Emmerdale exit: Why is Simon Lennon leaving as Ben Tucker?

Emmerdale: Ben decides to split up with Aaron

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Simon’s character Ben was killed off at the end of Thursday night’s hour-long episode of Emmerdale as Meena Jutla (played by Paige Sandhu) claimed her third victim. The actor has been a part of the ITV soap family since Autumn 2020 and has now left just over a year since he first started. With the door firmly closed on his character’s story, here is everything you need to know about why Simon has left the programme.

How did Ben Tucker leave Emmerdale?

It has been teased for a few weeks Ben would be leaving the show as he was looking for a new job having been solely blamed for the catastrophic events of survival week.

Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) was also planning on departing with him but the kayaking instructor stumbled across some evidence of someone trying to drown Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins).

Instead of clearing his name, he discovered Meena was a killer and when she arrived at The Hop having heard he’d seen her in action, a battle began.

The two villagers went head to head as they both had very different conclusions to the story and when it appeared the villain was dead, Ben made his escape.

Unfortunately, he went back to check on her, leaving the camera with all the evidence in the car outside, which was a big mistake.

After realising he had left his car door open, Ben ran back outside but it was too late as Meena had got her hands on the evidence.

As the game of cat and mouse continued, she hid in the shadows, leaving her latest victim on tenterhooks as he had no idea where she was.

Before he could make a run for it, she hit him around the head with an oar and he was left bleeding out on the floor.

This wasn’t enough to kill him completely so she hit him a second time as the end credits rolled, bringing an end to his time on the show.

The coming days and weeks will see an investigation begin as to how he died and who could have killed him.

It’s been amazing

Simon Lennon

Why did Simon Lennon leave Emmerdale as Ben Tucker?

With regards to why Simon has left, this has not been confirmed but it is likely the actor wanted to pursue other acting opportunities.

It is so likely the ending of Ben’s storyline would have coincided with the end of his contract with the show and his journey had run its course.

As the actor who plays Aaron, Danny, has also announced he is leaving the show in the near future, Simon’s character would have been leaving under some sort of circumstance.

Prior to his exit, the actor spoke on ITV’s Lorraine about his time on the soap, explaining: “I joined just after the pandemic started to ease so it was a very odd time for the industry.

“But it’s been amazing,” he continued before talking about what it has been like to star alongside some of his colleagues.

Simon said: “On any television or film set, you spend 13-14 hours a day with the same people from the first thing in the morning until the last thing at night.

“And then you go home, go to bed and do the same thing the next day. So it is a very tight nit and it is a cliche but you do have a family on every job you’re doing.”

The actor has also spoken out on the reaction he has received from the public since joining the show last Autumn.

He commented: “It’s been good. I don’t read too much, but I do see when I get tagged in things. Everyone is so kind and a lot of people are curious about where Ben has been.

“I’m glad that he’s been able to get back in and amongst the banter again.”

The soap star added: “You’ve been able to see more of Ben’s personality as an individual and who he is around other people.”

Simon lived in London when he first started his career but he has explained he would be willing to do more projects north in the future.

“I didn’t know what was up north and I thought you had to move to London, so that’s what I did when I was 18. I turned down uni offers and moved down there with the hope of going to drama school and being an actor.

“The older I’ve become and the more work I’ve done, I’ve learned more about the industry and the work up north.

“I’m glad I made the decision at the time, but if had the choice again now, I wouldn’t because there is such an amazing theatre, film and television scene up north.”

The actor continued: “It’s ever-expanding and there are so many companies moving up north.

“I strive now to be involved as much as I can in work that is being created outside of London, so this industry doesn’t just become London-based.

“As amazing and as exciting as that is, there are so many amazing places outside of London that are creating incredible work too.

“I think it’s so important to be part of that from the bottom up as it builds,” the soap star explained.

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode airing on Thursdays at 8pm.

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