Emmerdale’s Vanessa Woodfield – who she is, why she left and will she reunite with Charity

Vanessa Woodfield made a surprise return to Emmerdale tonight, leaving fans lost for words.

The much-loved character returned tonight in huge scenes as Rhona arrived at a cottage desperate for her best friend’s help with baby Ivy. Rhona has been struggling after her ex-husband Gus used the embryos they had frozen in the past to have a baby with his wife Lucy. However, Lucy sadly died and Gus has been struggling since.

Gus has made a decision to move to France for a new start with baby Ivy, but Rhona has been left horrified by it all and is doing all she can to keep her daughter Ivy with her, despite not having any legal rights over the baby.

Vanessa has been a huge support for Rhona

Who is Vanessa?

Vanessa Woodfield is played by Michelle Hardwick on the ITV soap. She arrived back in December 2012, when she was hired as a locum by her old friend from university, Rhona Goskirk, and the pair have been friends ever since.

She is also the half sister of Tracy Metcalfe, who is having relationship troubles with her husband Nate, and the daughter of Frank Clayton, who died in August 2019, when he sacrificed himself to save his daughter Tracy.

Vanessa has been on the show continuously since 2012 but took a break in 2020 and 2021 after the arrival of her first child. She has also been on a maternity leave and soon will be making a permanent return to the soap.

Where has Vanessa been?

Vanessa has been away from the Dales for well over a year. She travelled to Canada for a job opportunity but she is now back and her friend Rhona is desperate for her help with baby Ivy, amid Gus’ plans to leave the UK for France.

She said: “Vanessa has been to Canada. She took Johnny with her. She was looking after all these different animals, so it was a bit like a sabbatical in a way for just over a year. She was having an absolute ball. And now she’s back.

“So basically out of the blue, Vanessa gets a phone call from Rhona saying she really needs her help. Vanessa doesn’t really ask any questions because it feels like there isn’t any time. So it’s literally like she’s just packed a quick bag for her, a quick bag for Johnny and jumped on a flight, travelled halfway across the world and then landed on Rhona’s doorstep.”

Fans were hoping Vanessa and Charity might get back together ( 

Image:

ITV)

Why did she leave?

Michelle took a break from the ITV soap to go on maternity leave after she and her wife, producer Kate Brooks, welcomed their daughter Betty Brooks back in November 2022. She admitted she was worried about not being able to remember her lines, but said it all came flooding back when she stepped back on set and realises she’d really missed the place.

Speaking about her return, she said: “Thank you very much. It is absolutely fabulous. I’ve not realised how much I’d actually missed the place to tell you the truth, but I suppose I’m just going in for a little bit of a rest now, and it means I can finish a hot cup of tea and nip to the toilet on my own, without hearing the word mummy, mummy. I’m loving it and it feels like I’ve never been away, even though it was 14 months. I was worried about not being able to learn lines, but luckily, they have gone back in thank goodness.”

Will Vanessa get back with Charity?

Fans have long been hopeful Vanessa and Charity might reunite – but it looks like that could be off the cards.

“I think Vanessa’s going to try and maybe get her relationship back on track with Suzy, whether Suzy wants to or not, you know, we’ll just have to wait and see,” she shared of what might happen when she gets back to the village.

Asked if she thought there was a potential romance for Charity and Vanessa, Emma Atkins – who plays Charity – said: “Yes, a lot of people say that – but then again, when something becomes too happy, people suggest there needs to be conflict for it to be watchable in soaps. So, there is that element. Also, Michelle had to exit because she was having a child, so they needed to put something in the way of us, which is part of life when people come and go out – soaps need a reason why people have to break up. It was a very beautiful, wholesome relationship, and Charity isn’t used to that, she’s used to being part of quite a toxic environment.”