As Sarah Sugden's traumatic storyline surrounding baby Leyla continues, Emmerdale star Katie Hill has teased there is still a "rocky road" ahead for the character.
Hill was speaking exclusively with Radio Times on the red carpet for The National Television Awards 2026, when she was asked for her reaction to the storyline, how she has found bringing it to life, and how long Sarah can keep Leyla's parentage secret from Jacob.
Hill said: "I don't know how long she can keep the secret from Jacob that he's not the dad, it will just be eating away at her. Playing it wise, it's been amazing. Obviously, really intense, but to be given this storyline is just amazing. Every actor wants to challenge themselves and it's definitely been a challenge.
"But working alongside Emma [Atkins] and Joe-Warren [Plant] - he's brilliant - everyone that's been a piece of it has been incredible. But yeah, it's been an intense year probably, but hopefully things to start to, in the future, go a bit smoother for Sarah, but it's definitely gonna be a rocky road."
The storyline in question has seen Sarah discovering to her horror that her baby, Leyla, isn't actually hers, as her surrogate, Charity, didn't get pregnant from the embryo belonging to Sarah and Jacob, but instead from sleeping with Ross.
Speaking on the red carpet, Hill was then asked whether she would like to see a return for Debbie Dingle, her character's mother played by Charley Webb, who left the soap in 2021.
"Oh my God, yeah," she responded. "I love Charley, we keep in touch here and there. She showed me the way in the show when I was younger so I'd love to work with her again."
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It was a big night for Emmerdale, with the soap winning the serial drama award and Jeff Hordley winning for his role as Cain Dingle.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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