Emmerdale tonight shared a tribute to beloved “friend and colleague” Stephanie Ives-Stevens during the closing credits as they dedicated the episode to her. The message on-screen said she had died in 2023.

Stephanie Ives-Stevens receives on-screen dedication from Emmerdale

Flashing up before the credits rolled, the message displayed was simple white writing on a black background. It read: “Dedicated to our friend and colleague Stephanie Ives-Stevens 1979-2023.”

Emmerdale has not added any further comment.

Who was Stephanie Ives-Stevens and what was her Emmerdale connection?

Stephanie was a member of the team at ITV and Emmerdale on the production side of things. According to the Yorkshire Post, Stephanie took her own life in 2023 aged 44. She had been diagnosed with rare hormone disorder Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

A page set up in honor of Steph by the ITV Content Services team last year revealed they were fundraising in her memory. On the Wellbeing of Women website they revealed they were doing the Three Peaks challenge for the charity in honour of Steph.

They quoted her on the fundraising page as she described her PMDD struggle: “Basically my brain can’t cope with normal monthly fluctuations in hormones. Very slight changes in levels of oestrogen/progesterone are the difference between me feeling good and able to attack life and feeling so low and overwhelmed I no longer want to be alive.”

The condition is that suffered by Cathy Hope in Emmerdale, who tonight made the decision to leave the village.

Emmerdale tonight

Cathy was diagnosed with PMDD in 2023 after suffering horrendous symptoms. It is a very extreme form of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. Cathy was suffering severe mood swings, violent outbursts and acting very out of character as she tried to deal with her issues.

After her diagnosis was confirmed, she got help and tonight (Thursday April 3) agreed to go on a world cruise with stepmum Brenda Walker.

Brenda won the cruise in a magazine competition that she had originally entered when she was with Eric Pollard. But now they have broken up, Brenda faced a dilemma as to whether to go at all. She eventually decided she would but she was going to go alone.

However Nicola King was keen to get the ticket for herself and encouraged Brenda to take a plus one. Nicola’s plan half worked when Brenda announced she would be taking someone, but not Nicola, Cathy!

After a difficult few years with her PMDD and losing twin brother Heath, Brenda felt Cathy deserved the break. Although Cathy was worried about how her dad Bob Hope would cope without her, he encouraged her to take the plunge and go for it.

With Brenda and Cathy set to sail off into the sunset tomorrow night, this is reported to only be a break for Gabrielle Dowling, who plays Cathy. She is taking time off to focus on her exams. Meanwhile, Brenda actress Lesley Dunlop is said to be leaving the soap for good.

Also in Emmerdale tonight

The evening’s drama was mainly centred around Ella Forster. She was desperate to prove to Liam she was being framed over drugging Chas. She took Mandy hostage and then had a violent confrontation with Liam.

He ended up being pushed over and hitting his head. Ella thought she’d killed him and realised she had gone too far. Accepting her fate, Ella was arrested and taken to prison.

As Ella was once again locked up in a cell, is this the last we’ve seen of her?