Emmerdale star confirms exit – and his final scenes are very soon

Emmerdale star Bradley Johnson confirms soap departure after over 7 years (Picture: ITV) Emmerdale star Bradley Johnson has officially confirmed he is leaving the ITV soap after seven and a half years playing Vinny Dingle, and viewers won’t have long to wait for his exit storyline to unfold. Speculation has been mounting for months over Bradley’s future in the village, particularly as Vinny has found himself at the centre of some major drama in recent weeks. Now the actor has put an end to the rumours by confirming that his time on Emmerdale is coming to a close. Bradley appeared on This Morning where a mention of his ‘exit storyline’ quickly caught the attention of soap expert Sharon Marshall, who was sitting alongside him. After seemingly letting the news slip, Bradley opened up about saying goodbye to the show that has been such a huge part of his life. He said: ‘Seven and a half years, it’s been an incredible journey. I’ve loved every second of it.’ Discussing how it feels to leave his Emmerdale family behind, Bradley admitted it is an emotional goodbye after spending so many years working closely with the cast and crew. He said: ‘Honestly, everyone says it’s like a big family, but it really is, and you know, I’ve had the most incredible time with the most amazing people, all the cast and crew, directors, everyone I had the fortune to work with, incredible.’ Despite the uncertainty that comes with walking away from a long-running role, Bradley explained that reaching a milestone in his own life helped convince him that now was the right moment to make the change. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. He continued: ‘I’m 30 next year, and I feel it’s a perfect time in my life to start a new chapter, and it’s daunting and scary because this industry is hard, but I’m excited to get out there and see what’s next.’ But before Vinny says goodbye to the village, there is still the question of exactly how he will leave. The character is heading to court in next week’s episodes, and Bradley was careful not to reveal whether Vinny’s legal troubles will ultimately be responsible for his departure. Instead, he teased several possible outcomes for his character. Bradley said: ‘Will they whisk him away to Ireland where the rest of them are? Will he get a long sentence? Short sentence? Will he even go to jail?’ Whatever happens, it appears fans are set for an eventful final chapter as Vinny’s fate hangs in the balance. Bradley also had particularly warm words for Lisa Riley, who plays Vinny’s on-screen mum Mandy Dingle. Bradley is certain he will remain close with his on-screen mother, Lisa Riley (Picture: ITV) He described his co-star as ‘incredible’ and revealed that their bond will continue long after his departure from the Dales, saying she will be a ‘friend for life’. While leaving Emmerdale means closing the door on a role he has played for more than seven years, Bradley already has plans for what could come next. The actor revealed that he intends to turn some of his attention towards music, something he has previously had to put aside while concentrating on his acting career. Bradley said he plans to give music ‘a good go’ after having ‘put it on the back burner’ for a while. Following his This Morning appearance, he also shared photos from his visit on Instagram and described having a ‘lovely morning’ alongside ‘lovely people’. Fans were quick to react to confirmation of his departure, with many sharing messages of support and saying how much they will miss seeing Bradley as Vinny. Deals of the Day Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Dyson fans are swapping to this Hoover vacuum-mop that washes floors as it cleans I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 But with Vinny’s court appearance looming, the full circumstances surrounding his exit remain under wraps, meaning viewers will have to tune in to discover whether he is heading for prison, leaving for a new life elsewhere, or if Emmerdale has another surprise in store. Arrow MORE: Doomed Vinny says his goodbyes as his fate is sealed in Emmerdale exit story Arrow MORE: Alison Hammond, 51, reveals why she’ll turn down proposal from boyfriend, 29 Arrow MORE: All the Emmerdale cast returns, exits and new arrivals in 2026 The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.