Is Samson Dingle leaving Emmerdale? Everything to know as teen prepares exit

Time is running out for Samson Dingle as the Emmerdale lad is set to leave the eponymous village.

Actor Sam Hall shot to fame at the age of five, when he debuted in the ITV soap as Sam Dingle’s son. While he quickly became a fan favourite throughout the years, the lad’s baby storyline with Amelia Spencer proved to viewers he also had a mean streak and they were not happy.

But when the 20-year-old was tipped to be on his way out of the Yorkshire Dales, fans of the long-running drama grew increasingly concerned as rumours claimed his exit might be permanent.

Things then seemed to be taking a turn when, last week, Samson was accidentally stabbed by Matty Barton (played by Ash Palmisciano), after the Hide employee was bullied over being a trans man by Samson’s new pal Josh.

The troublemaker wasted no time in calling the police while Samson was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. When questioned over the circumstances of his stabbing, and despite knowing the truth, the lad threw his cousin Matty under the bus, splitting the Dingle clan in half.

While Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb) and husband Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) have taken Matty’s side, Cain’s brother Sam (James Hooton) and his wife Lydia (Karen Blick) are standing by Samson, believing he is telling the truth.

On Monday, June 10, Matty tried to get Samson to see sense but knowing he was breaching his bail, the teen reached out to the authorities, leaving his terrified cousin to face the ruthlessness of life behind bars, which can be dangerous for a trans man.

But while Matty was being taken away by the authorities, Samson planned his getaway to Europe with his believing parents – a hint that the lad may be leaving Emmerdale after all.

Viewers will have to wait and see to find out if Samson is really leaving the Yorkshire Dales, months after he was reportedly axed by bosses. Spoilers for next week have revealed that the Samson, Matty and Josh ordeal will continue.

However his exit will play out, Sam Hall has already assured fans that they wouldn’t be seeing the last of his ITV alter-ego. Speaking to Inside Soap in May, the actor said: “Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but Samson has some really big stuff coming up”, which led him to guarantee: “don’t worry, as he’s definitely not being killed off!” He then added: “There are some good stories coming up for him, and I was very excited when I read the scripts.”

“I like playing mean Samson, but I think his good side always shines through. Like with the baby storyline, he was worrying about Amelia being okay for Esther because Samson obviously lost his mum – and he didn’t want his kid to grow up without a mum.”

“So, he can get angry, but his intentions are always right in the end. At the end of the day, he was just a confused young teenager who didn’t really expect to be having a kid so soon.” But will he leave Emmerdale a villain? Or will he allow an innocent Matty to go down for a crime he didn’t commit?