Emmerdale icon ‘axed’ after 15 years as ‘fuming co-stars confront bosses over decision’

Emmerdale’s Sam Hall has reportedly been axed after playing Samson Dingle for 15 years.

The 20-year-old actor has played the Sam Dingle’s on since he was just five years old but the character is allegedly set to be killed off, according to reports.

Sam is said to be “absolutely gutted” about the decision and his co-stars, including his on-screen dad James Hooton, have rallied to offer support to the young star.

A TV source told The Sun : “Sam had a meeting with bosses earlier this month where they broke the news. He has been left devastated. He’s grown up with his on-screen Dingle clan and they are all very protective of him.

“Some of the cast even went to talk to bosses about their decision. As news of his axing swept through the building there were quite a lot of angry Dingles. The fact that they are planning on killing him off means there’ll be no way back for him either. He’s absolutely gutted.” Sam has tackled tough storylines on the ITV soap over the years including being a teen dad after a fling with Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell).

The actor once said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute. I love being a Dingle.” Offering some behind-the-scenes insight during a 2021 interview with Metro, Sam said: “From the day I started everyone was so supportive and kind. Being in the Dingle family meant growing up with characters like Lisa, Zak, and Sam who are as great offscreen as they are on screen.”

The soap star took over the part permanently following the axing of his predecessor Benjamin Shooter, who played Samson in 2007 and 2008. Benjamin’s family weren’t exactly happy about the switch and, according to Benjamin’s mother Emma, the then two-year-old was fired from set after breaking down in tears while filming some upsetting scenes.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm