crossover special Corriedale, which aired last month, she got hold of a syringe that was in his pocket and stabbed him with it during a confrontation.

She believed the drug would make him unconscious, but instead, he suffered a bad reaction to it and died.

Victoria was forced to cover up the murder but unbeknownst to her, she was being filmed by Joe Tate (Ned Porteous).

Joe used the recording to his advantage as her blackmailed Victoria and her brother Robert (Ryan Hawley) into signing their land over to the Tates or he’ll tell the police.

In tonight’s instalment, Victoria gives in and sells the land over, but she also needs Moira Dingle’s signature.

She goes to visit her in prison and tells her she’s signing over the land, leaving Moira heartbroken.

However, she soon realises that Victoria has come to this decision as she’s considering the needs of her family.

Later in the episode, she tells Robert she’s booked flights for her and her son Lee to go to Portugal to stay with her stepmum Diane Sugden.

A devastated Robert attempts to get her to reconsider but she insists she’s made up her mind and will be leaving tomorrow.

Victoria’s exit has been lined up as actress Isabel Hodgins is going on maternity leave ahead of welcoming her first child.

She found out she was pregnant shortly after tying the knot with her partner Adam in April last year.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun last week, she admitted: “I thought I would be really emotional when I filmed my final scenes.

“Emmerdale is all I have ever known. But pregnancy does funny things to you and the truth is I felt ready not to have to film on Emmerdale!

“I live in Manchester and I’ve been driving over to Leeds to film. By the end, I felt exhausted and I knew it was time to have a rest before the baby arrives.”

Isabel filmed her final scenes in December and says she has been taking care of herself ever since.

She adds: “It suddenly feels very real now. I am so excited about becoming a mum for the first time and this will be, by far and away, my biggest role I’ve ever had.

“Adam is going to be a great dad. He pours his heart into everything he does and we both feel so lucky to be having a child.”

Aside from a few first weeks feeling sick, Isabel says she has thankfully felt well.

“I felt sick early on but that was it,” she says. “Mind you, I have had every craving! At the minute, I am craving mashed potato!”

Viewers can breathe a sigh of relief as Isabel confirmed the door has been very much left open for her to return when she decides the time is right.

She has been on the ITV soap since 2006 when she joined at the tender age of 12.

The character had been on the show since 1994 and was previously portrayed by Jessica Haywood and Hannah Midgley.