Gemma Atkinson’s frustrations with her on-screen romance reportedly led her to quit ‘Emmerdale’.
The 32-year-old beauty, who plays Carly Hope on the ITV programme, has been paired with actor Mark Charnock – who plays Marlon Dingle – on the show, but Gemma is apparently frustrated she hasn’t instead been matched with one of the more good-looking cast members.
A source said: "Gemma was toying with the idea of taking some time out of ‘Emmerdale’ anyway, but she has said that Carly’s romance with Marlon was the final straw. She’s citing it as part of the reason she’s off.
"There’s a load of hunky, young blokes in the show that she would’ve loved to have had a little snog with – but writers have given her Mark."
However, Gemma – who is to be written out of the show in the coming months – is also keen to focus more of her attention on becoming a star in Bollywood.
The source told The Sun newspaper: "She also wanted to focus on her fledgling Bollywood and radio career anyway, so the time seemed right to pack it in."
Meanwhile, Gemma previously expressed excitement about the prospect of Carly dating Marlon.
She said: "We’re pushing for them to get together. Initially, I was told Carly was going to get together with Marlon, Pete Barton or Andy Sugden and I said ‘Marlon’ straight away because it’s more unexpected.
"I think at the stage that Carly is at, she’s not just after a hunky, muscly guy who is Mr Popular. She’s had all that and it hasn’t worked."
And Gemma, who hails from Bury, also insisted she enjoyed working on the soap.
She shared: "’Emmerdale’ is a really good place to work. Everyone is really lovely, we regularly get together outside work and it’s on my doorstep."
Gemma Atkinson’s on-screen romance ‘led her to quit Emmerdale’
