Suzy Merton
Suzy Merton is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Martelle Edinborough. She made her first appearance on 30 March 2022. Edinborough had previously appeared in Emmerdale in 2018 and was excited to be cast on the soap again, calling it a dream job. Edinborough almost fainted when found out she secured the role of Suzy. The character was introduced as a love interest for Vanessa Woodfield, but soon after her introduction it was revealed that Suzy had a secret link to Leyla Harding as part of her new storyline. It is later revealed that the pair have been doing cocaine together. Suzy was also given a surprise link to former character Holly Barton, who died of a drug overdose. The other villagers shun Suzy after it is revealed that she gave Holly the money to buy drugs on the night that she died and Vanessa breaks up with her. They later get back together but break up again when Vanessa leaves for a job out of the village. Suzy is later given a new love interest, Mary Goskirk, and the pair develop feelings for each other. However, their feelings do not turn into a relationship and Suzy gets back together with Vanessa, creating a love triangle. Suzy's other storylines have focused on her friendship with Leyla and getting attacked. For her role as Suzy, Edinborough was longlisted for "Best Newcomer" at the 2022 Inside Soap Awards. Suzy and Mary's potential romance has received mixed reviews from fans. Suzy was killed off during the episode broadcast on 17 February 2025 after being involved in a limousine crash.
Casting
On 29 March 2022, it was announced that Martelle Edinborough had been cast as Suzy Merton, a love interest for Vanessa Woodfield who would "shake things up". Suzy made a brief appearance on 30 March 2022 and then reappeared the following week. Speaking about joining the soap, Edinborough explained, ""My feet haven't quite touched the ground yet, I'm still on this massive cloud high up in the sky, but it's been going really, really good. It's just like a family, and it sounds so cliché but it really is and everyone is so lovely and welcoming and helps you settle in really nicely." Edinborough found the beginning of her Emmerdale experience "just amazing" and believed that Suzy was a "really fun" character to play and was looking forward to what would come up for her. Edinborough called Suzy a "a whirlwind of fun", explaining that she is gregarious, confident and "fun to be around", but also does not take any nonsense and likes to get what she wants. Edinborough revealed that she was "absolutely over the moon and overjoyed" to secure the role, and almost fainted when she found out, explaining, "I'd just got out of the shower and I saw my phone ringing and it was my agent. She did the usual of 'Oh hi, how are you doing?' and then she was like, 'You got it!' and I literally dropped to my knees and let out a few expletives, as you do". Edinborough is from Yorkshire and found it "perfect" working in Emmerdale due to it being close to Leeds, where she lives. She called working on the soap a dream job, asking "What actor from Yorkshire doesn't want to work on Emmerdale?" Edinborough had previously portrayed a doctor in Emmerdale in 2018 and had also appeared in two other soap operas, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street.In April 2023, Edinborough took a break from the soap in order to receive brain surgery and subsequent recovery to treat a brain aneurysm. The following month, the actress announced on twitter that she had returned to filming as Suzy and revealed that she enjoyed her first day back on set.
Development
Introduction and romance
Suzy was introduced as a love interest for Vanessa Woodfield. Edinborough teased that romance could be possible for the two women, explaining that "there is definitely an attraction there. So there is potential for something romantic". The actress believed that "Suzy is pleasantly surprised with Vanessa" and added that the later has "something about her that Suzy likes and she's not quite sure what as yet". Vanessa initially bumps into Suzy and ruins the cake that she is carrying. They then bump into each other again the following week, where they flirt and plan a dinner date, which secretly pleases a delighted Vanessa. However, on the day of the date, Vanessa is forced to stay home to look after her sick son and is unable to contact Suzy due to her phone being broken, so Vanessa goes on a "mission" to make amends with Suzy after standing her up and the pair go to a wine tasting. The two later become girlfriends.Drug link to Leyla
Shortly after Suzy's debut, it was teased that the character had a "surprise link" to established character Leyla Harding, with it being reported by Digital Spy that she would be "playing a role" in Leyla's "mysterious" storyline. Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw had previously teased an upcoming "big" storyline for Leyla, suggesting that Leyla may not be coping as well as she appears and that something about her would be uncovered. In the storyline, Leyla, who has been taking "cryptic" phone calls, is shocked and "visibly rattled" when she sees Suzy drinking with Vanessa at The Woolpack on their date, with Suzy telling Vanessa that they know each other through work. Things become "awkward" when Suzy later tells a shaken Leyla that she will keep her secrets, but Leyla insists that Suzy should not be in Emmerdale or dating Vanessa. Leyla becomes worried when Vanessa toasts to going on more dates with Suzy. Charlotte Tutton from the Daily Mirror speculated that Leyla and Suzy were hiding something "huge".The mystery about their connection is solved when it is revealed that Leyla has developed a "worrying drug habit". Shahidi explained that Leyla used to use drugs recreationally at times in her past, and she then threw herself into work "as a way of escaping the painful situation" of Leyla's husband, Liam Cavanagh's, grief over his murdered daughter, Leanna Cavanagh, which led to her collaborating with Suzy, who plan events. Suzy would provide and use cocaine on the "party scene", which Leyla began to do at times "with more and more frequency". Shahidi revealed that it is "terrifying" for Leyla to have Suzy in the village, explaining, "It'd almost be like having your mistress and your wife in the same room! With the proximity of Suzy, Leyla fears that she's closer to being caught or exposed. When what she did with Suzy was safely tucked away and separate, Leyla could compartmentalise that. With Suzy now being in her home, in her local pub, sat talking to her husband, Leyla feels that she'll be less able to do that". Shahidi believed that viewers would be "utterly shocked" by the "really good twist". The truth about the connection is revealed when Suzy begins collaborating with Leyla and Priya Sharma on their wedding planning business Take a Vow, and the three are delighted when Suzy secures the business of a "potentially lucrative client", which leads to Suzy and Leyla later meeting separately and celebrating by taking drugs. Their secret is almost exposed when Vanessa walks in whilst Leyla is doing drugs on the desk. Leyla's drugs also result in Laurel Thomas breaking up with Jai Sharma when the drugs are found next to his wallet.
Connection to Holly
It is later revealed that Suzy also has a connection to former character Holly Barton, who was killed off in 2016 from a drug overdose. The connection is revealed to Holly's mother, Moira Barton, and other villagers during a business presentation, as the slideshow features a photo of Holly with Suzy wearing the same outfit that she wore on the night she died.Vanessa tries to cover for Suzy, who tells an upset Moira – who had no idea that Suzy knew her daughter – that she only gave Holly a photography gigs at the wedding. Moira remains unsettled and she and Jai, who loved Holly, beg her to tell them what happened on Holly's last night, but Suzy claims that she left early and did not see what set Holly off. However, Suzy later tells Vanessa she gave Holly the money to get drugs "to treat herself" on the night of her death and also fired her from her job as she did not want to feed her habit, which leaves Vanessa horrified and angry. Suzy puts pressure on Vanessa to keep her secret "for everyone's sake". Meanwhile, Moira apologises to Suzy and, not knowing the truth, tells her Holly's death is not her fault, and asks her to share memories of her friendship with Holly.
Following the reveal, a "dark cloud" hangs over Emmerdale and Suzy has to face the consequences of her actions, with the other villagers talking about her, including Leyla, who joins in insulting Suzy without admitting her own mistake or their connection. Also facing harsh words from Vanessa and Jai, Suzy feels like she has lost everything but despite Leyla's "harsh words", she takes the fall for the packet of drugs that Jai was blamed for, despite them being Leyla's. A "scorned" Suzy then gives Leyla a "scary" warning, telling her that she is addicted to cocaine and that the drugs have changed her, in addition to the fact that she is playing a "dangerous game" by hiding the addiction from her loved ones. Suzy is also angry at Leyla as she wanted to tell Moira about her connection to Holly as soon as she found out, but Leyla talked her out of it.