Emmerdale’s Daisy Campbell is leaving the Dales after 13 years – as show bosses announced the end of her role – a shock which left her “sad”.
Daisy was just eight when she starred as Amelia Spencer in the hit soap. But Daisy, now 21, admits she was secretly struggling after being invited to a secret meeting and told her final scenes would air just before Christmas.
Daisy, 21, speaks exclusively to the Mirror to announce the news: ‘It wasn’t my decision to leave Emmerdale and it came as a shock at first. Being in Emmerdale is all I’ve ever known. I spent my whole childhood growing up on a soap opera and it was scary.
Her character Amelia is currently in a relationship with evil Tom King – unaware of his abuse of Belle Dingle – and is mum to Esther, now two, following her shock pregnancy with Sampson Dingle in 2022. But after Amelia’s on-screen parents left the Dales, bosses told Daisy they had run out of storylines for her.
“Once they explained it, I totally understood,” says Daisy. “Amelia is not one of the Dingles, her dad is gone, Samson is gone and she has no family. There’s nowhere to put Amelia and I understand that. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been in a soap for 13 years and to have had so many opportunities at such a young age.”
Daisy was told the news in May but only felt ready to call it a day now, admitting she needed time to “grieve”. For two months, only her three closest friends knew – co-stars Rosie Bentham, Katie Hill and Jack Downham.
“They were upset with me but they were really supportive. I didn’t tell the rest of the cast my news at first because I needed time to process it all. I needed time to think about the role of Amelia,” Daisy continued.
She says she only started telling them in July. She adds: ‘I was really scared to tell people I was leaving and now I realise I shouldn’t have!’ They have all been amazing. Even now, five months on, Daisy continues to admit that she is glad Emmerdale made the decision for her to leave rather than debating whether or not she should go.
‘It was a shock at first, of course, but now that I’ve had time to process it all, I’m really excited,’ adds Daisy. ‘Emmerdale have actually done me a favour because I would never have left if they hadn’t decided there was nowhere else to put Amelia.
“I’m glad it was her decision and not mine. I see it as a huge plus now because it’s a great chance to evolve, start a new chapter outside of Emmerdale and hopefully take on some new roles. I’m really excited about what’s ahead.”
How she will leave is a closely guarded secret, but the Mirror can reveal that she will not be killed off. “I’m glad the door remains open. But I can’t say much about how she’ll fare.”
What she can reveal, the actress teases, is that her departure will be directly related to her character’s current on-screen romance with evil Tom. After brave Belle finally found the courage to leave the couple’s marriage in September following months of coercive control and domestic violence, Tom was quick to turn to an unsuspecting Amelia. Viewers, of course, continued to see Tom mentally abuse Belle behind Amelia’s back.
Next Tuesday, Amelia will get to know a different side of Tom on Bonfire Night, Daisy hints.
“He resents Amelia and this is a turning point for her,” the actress explains. “Could Amelia be the next Belle in terms of Tom’s meanness? Everyone will have to wait and see.”
Daisy praises the soap for tackling the issue, adding: “It’s great that soap is raising awareness that women need to be believed. “It was a joy to be immersed in such an important story.”
Daisy was born in Leeds in 2003 and attended Rebel drama school as a child, before landing a role in the famous Yorkshire soap. She still lives at home with her parents Rory and Alison, as well as her younger brother, who also dances, and her sister, who is a national champion dancer. They all supported her when she told them she had to go.
“Actually, my mum had a gut feeling it was going to happen either way,” says Daisy. “But they were great and told me to enjoy wherever my career takes me next. I’m very lucky I live at home and don’t have to worry about rent. I’m a free bird!”
Continuing to reflect on her 13 years on the soap, Daisy says she has enjoyed every minute of it and stresses she certainly doesn’t regret joining at a young age.
“I will forever be grateful for my time on Emmerdale,” she says. “It was great to learn from people who have been in the industry for many years and I will take every piece of advice they give. I made so many friends on set and I will miss everyone. But I was lucky to have grown up watching soap operas as a kid. I never felt like I was missing out on anything.
The advice of actress Kelly Hollis, who played Amelia’s mother Ali, has stuck with her to this day.
“She told me to always stay down to earth and never get upset,” admits Daisy. “When I was little I was always so full of energy and I remember running around on set. She told me never to change. Her advice was so good, I didn’t want to let Emmerdale go to my head.
Daisy highlights Amelia’s kidnapping in 2018 and her shocking teenage pregnancy two years ago as two of her favourite storylines and is proud to have been entrusted with such complex subject matter over the years. “Both stories were wonderful to work on,” she says. “Amelia’s kidnapping was my first big storyline and it really made me realise how much I wanted to work as an actress for the rest of my career. The teenage pregnancy was wonderful too and it was a joy to work with the baby and now the little child (Florence May Dyson) who plays Esther.”
Laughing, she then says she is not thinking about having a child herself yet. Daisy, who confirms she is in a relationship but wants to keep it secret, insists: “It’s nice to work with a baby and then come home and be 21 again!”
Daisy has filmed her final scenes, which will air in early December this month. “I cried during my last block of filming,” she admits. “But we had a farewell party last week and it was great fun. I know I’ll keep seeing all the friends I made since I left.
What does Daisy want to do next? “Oh God, there are so many things I want to do,” she replies. “Since I finished filming, I’ve had even more drive and determination. Theater, TV series, cinema – I’m open to anything. “I’m excited to get out there and see where the next chapter of my life takes me.”
*Emmerdale airs every weekday at 7.30pm on ITV1 and STV.