Preggers Lucy shipped off to Ireland!

EMMERDALE star Lucy Pargeter has spilled the beans on the storyline that sees her being signed-off for maternity leave.

The actress plays village favourite Chas Dingle and is expecting twins in real life, who are due in May.

Lucy, 40, said her character will be temporarily written out of the Yorkshire Dales-set soap which she has starred in for the last 15 years.

Chas has been taking care of Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele), her son Aaron’s (Danny Miller) half-sister while he is in prison as her mum lives in Ireland.

Lucy said: “Liv’s mum has had an accident in Ireland where she lives and Chas sees herself as Liv’s acting mother because Aaron is in prison still.

“She decides to take Liv over to Ireland to see her mum.

“It’ll be me gone for a while, but not too long, depending. I’ll be back very soon.

“Fictionally, I’m in Ireland, having a lovely summer.” GUANTANAMO Bay has a gift shop