Kelvin Fletcher has quit ‘Emmerdale’.
The 32-year-old actor – who is expecting his first child with wife Liz Marsland – is reportedly bowing out of his role of Andy Sugden after 20 years in order to start a new career as a rally driver.
Kelvin is believed to have already shot his final scenes and had his leaving party.
While the circumstances of his exit are a mystery, the door will be left open for him to return.
A source told The Sun Online: "Kelvin is a soap legend and will be sorely missed by Emmerdale and viewers.
"Bosses have managed to keep him leaving top secret but now the cat is out of the bag.
"He has become part of the furniture he’s been there so long.
"Producers have given him a big, dramatic exit. It’s going to be the perfect way to see off Andy.
"Show chiefs aren’t necessarily saying it’s for good and they are leaving the door open. But for now this is the last people will see of Andy for the foreseeable future."
Kelvin’s on-screen alter ego is currently being framed for shooting Lawrence White (John Bowe) by his jealous lover Chrissie (Louise Marwood) – the victim’s daughter – even though she knows it was her own son Lachlan (Thomas Atkinson) who pulled the trigger.
While Andy could face prison for the shooting, this is not believed to be his exit plot.
Kelvin recently admitted he wanted to "try something else" after such a long stint on the soap.
He said: "I do have aspirations to do other things.
"When you play one character for 20 years, regardless of the storylines they throw at you, there comes a time when you want to try something else.
"My drive and hunger for acting has never subsided, but hopefully I’ve got a few strings to my bow."
The actor, who holds an MSA competition licence, won the 2012 Silverstone Classic Celebrity Challenge Race and this year competed in the British Touring Car Championship.
Kelvin Fletcher leaving Emmerdale
