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"Emmerdale star Sian Reese-Williams has decided to leave the soap after five years playing Gennie Walker. The actress will bow out on screen in the summer as she wishes to pursue other career opportunities.  Show bosses are now lining up a dramatic departure for Gennie to ensure that the popular character goes out with a bang. In a statement released to Digital Spy today (May 12), Reese-Williams commented: &amp;quot;I have absolutely adored my five years playing Gennie and being part of such an iconic show.  &amp;quot;My decision to leave has nothing to do with Emmerdale - it&amp;#039;s such a special place and I will always cherish it - but I feel it&amp;#039;s the right time for me to say goodbye and find new challenges.  &amp;quot;It was an incredibly difficult decision to make and I will miss my friends, the show and of course Genesis. But as an actor, my main passion has always been playing many different people, and I&amp;#039;m really looking forward to doing that again. I am excited about what the future holds.&amp;quot;  Reese-Williams made her first appearance in Emmerdale in April 2008, when Gennie turned up unexpectedly to meet her biological father Shadrach Dingle. Her time in the village got off to a dramatic start as she was immediately involved in a road accident. Gennie&amp;#039;s other major storylines have included a fling with Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw), her popular partnership with Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem) and her live birth scene in Emmerdale&amp;#039;&amp;#039;s special 40th anniversary episode. More recently, Gennie has been supporting her adoptive mother Brenda after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursday. Digital Spy Soap Scoop video - press play below to watch Amie Parker-Williams reveal gossip on infidelity in Coronation Street, a fire in Emmerdale, a new arrival in EastEnders and a murder probe in Hollyoaks.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/news/a480705/emmerdale-sian-reese-williams-to-leave-gennie-walker-role/>