Georgia Jay surprises fans as she secretly welcomes her first child Nora in the summer while living in the UK

Emmerdale star Georgia Jay surprised fans when she revealed she had quietly welcomed her first child over the summer.

The actress, known for playing Steph Milligan on the ITV soap, shared a sweet New Year’s Eve post introducing her baby daughter, Nora, who was born back in June.

The news comes just weeks after Georgia publicly announced her pregnancy on Instagram, saying she and her partner were “excited and a little nervous all at once.”

Fans were delighted to see that her life had taken a beautiful turn away from the cameras.

Co-Stars Flood Social Media With Love

Georgia’s announcement was met with a wave of congratulatory messages from her Emmerdale colleagues.

Beth Cordingly, who plays her on-screen mother Ruby, wrote: “You are perfect and so is she.

Love you x.” Laura Norton, portraying Kerry Wyatt, added: “Yay congrats gorgeous” along with three heart emojis.

Clearly, the cast is thrilled for Georgia and her family as she navigates motherhood for the first time.

Steph Milligan’s Temporary Exit Mirrors Real Life

Viewers will remember that Steph Milligan’s character temporarily left the show back in August, which coincided with Georgia’s maternity leave.

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Her storylines were put on pause, giving her the time she needed to welcome Nora and adjust to life as a new parent.

The timing allowed Georgia to keep her pregnancy private for the most part, with only her closest fans and co-stars knowing about the birth until now.

Joe Absolom Exits the Soap With a Dark Storyline

Meanwhile, Emmerdale has also seen one of its more villainous characters leave the village.

Joe Absolom, who played the dark and complex Ray Walters, has filmed his final scenes.

His exit comes alongside his on-screen mother, played by Jaye Griffiths.

The pair were central to some of the soap’s most shocking storylines this year, involving crime, manipulation, and betrayal.

Fans had been following Ray’s twisted journey, including his unexpected romance with Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy), but his story concludes ahead of the show’s anticipated crossover with Coronation Street.

Making the Most of a Short but Impactful Run

A source told The Sun that the producers “knew they only ever had Joe for a certain amount of time” but made the most of his talents while he was in the village.

Absolom wrapped filming in November, leaving fans to say goodbye to a character that had brought plenty of drama and intrigue.

New Beginnings Both On and Off Screen

As one year ends and another begins, Emmerdale fans are seeing transitions both on and off-screen.

Georgia Jay steps into motherhood with baby Nora, while the village says farewell to one of its darkest characters.

For viewers and cast alike, it’s a reminder of life continuing, in all its excitement and unpredictability, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.