Emmerdale icon dealt crushing blow as exit 'sealed' after 30 years amid ITV cuts

Emmerdale icon Kim Tate (played by Claire King) is at risk of being axed from the show as ITV makes cuts across the board. Following news that ITV is slashing £15 million from the budgets of flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale, Kim, who first appeared in the show back in 1989, has topped the odds as the soap character most likely to get the chop as part of the cost-cutting measures. With ITV's profits at an all-time low, producers are reportedly being dropped.

In the latest odds, Emmerdale's Kim Tate faces a 6/4 chance of being written out of the long-running rural drama by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, over on the cobbles, Coronation Street's Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott) leads the way in the betting for characters facing the axe with odds of 11/8.

In May, ITV announced cuts to their daytime shows, with This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine and Good Morning Britain all set to be impacted in the new year.

Last month, The Guardian reported on Thursday (24 July) that ITV had implemented a cost-cutting measure after its profits fell by 44 per cent in the first half of the year, with the broadcaster's programming budget reportedly being reduced from £1.25 billion to £1.23 billion.

As a result, The Sun has claimed that ITV is proposing that both soaps could each cut 10 per cent of their permanent cast, cited as 84 for Corrie and 70 for Emmerdale, and have fewer scenes per episode in order to save money. ITV has since responded to the claims as "complete speculation".

However, BetIdeas.com has compiled a list of the characters likely to get the chop, and alongside Kim and Ryan, plenty of fan favourites appear to be in danger.

Betideas.com spokesman Steven McQuillan said: "Cost cuts are never easy, especially in soaps where audiences build deep connections with characters over decades. Our traders expect at least 10 per cent of each cast to be trimmed. If budget pressures continue, we could see far more changes."

"Right now, Kim Tate and Ryan Connor lead the betting to be written out, but several other well-known characters are not far behind. Sadly, no one is truly safe in this round of cuts."

Several members of the Dingle clan have made the list with Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) at 2/1 to go while Marlon Dingle (Marc Charnock) is at 11//. Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) are both at 5/1 in the odds.

Over on Coronation Street, Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) follows Ryan in the betting at 7/4. Meanwhile, Weatherfield stalwart Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) is at 15/8.