Emmerdale fans brand star’s lackluster exit ‘pathetic’ and say ‘she deserved better’ after actress left soap

DISAPPOINTED Emmerdale fans branded an exit 'pathetic' and said 'she deserved better' as a cast member bowed out.

Former Coronation Street actress Paula Lane joined the ITV soap last year, playing Ella Forster.

A woman sits in a leather chair in a pub, looking pensive; a glass of white wine sits on a table beside her. — Emmerdale fans weren't happy with Ella Forster's exitCredit: ITV

A woman cradles a man lying on the ground. — Ella feared she'd accidentally killed ex Liam after a confrontationCredit: ITV

Chas Dingle from Emmerdale looking concerned. — The character arrived just over a year agoCredit: ITV

Viewers watched on Thursday (April 3) as the character's time in the Dales seemingly came to an end.

During her storyline, it was revealed Ella had murdered best friend Joanne when she was a child.

The Sun was the first to reveal that Paula Lane would be exiting the soap after her stint as Ella fell rather flat with very little fanfare.

Paula first appeared to confirm she had quit the show when she updated her professional Spotlight account to confirm she would cease filming on the soap opera in February 2025 after 16 months in the role.

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In Thursday's (April 3) episode, Ella pleaded with Liam to believe that she did not drug Chas.

He lead her to believe they might have a chance of getting back together, if she actually confessed to it.

But when she realised Liam had manipulated her and the police were on the way, Ella made a dash into the woods to try and escape.

As Liam followed, they ended up in a scuffle where Ella pushed him and he fell back, hitting his head on a rock.

Ella feared she'd killed him, having previously accidentally killed Joanne in the same way.

Fortunately, the village doctor was fine and offered her some words of wisdom.

Ella Forster’s fate in Emmerdale revealed after she was forced to leave village following vicious assault

He said: "You can't keep lying to yourself. You need help. I know there's good in you, I've seen it.

"Maybe with the rehabilitation, you can find it again."

Ella was concerned she'd be locked up by the police and said her life was "as good as over."

Liam continued: "What life? Look at you. You can't keep carrying on like this.

"Hurting people, destroying people's lives. You can't keep running away from yourself.

"New name, new address. You're still the same person inside."

This appeared to spark something in Ella, who said: "Ruth. That's who I am. I can't escape her, can I? She'll always be there. She's in my DNA.

"I tried to be different. Ella was a mask, that's all. Someone I pretended to be."

As Ella broke down in tears, Liam watched on as she was led away by police.

Reacting to the scenes, one fan wrote: "That was a really pathetic exit for Ella has so much potential to be a great addition to the village and the writers ruined it with a pathetic love triangle between Liam & Chas!!!

"Paula Lane is a fantastic actor she deserved better than that!"

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock...

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) - Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly's drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) - In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale's first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke's rape (2000) - Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs - who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) - Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

They added: "There was so much potential for Ella as a character as well! Awful writing."

Another penned: "Ella’s exit has p**** me the f**k off cuz the whole story was that she wanted to change her life around after committing a crime as a child and now they have gone full circle and said actually criminals can’t change their lives around what a waste."