It has been revealed that Emmerdale actress, Emma Atkins is eight months pregnant with her first child!

Emma, who plays Charity Macey on the popular soap decided to leave the show, a storyline which saw her character get a two-year prison sentence for insurance fraud.

According to a source for The Sun, the actress has been keeping the news very quiet indeed: “She’s been hiding her baby news from everyone outside of the show … Everyone assumed she [Charity] would get away with it like she has many times in the past. But the fact that Emma is pregnant gave the writers a perfect opportunity to finally punish Charity. She’s going to be rotting in jail for at least a year.”

Her co-stars have been wishing her luck in her departure, with Charley Webb taking to Twitter and writing a sweet message: "Finally – everyone knows Emma is leaving to have a baby. Can't wait to be an 'Aunty' again. Emmerdale will miss 'Charity' but she'll be back!"

This will be the first child for Emma and her partner, Tom. 

Wow – we did NOT see that one coming! Congratulations to Emma on her her lovely baby news!