Liam Fox left Emmerdale in 2023 after portraying Dan Spencer for 12 years. Fox desired a change and wanted a break from soapland so he made the tough call to end his time on the show and pursue other opportunities. Here's what you need to know about Liam Fox's emotional and shocking exit as Dan Spencer.
Who is Emmerdale's Dan Spencer?
After being introduced in 2011, Dan Spencer became a staple of the long-running British soap Emmerdale. Originally, we saw Dan as a single father who tried to overcome real-life challenges. Struggling to connect with his teenage daughter Amelia (Daisy Campbell) after separating from his wife, Dan focused on reconnecting and proving they could build a special relationship in a loving home.
Romance was definitely on the cards for Dan Spencer, but no one captured his and our hearts quite like Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton). Their hot and cold relationship was a major storyline throughout Dan's time in Emmerdale. Kerry was wild and spontaneous which complimented Dan's more grounded personality. Their relationship provided the much-needed comic relief in the midst of typical soapland drama.
Why did Liam Fox leave?
Emmerdale wasn't always smooth sailing for Dan as he faced some darker storylines towards the end. His daughter Amelia was getting stalked by a man named Lloyd. In a blink of an eye, Dan reacted in anger and punched Lloyd, which led to his death.
Unfortunately, Dan couldn't get away with his crimes and was sentenced to 8 years in prison for manslaughter. Liam Fox delivered some of his most powerful performances during this storyline and it was heartbreaking watching the breakdown of an otherwise beloved character.
Dan's departure from the show was marked by this change in his storyline. As he prepared to leave for prison, Dan said goodbye to all of his loved ones.
Sharing a collection of memories on social media, Liam wrote:
"Thank you @itv @itvxofficial @emmerdale for 12 years of incredible memories… I’ll miss you all, but for now at least it’s time for new adventures. Love you all! But I need this break, I need to face the fear! Who knows what the future holds!!!! ❤️❤️❤️."
Reflecting on his departure from the show and the impact of his character's storylines, Fox shared his thoughts,
“Millions watch Emmerdale and I hope if it makes one person watching stop and change their mind about how one punch can lead to catastrophic results, then this story is worth it for that alone. I loved playing Dan because he is a likeable character. He wants to do the right thing but this story is one where he’s done everything against what Dan stands for. Whilst this story is bittersweet as it means I am leaving the soap, I have also had a brilliant time filming and I have even lost a stone in the process.”
Who knows what the future holds for Liam Fox, but we will all miss Dan Spencer.
Catch Emmerdale episodes on ITV1 and ITVX.
