Actress Roxy Shahidi’s final scenes aired earlier this year with fans heartbroken at the character’s exit, when she bid farewell to Leyla Harding after several years in the role
Eve Wagstaff Social Newsdesk Reporter
23:00, 20 Dec 2025Updated 23:00, 20 Dec 2025
One Emmerdale star admits she lost her identity following her exit from the soap
One Emmerdale star admits she lost her identity following her exit from the soap. Former Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of leaving the ITV soap, admitting she struggled with her sense of identity after her character was written out.
Roxy played Leyla Harding, a long-standing and much-loved character on the show, first appearing in 2008 before returning full-time in 2013. After more than a decade on screen, Leyla met a tragic end earlier this year in dramatic scenes that saw several characters plunged into icy water following a limousine crash.
Although Leyla initially survived the accident, viewers later learned she died in an ambulance before reaching hospital, marking the end of Roxy’s 17-year journey on the soap.
Nearly a year on from leaving Emmerdale, Roxy has reflected on the transition and how it affected her personally. In an emotional Instagram post, she admitted stepping away from the role was far more challenging than she anticipated.
“This time last year, I was coming to terms with having to leave this lot behind. Not just colleagues, but friends and family,” she wrote.
She went on to explain how deeply intertwined her character had become with her own sense of self, adding:
“Playing Layla wasn’t just a job; she was a huge part of my identity, and some days I spent more time being her than being myself.
“Losing that sense of identity was hard, but long walks with Mr Cooper [her pet cockapoo] gave me space to breathe, reflect and stay hopeful.”
Since leaving the soap, Roxy has shifted her focus towards wellbeing and has been teaching yoga online. She revealed the practice helped her process the emotional fallout of the change.
“Yoga once again became my anchor on the hardest days, moving my body helped me move through grief, loss and uncertainty,” she continued.
Adding that her yoga platform has helped her build a new chapter in her life, she went on: “Now YogaRox has grown into a new home, a new family, and a new sense of self.
“I don’t know exactly how I’ll get there, but I know where I’m going. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me through a year of challenge, growth, and transformation; here’s to 2026.”
Her post was quickly flooded with supportive messages, including from former Emmerdale co-stars. Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt, commented: “You’re amazing. You are very missed. Sky is the limit.”
Fellow soap stars Claire Sweeney, Isobel Hodgins and Ross Adams also shared messages of love.
Fans echoed the sentiment, with one writing: “You are still so missed by us Emmerdale fans. But you are smashing it now with your new projects, you are amazing!! Xx”
Another added: “I miss seeing you shine on my screen every night but being able to see you absolutely smashing the yoga is everything, heres to an amazing 2026 and I hope the new year brings you nothing but happiness and big achievements.”
FROM family-favourite theme parks to popular junior coasters – there have been some sad attraction closures in 2025.
But not all is lost as there are some terrific, and of course thrilling additions coming next year from world firsts based on beloved cartoon characters to rides that will be 138-foot tall.
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Some theme parks and rides closed for good this yearCredit: AlamyBut others are planning huge new additions to their parksCredit: Unknown
Starting with the closures, there have been some big losses in 2025 from favourite attractions to whole parks…
The news was announced through a Facebook post thanking visitors for their support over the last two decades.
In a few hours the post had gained more than 1k reactions and over 500 comments.
One said: “Oh sad times. We loved spending days up there in the summer. My childrenloved the ridesand we have so many good memories. Wishing you all the best in the future.”
Some of the most popular attractions included theGo Gatorcoaster, theSnakeride, Orbiters, trampolines, and the classicCrazy Golf.
It was home to a swinging pirate ship, flume, rollercoasters and mini black taxi carts.
Earlier this year, there had been rumours for plans for a reopening it this year – these however have been scrapped.
In May 2025, hopes were reignited to reopen the park after a new leisure company called Richens Leisure Projects (RLP) stepped in to not only save the attraction but also make it bigger through a £250million project.
Those hopes were short-lived as the entire project was scrapped a few weeks later. And owners Aspro Parks, revealed they had no intentions of selling the site.
Alton Towers waved goodbye to Postman Pat’s Parcel Post rideCredit: Alamy
Found in its CBeebies Land, the ride had first opened in 2014 as part of the land’s launch – so it’s safe to say it has been a classic for any visitors with young children for years.
It closed to make way for a new ride coming in 2026, the new Bluey-themed junior rollercoaster.
Small rides like Alpine Rallye were closed at the popular amusement park in BlackpoolCredit: Unknown
Smaller Rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
In February 2025, Blackpool Pleasure Beach announced the closure of five of its rides.
It said on its website: “We’ve made the decision to close some of our smaller, less popular rides during the 2025 season: Eddie Stobart Convoy, Alpine Rallye, Thompson Carousel, Gallopers and Red Arrows Skyforce.”
The decision to close some of the smaller rides at the park however, is to make way for new ones – or to redesign them.
For example in 2024, the park’s ride Ice Blast closed and will soon open as Launch Pad.
It said: “Launch Pad promises to be more thrilling, immersive and dynamic than ever before as riders shoot to the clouds at high speed.
“We’re confident that once you’ve ridden it you’ll agree that its temporary downtime was worth the wait.”
The highly-anticipated World of Frozen will open in MarchCredit: Disney
Now for the more exciting news – what’s coming up in 2026 from whole new theme park lands and worlds to one-of-a-kind rides.
World of Frozen, Disneyland Paris
You might have heard that a movie-inspired land is coming to Disneyland Paris, and it’s all based around the hit film, Frozen.
It will open on March 29, 2026 with a new attraction called Frozen Ever After where visitors will bob through the North mountain to Elsa’s Ice Palace.
Of course Elsa and Ana will be around the land as will Olaf and even the troll, Mossi.
There will also be a new restaurant called Nordic Crowns Tavern, the Arendelle Boutique shop and the Fjord View Shop.
The World of Frozen is part of the newly reimagined second park,DisneyAdventure World.
Read on to find out more about the World of Frozen from Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski, who went for a behind the scenes look in November.
A Viking realm will launch at Paultons Park with a thrilling new ride
Realm of the Vikings, Paultons Park
Family-friendly theme park, Paultons Park has revealed plans for a new £12million attraction set to open in May 2026.
The park be park which will be named Valgard – Realm of the Vikings, will be a viking-themed world with Paultons Park’s first inverting rollercoaster.
Called Drakon, it’s set to become the park’s most thrilling ride with a vertical lift hill and two twists that will take riders upside down.
There will also be Vild Swing that swirls riders 12 metres in the air, two brand new thrill rides, retheming of Cobra – a famous ride at Paultons Park, into a bobsled adventure.
The ride will be renamed Raven to complement the Viking village experience.
The new immersive land will delight children who are a fan of the PAW Patrol pups.
There will be four new rides across the land including a brand new ‘my first rollercoaster’ for the littlest of visitors.
There will also be photo opportunities and themed bedrooms for the ‘ultimate sleepover’ first opened in 2025.
Devon’s Crealy Theme Park & Resort will open a new ride as it celebrates milestone anniversaryCredit: Crealy Theme Park & Resort
Pirates’ Plummet, Crealy Theme Park & Resort
Crealy Theme Park & Resort is celebrating its 25 years since the opening of Devon‘s first rollercaoster with a new addition next year.
The rollercoaster called Pirates’ Plummet is a family thrill ride and will open in 2026.
Few details have been released on the ride so far, but there will be no doubt more updates in the New Year.
We went behind the scenes of the upcoming Frozen land at Disneyland Paris…
Assistant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowskiwent for an exclusive look at the World of Frozen earlier this year…
“A SNOW-capped mountain towers behind an ancient clock tower, its frosty peak protruding a whopping 36-metres into a cloudy sky.
“At its foot, a wooden-rimmed postbox is waiting to receive a bundle of postcards, Arendelle’s first ever mail, while a magnificent snowflake-shaped fountain sparkles in the centre of the street.”
“I was taking an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the much-hyped area of thetheme park,scheduledto open on March 29next year with a bundle of new rides and activities based entirely on the animation blockbuster.
“Visitor postcards sent home from the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, over which Frozen characters Elsa and Ana rule, are just one small part of what makes this land so special.
“The immersion goes beyond what’s been seen at any Disney park so far, from the ornate-framed paintings of characters to the ultra-modern technology that places Disney fans actually in the story.
“The clock tower, complete with mini Ana and Elsa figurines, sparks into song every 15 minutes and flickering lanterns dangle from pastel-coloured buildings.
“There’ll be a whopping 13 other dining venues in Arendelle alone, including food stalls serving sticky cinnamon rolls and the grand Regal View, World of Frozen’s character-dining venue.
This spot is impressive enough without the meet-and-greets. Disney Princesses have been painted into fresco-like murals across the walls and curved chandeliers dangle from the ceiling.
“And of course, no trip to Arandelle would be complete without a visit to the kingdom’s impeccably dressed Elsa and Ana.
“And the duo won’t just appear on the street; they will dramatically sail across the lake via a huge wooden vessel, preparing to greet their fans at the “Royal Encounter” in the castle.
“A lifesized and hyper-realistic Olaf will make an appearance, too. But unlike every other character at Disneyland Paris, Frozen’s star snowman has been built using clever robotics that allow the character to talk and even waddle away on his stumpy snow feet.
“The highlight will most definitely be the lands boat ride, Frozen Ever After, which will carry riders through the snowy forest towards the Valley of the Trolls and Elsa’s sparkling Ice Palace.
“Animatronics promise to bring scenes to life as riders approach Arendelle Bay which will be showered in snowflake-shaped fireworks.”
