Ella Forster was so desperate to prove her innocence in tonight’s Emmerdale that she held Mandy Dingle hostage and almost killed Liam Cavanagh. As Ella found herself arrested and put into a cell, is this Paula Lane’s exit from the soap?

Actress Paula was reported to be leaving and due to be finished filming in February. As Ella’s descended into madness over the last few weeks, it seems this might be the last we will see of her.

What happened in Emmerdale tonight?

With Liam not answering her calls, Ella turned up in the village on Thursday (April 3) and demanded Mandy get him to speak to her. Although Mandy refused and tried to throw her out, Ella threatened her with a knife to get Liam to come home.

Liam did eventually return and tried to talk Ella down. He hinted there was a future for them if only she came clean about what she’d done to Chas. Ella tearfully admitted she had drugged her love rival. Then Liam told her she had to face the consequences.

But Ella realised he’d been tricking her and flipped out again. She insisted she’d only confessed to make him love her and she hadn’t done it – nor had she cancelled the wedding or thrown a brick through the Woolpack window.

Hearing police sirens, Ella ran and Liam gave chase. When he caught her, she launched an attack on him pushing him and ranting. He fell and hit his head and Ella was terrified she’d killed him. She sobbed over his body that she loved him and couldn’t believe the same thing had happened again when she lashed out in anger.

Fortunately, Liam was okay and the police arrived to take accepting Ella away. The last scene we saw was her being locked up in a cell with the door and window being shut on her. Meanwhile, Chas was thrilled to have her out of their lives, but Liam was clearly troubled.

Has Ella left Emmerdale for good?

In December last year, it was reported that actress Paula Lane would be bidding farewell to Emmerdale after only a year on screen. News of Ella’s imminent departure was revealed on Paula’s talent Spotlight page, which is linked to the star’s Instagram bio. It stated that Paula was set to wrap filming on Emmerdale in February 2025.

That means now is the time her last appearances on screen would be happening. With the timings working out and Ella taking responsibility for her actions, it looks like this is the last we will see of the character.

Emmerdale has not officially commented on whether Paula Lane will appear in any more episodes, but it doesn’t look likely at this stage.

When Paula Lane‘s exit was first rumoured, fans were not happy at all. One wrote on X: “It’s such a shame that Emmerdale has axed Ella. Paula Lane is one of the best actresses in the show and could have had huge potential.”

Another supported the exit: “Can’t blame Paula Lane for leaving. All she was given is misery to keep her character miserable.”

Other fans took to a reddit thread to share their disappointment.

One wrote: “I think she was a great potential character. Her friendship with Mandy was really sweet when she was struggling. I think here was real potential to make her bonds really strong, but they just made her mopey.”

A second expressed their anger: “What a complete and total waste. This exit might go down as their worst squandering.”

“So much potential with a talented actress just wasted,” another added.