![\"Brenda](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/02_04_emm_nicola_brenda_03-d9a2.jpg\")
\n\t\tLesley Dunlop has landed a new role after her Emmerdale exit (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tLesley Dunlop has landed a new role after her Emmerdale exit (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
Former Emmerdale<\/a> star Lesley Dunlop<\/a> has signed on the dotted line for a new role, just one week on from her exit<\/a>.<\/p>\n The actress, 69, was a regular face in the ITV<\/a> soap from 2008, when she took on the role of Brenda Walker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some of her biggest storylines included a turbulent relationship with\u00a0Eric Pollard<\/a>\u00a0(played by real life husband\u00a0Chris Chittell<\/a>), overcoming a brain tumour diagnosis, and losing her adoptive daughter Gennie (Sian-Reese Williams).<\/p>\n Her exit was first reported in November<\/a>, and she has since parted ways with the Dales.<\/p>\n How did Lesley Dunlop leave Emmerdale?<\/p>\n Some fans may be expecting her to return one day<\/a> \u2013 given Brenda\u2019s final story saw her win tickets for a three month cruise \u2013 but that isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n When she told her pal Nicola King<\/a> (Nicola Wheeler<\/a>) that she wouldn\u2019t be accepting the prize, sneaky Nicola hoped that she could bag the tickets for herself<\/a>.<\/p>\n Brenda eventually decided to head off on the adventure, despite her fears for Pollard\u2019s health.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Leaving with former step-daughter Cathy Hope<\/a> (Gabrielle Dowling<\/a>), the youngster will eventually return home\u2026 bringing news about Brenda\u2019s long-term future away from the village with her.<\/p>\n What is Lesley Dunlop\u2019s new project?<\/p>\n Lesley is set to appear in a guest role on 5\u2019s The Good Ship Murder.<\/a><\/p>\n If it sounds familiar, that\u2019s probably because a number of former soap icons have landed parts in the production.<\/p>\n The series follows cabaret singer Jack Grayling who uses his skills as a former detective on a luxury cruise liner when a passenger is found murdered on board.<\/p>\n Jack is played by The X Factor<\/a> winner Shayne Ward<\/a>, who starred as Aidan Connor in Coronation Street<\/a> between 2015 and 2018.<\/p>\n Another cobbles face gracing the seas is Catherine Tyldesley, alongside Hollyoaks\u2019 Ross Adams<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Claire Sweeney also previously starred with them, and Matthew Wolfenden was seen<\/a> in the most recent series.<\/p>\n A source told The Sun<\/a>: \u2018Lesley will be making a guest appearance on the upcoming series and it\u2019s not lost on her that she left\u00a0Emmerdale\u00a0on a cruise and her first job away from it is on a cruise.<\/p>\n \u2018And of course the door has been left open at Emmerdale especially with Chris still there she could always pop up in\u00a0future.\u2019<\/p>\n What other shows has Lesley Dunlop starred in?<\/p>\n Away from soapland, Lesley has a number of roles under her belt, having begun her career as a child actress in the 1970s<\/a>.<\/p>\n From two Doctor Who guest roles<\/a> to a long-serving role in the BBC sitcom May to September, she\u2019s been on our screens for decades.<\/p>\n Prior to joining Emmerdale, she played district nurse Anna Kirkwall in another Yorkshire-based drama, Where The Heart Is.<\/p>\n \u2018She\u2019s going to have a great time filming in the sunshine and on the ship.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us\u00a0soaps@metro.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/strong><\/p>\n Join the community by leaving a comment below and\u00a0stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Brenda](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/03_04_emm_pollard_brenda_01-b012.jpg\")
\n\t\tBrenda Walker left for a three month cruise (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Nicola](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/27_03_emm_nicola_brenda_03-64a6.jpg\")
\n\t\tNicola King tried to take the tickets for herself! (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Catherine](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_234146785-0db4.jpg\")
\n\t\tLesley is joining the cast of The Good Ship Murder (Picture: Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited\/Clapperboard Productions)<\/p>\n![\"Matthew](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_236647773-3291.jpg\")
\n\t\tA number of soap favourites appear in the drama (Picture: Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited\/Clapperboard Productions)<\/p>\n
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