Soap star reveals she is EIGHT months pregnant!

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!