Emmerdale star Sam Hall has reportedly been axed from the soap after 15 years.
The 20-year-old actor began his role as Samson Dingle when he was just five, but his character will now be killed off, it’s been claimed.
A source said: ‘Sam had a meeting with bosses earlier this month where they broke the news.
‘He has been left devastated. He’s grown up with his on-screen Dingle clan and they are all very protective of him.
‘Some of the cast even went to talk to bosses about their decision.’
‘As news of his axing swept through the building there were quite a lot of angry Dingles.’
The insider added to The Sun: ‘The fact that they are planning on killing him off means there’ll be no way back for him either. He’s absolutely gutted.’
It’s said those rallying around to support him include his on-screen dad James Hooton, who plays Sam Dingle.
Sam took on the role of Samson from fellow child actor Charlie Pell in 2009.
As well as his recurring role in Emmerdale, he starred in the one-off special The Dingles – For Richer For Poorer.
Sam has tackled difficult storylines in the ITV series, including becoming a teen dad.
He previously told Metro.co.uk that he was excited for young people to be taking centre stage in the soap, saying: ‘I think it’s great to give the teenagers these storyline as it gives us a chance to film something different and show the younger people in the village.’
He added: ‘I love the scenes where he is getting up to not good without a doubt. I would be friends with Samson in real life because deep down he is a good lad!’
‘As my character gets older, it gives me the opportunity to be in bigger storylines and the chance to develop Samson’s character,’ Sam went on.
‘I’ve enjoyed every minute of working there and look forward to the rest. I love being a Dingle, I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s great every time I get to film with the family. In fact after filming with them for so many years, it doesn’t feel like work at all.’
