Emmerdale spoilers: Carly Hope leaves the village with ex-boyfriend Matt but actress Gemma Atkinson reveals she WILL return

EMMERDALE'S Gemma Atkinson has revealed that her character Carly Hope will definitely return to the soap after dramatically leaving with her ex Matt tonight.

The heart-breaking episode saw Carly leave to begin a new life with Irish Matt after her boyfriend Marlon persuaded her to walk away from their relationship.

But Gemma, 32, says her character will come back to "mess up" more people and sort "unfinished business" at some future junction.

The telly beauty told The Sun: "I think the possibility of Carly coming back is huge.

"She has got her dad in the village, and little April. She doesn't say bye to [Marlon's daughter] April so that will weigh heavily on her mind."

"She'll go and try having a really happy life with Matt but there will be a shadow over it because she has unfinished business in Emmerdale.

"I think Carly will go off and do some living, but she will come back and make amends, so to speak.

"She may find Marlon happy with someone else when she does come back.

"Carly will return, it's just figuring out when and why and who she can mess up when she gets back."

Reflecting on what happened to Carly tonight, Gemma added: "She's realised Matt is the love of her life.

"As much as she and Marlon were great together, Matt is the one that got away.

"Had they not lost Billy, they would have had the perfect relationship.

"Marlon is such an amazing guy that he realises that as well.

"He's man enough to tell her that she has to go and follow her heart and see what would happen with the man of her dreams."

Asked what Carly and Matt's plans are now, she added: "I think they're gonna ride off into the sunset and try to rebuild their lives.

"Maybe try for another baby, maybe go travelling, they're both very free-spirited."

Fans will be devastated to see Gemma go, and many are already tweeting their sad goodbyes.

But the actress herself has plenty of irons in the fire, career-wise.

Asked why she was leaving, she explained: "Because this job [on Emmerdale] is so comfortable and amazing I didn't want to be here for another seven eight years and suddenly be in my forties and still in the same job.

"I'm like Carly, if I get too comfortable with something I have to go and start something else.

"You have to take the leap of faith before you get stuck."

Now freed up to explore further opportunities, Gemma revealed she is going to be doing lots of auditions and pushing her fitness brands.

• Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV at 7pm

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