Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi returns for a moving voice-over in Leyla Harding’s funeral episode next week.

The popular cast member plays a special role in her character’s emotional send-off, which airs on Thursday evening (March 6).

Leyla lost her life in the ITV soap’s big limo crash storyline last week.

Roxy admitted that she was “very shocked” when she heard that Leyla would be killed off, but took it as a compliment when a producer pointed out that “you have to be worth killing” to get such a dramatic exit.

Fans can get a first glimpse at Leyla’s funeral episode in a new spoiler clip released by Emmerdale.

The new footage shows the villagers preparing for the difficult day ahead, while the voice-over of Leyla reflects on her life. 

Meanwhile, a second spoiler clip for next week previews a devastating moment for Leyla’s grieving son Jacob Gallagher at the hospital.

When a patient is admitted with injuries mirroring Leyla’s, Jacob freezes and is unable to help.

Elsewhere, the final new clip for next week – from Monday’s episode (March 3) – shows Joe Tate’s latest romantic rendezvous with Dawn Fletcher at Home Farm.

In the wake of Kim’s threats, Joe tells Dawn that he’ll have to go away for a while and he’ll be gone for at least two weeks.

Joe defies Kim’s warnings by pursuing Dawn again, but they’re interrupted when Dawn’s husband Billy arrives home.

The love cheats have time to compose themselves, but are they starting to take too many risks?