ANOTHER big Emmerdale star is devastated after being axed from the soap due to a cash crunch at ITV.
Actress Susan Cookson – who plays nurse Wendy Posner in the ITV soap – has been cast after seven years and has already filmed her final scenes.
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Emmerdale star Susan Cookson is devastated after being axed from the soap Credit: Getty
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Susan joined the soap in 2019 as Luke and Lee Posner’s mother WendyCredit: ITV
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She has had several high profile storylines including her relationship with Bob Hope Credit: ITV
A source said: “Susan was devastated by the decision. She loves the show and loves being a part of it.
“She’s really loved by the cast, but unfortunately budget cuts mean tough decisions have to be made and this has resulted in Susan being one of many actors to leave.
“ITV is going through a financial crisis with soap operas and there is simply no more money to pay for everything.
“Ultimately, if a character doesn’t inspire the producers to do a lot of stories, then there’s no place for him in the show anymore.”
“There’s definitely a concern on set about who’s going to be next.”
She is introduced as the mother of rapist Lee Posner and his brother Luke, but quickly realizes what a monster her son is and settles in the village to support her victim Victoria Sugden with their child Harry.
Recently, her relationship with Bob Hope was put to the test when she had an affair with Dr. Liam Cavanagh.
The source added: “The door remains open for Susan in the future and we hope she could return to see her grandson Harry one day.”
Susan is the latest high-profile star to leave the soap.
The Sun revealed that Paula Lane will be leaving the show in the new year, and now it can be confirmed that bosses have decided to ditch her character child killer Ella Forster.
Emmerdale bully Tom King makes a big mistake with nurse Wendy Posner
The source added: “The days of characters coming in unobtrusively and being in bed for a year or two are long gone.
“Newcomers have to instantly influence the secrets and mysteries, but they don’t always work.
“It’s brutal, but that’s how things work on television now.”
During Christmas, Will Taylor was killed after actor Dean Andrews was fired after six years of playing the reformed criminal.
Actress Daisy Campbell has opened up about her disappointment at being axed from the show after playing Amelia Spencer for 13 years.
Brenda Walker actress Lesley Dunlop is also leaving the show after 16 years playing the cafe owner.
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Actor Dean Andrews is retiring after being written off the show as Will TaylorCredit: Getty
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Actress Lesley Dunlop leaves series after 16 years Credit: ITV
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Paula Lane will film her final scenes in February after being axed from the ITV soap Credits
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Actress Daisy Campbell has revealed she was devastated to be axed from the Credit: ITV soap
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Roxy Shahidi’s character Leyla will be killed off in explosive scenes next yearCredit: ITV
Roxy Shahidi’s character Leyla Harding will also be killed off in an explosive action in the new year.
Meanwhile sister soap Coronation Street is going through the same crisis with some of the cast worried about paying their mortgages.
A source told The Sun: “The Corrie cast is huge and some don’t get enough episodes.
“The few paid per episode are struggling to pay their mortgages and have to supplement their income with personal appearances and Instagram ads.”
They continued: “Many cast members now have a ‘guest contract’ like Maureen Lipman and Kate Ford.
“These are short-term, so I can come and go and take longer breaks.
Throwing out all-female characters like Wendy Posner is a risky move
The Sun’s Soaps editor Carl Greenwood reveals why ditching Susan Cookson could be a big mistake
EMMERDALE bosses may have made a huge mistake by sacking actress Susan Cookson.
Everyone knows that soap operas survive because they deliver dramatic moments and explosive climaxes – but they get away with it because they have ordinary characters among the chaos.
And that’s what Wendy was – an every woman that everyone could identify with.
She was one of the few characters who was strong enough to realize exactly what kind of abuser Tom King was and confront him.
And her affair with Liam Cavanagh and all this murder mystery talk was actually a rare example of Emmerdale getting the affair story right.
Susan is the type of actress who should be in a soap opera – she’s brilliant in drama and comedy and more importantly, you can imagine living next door to whoever she plays.
Obviously with the cash crunch comes budget cuts, but soap bosses have to be very careful when deciding which characters to cast.
The village won’t last long if it’s full of serial killers, con artists and abusers – there has to be some more down-to-earth, normal characters.
I suspect this may turn out to be a bigger mistake than first thought.
“The cast has been told they cannot guarantee any contracts beyond the end of 2025.
“Bosses are trying to use a much younger cast that has less money so filming the episodes is cheaper.
And Corrie boss Kate Brooks told The Sun that 2025 will be marked by a number of problems as she makes her mark on the cobbles.
She said: “There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will cause shocks.”
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