Rik Makarem has quit 'Emmerdale' - again.
Rik Makarem
The 34-year-old actor - who plays handsome businessman Nikhil Sharma in the soap - has decided to turn his back on the long-running show once again, following his return just four months ago, in order to pursue his music career.
Speaking on 'This Morning' today (19.02.16), he said: "Part of my decision for not staying with the show on a permanent basis was because I decided that 2016 really has to be the year where I get the music and songs that I am writing in front of the correct Artists and Repertoire people. It took a couple of months to really consider whether it was the right choice. "
Rik - who joined the soap in 2009 - walked away from the programme in 2013 when his on-screen wife Genesis Walker is murdered and he flee to Canada with their daughter Molly.
He then made a shock return last October when he his on-screen father Rishi Sharma (Bhasker Patel) begged him to come back to the Dales and take control of the factory after his brother Jai Sharma's near-fatal drugs overdose.
Meanwhile, Rik's alter-ego is set to walk away from the village in tonight's episode (19.02.16) after he and Jai come to blows over his fiancée Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi).
He said: "Nikhil being back in the village was a surprise to everyone, including me as an actor.
"He is head over heels for this girl but there are a few little signs saying it isn't going to be right.
"When you are stepping back into old shoes, you want to add something to it and bring more layers into the mix."
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