Emmerdale viewers are convinced they know who will kill Leyla Harding after the character’s tragic death was confirmed earlier this year, with a number of residents in the frame

Emmerdale appears to have dropped a major hint about who will be responsible for the death of Leyla Harding – and it’s someone very close to her.

Leyla, played by Roxy Shahidi, first arrived in the Dales back in 2008. Since then, she has been at the centre of numerous dramatic storylines and comedic performances.

From substance abuse to scandalous love affairs, Leyla’s time in the iconic village has been anything but dull. The character was also famously shot by murderer Meena Jutla, portrayed by Paige Sandhu.

However, in October, reports emerged that Leyla will meet a tragic end in an intense exit storyline set to shock viewers. The news of actress Roxy’s departure follows a significant year in her career, which included appearances on Dancing on Ice and ITV’s reality show Drama Queens.

Leyla is reportedly getting killed off(Image: ITV)

Now, soap fans are convinced they’ve spotted a significant clue about how Leyla meets her untimely end – and it’s heartbreaking. Recently in the Dales, Leyla’s son Jacob Gallagher, played by Joe-Warren Plant, began his work placement at the local hospital’s A&E department, reports Leeds Live.

Jacob’s first day proved to be eventful as he found himself in hot water after mistaking a teenage stabbing victim for missing April Windsor, played by Amelia Flanagan. He also had to treat his on-again-off-again girlfriend Sarah Sugden, played by Katie Hill, who struggles with alcohol. In a devastating twist, his patient, an elderly man named Henry, passed away during his shift.

Fans have predicted a dark twist (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale’s Jacob faced a heart-stopping moment in Friday’s episode (January 3) when, after pulling extra hours at the hospital, he nearly mowed down Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) upon his return to the village. A shattered Jacob was quick to say sorry and spilled his guts about his harrowing day to both Manpreet and his mum Leyla.

But soap fans are buzzing with speculation that this is just the beginning of a dark path for Jacob. Emmerdale enthusiasts have been swapping theories online, with some predicting he might be at the centre of Leyla’s dramatic departure from the show.

“Jacob breakdown looming? ” one fan speculated on an Emmerdale Facebook group. Another added fuel to the fire: “Probably. What if he ends up killing someone, could it be Leyla? ” And a third suggested: “I definitely think he’s going to spiral so you could be right and he could be involved in his mum’s death.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm