Lesley Dunlop, who has portrayed Brenda Walker on the popular soap Emmerdale for 16 years, is reportedly set to leave the show.
However, she isn't the only one making a shock exit, as fellow fan favourite Roxy Shahidi who plays Leyla Harding is also leaving the soap behind.
With several characters set to depart, it has reportedly sparked concern among the cast, with many fearing for their future on the ITV soap.
Behind the scenes, the buzz is all about the latest high-profile exit, which hasn't been officially announced yet, and speculation is rife about who might be next to go, reports OK.
Lesley is married to fellow Emmerdale star Chris Chittell, known for playing Eric Pollard.
Her character has been central to some compelling storylines over the years, including her battle with a brain tumour.
A source told the Mirror: "There have been so many exits recently and the talk is of more. With people like Lesley and Roxy potentially in the mix, nobody feels safe."
They added: "The show has grown a lot bigger in recent years but soaps are expensive to make. It's inevitable saving money means losing people – but it's a huge shame all the same for those involved, their friends and colleagues."
A number of cast members are reportedly "extremely anxious," as many long-serving stars rely on their steady income from the show. Rumours suggest that ITV executives are considering reducing the cast by 10%.
One concerned cast member reportedly said: "Many people who have been there a long time are totally reliant on their income staying as it is. It's a very worrying time."
Emmerdale currently has 60 regular actors, but this number could shrink if the proposed cuts go ahead.
Roxy's departure was announced a few weeks ago, after two extended stints as Leyla, with her most memorable storylines including being stalked and kidnapped in dramatic scenes.
Emmerdale currently attracts around four million viewers per episode, with even more tuning in via catch-up. The show's biggest audience came in 1993, when 18 million viewers watched a plane crash into the Yorkshire village.
This week, Emmerdale bosses announced plans for a special episode centred on Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), her husband Tom King (James Chase), and their ongoing domestic abuse storyline.
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The producer of the show, Laura Shaw stated:"When we first embarked on this journey, we knew we wanted to show domestic abuse, coercive control and manipulation in all its guises."
"The privilege we have on a drama such as Emmerdale is being able to show the reality of a situation like Belle's over a longer period of time to authentically reflect what so many people go through on a daily basis."
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