Emmerdale confirms Amy Walsh return as Tracy

Emmerdale has confirmed that Amy Walsh will return to filming for the show's 50th anniversary episodes.

The actress is currently on maternity leave, but will reprise her role as Tracy Metcalfe on a temporary basis as the ITV soap marks its impressive milestone.

Show producers Jane Hudson and Kate Brooks announced Tracy's return at a press event to kick off the 50th anniversary celebrations.

ITV

Hudson teased: "Tracy is coming back with a bit of news of her own. How is Nate going to respond to that?"

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Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) are also coming back for the upcoming birthday specials.

Brooks added: "Diane, Aaron and Tracy will all be making a reappearance, albeit on a temporary basis.

"But they'll come back and be at the heart of some really big stories that'll impact their lives, and not just their lives but the lives of the characters they leave behind. It's all really exciting and brilliant."

ITV

Amy and former EastEnders actor Toby-Alexander Smith welcomed the arrival of their first child Bonnie Mae over the Christmas period.

Tracy's exit scenes aired on Emmerdale in January, when she was offered a new job in Nottingham. This would see her working with a post-natal depression charity after her own experiences of the illness.

Tracy took on the opportunity and left with her baby daughter Frankie. Frankie's father Nate Robinson was heartbroken to see the pair go.

ITV

Speaking at the time, Amy explained: "She's really passionate about people knowing that they can get through it. It's not a hopeless cause.

"That's what drives her forward in changing her life so much in the sense of leaving the village and leaving Nate and taking Frankie, because it's a chance not only for her to feel good about herself and change her life, but also to not rely on another man to let her down again.

"But it's also a chance for her to help other people. It's the first time she feels like there's something she could be good at, which I think is really important because she needs that."

Emmerdale celebrates its 50th anniversary in October.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and streams on the ITV Hub.