EMMERDALE TO KILL-OFF A LEGENDARY CHARACTER OFF-SCREEN | EMMERDALE SPOILERS

Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) & Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) want Victoria Sugden (Victoria Hodgins) & Luke Posner (Max Parker) to be together so they have a discussion about putting that motion in action. 

With a plan to put the two lovebirds together Marlon approaches Victoria to tell her about it but, suddenly, she receives a phone call. 

Victoria is given devastating news: Annie Sugden (her grandmother and Emmerdale Matriarchy) has died.

Sheila Mercier portrayed Annie in the very first episode (then known as Emmerdale Farm) in 1972 and did so for 24 years until 1996.  She made a brief reprisal as the Emmerdale icon in 2009 to pay tribute to Clive Hornby (who played her son Jack Sugden) when Clive sadly died a few months previously.  In December 2019, Sheila passed away, peacefully, at the age of 100.

An ITV Insider spoke fondly about Sheila, and said:

"She was hard working, resilient, determined, down to earth and didn't suffer fools gladly.  Sheila had many of those qualities too, putting the needs of the programme above her own and always delivering a great performance come rain or shine.  She will be greatly missed."

In December 2019 - at the time of Sheila's death - ITV paid tribute, on-screen, to one of Emmerdale's first performers.

Victoria will learn of Annie's death in the episode airing Friday 28 August 2020 on ITV/STV.

Emmerdale continues on ITV/STV.