FORMER Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell, 52, bravely revealed today she is battling terminal lung cancer.

The tragic news prompted dozens of fans to visit the fundraising page set up by her partner Jez Hughes so she can be treated at a specialist clinic in Germany.

Most Emmerdale enthusiasts will remember Leah's character, Zoe Tate, as a loose cannon at the heart of many of the show's most memorable storylines.

From being diagnosed with schizophrenia to sending Charity to prison for her brother's suicide, here are the village vet's best moments from 16 years in the Dales.

Coming out as a lesbian

Having returned to the village after a stint working in New Zealand, Zoe had a one-night stand with Michael Feldmann and a fling with Archie Brooks (Tony Pitts).

But viewers were shocked when Zoe announced to Archie she was gay and started up a relationship with Emma Nightingale.

It was all going swimmingly for the couple, until Emma's ex-girlfriend Susie showed up in the village.

Zoe ended up falling for her and left Emma – though that proved an unwise move when Susie cheated on her with another woman.

Zoe then fell for Charity Dingle after her brother Chris (Peter Amory) moved her into Home Farm as his assistant, and the pair started up a steamy affair.

Though Charity ended their fling when Zoe started becoming obsessive – prompting her to start blackmailing Charity, who then confessed the affair to Chris.

He chose Charity over Zoe, causing Zoe to spiral into depression.

Battle with schizophrenia

Following the debacle with Charity, Zoe began hearing voices, started talking to her dead father and even set fire to the church.

During one of her early schizophrenic episodes she ended up in bed with Scott Windsor (Ben Freeman) but had no recollection of it.

Zoe was later sectioned and diagnosed with schizophrenia – a sensitive storyline for which the soap was praised by critics.

Pregnancy

Following her liaison with Scott, Zoe was stunned to discover she was pregnant and considered aborting the child or having it adopted.

Deciding to keep it, she gave birth to daughter Jean (Megan Pearson).

Scott worked out he was the father, but Zoe couldn't recall having sex with him and suspected he had raped her – until Ashley Thomas told her it happened before she was diagnosed.

Her brother's suicide

Chris married Charity in 2001, but she did the dirty on him before he found out he had a brain tumour.

After learning of her infidelity, Chris committed suicide – and purposefully placed Charity in the frame for his murder.

Realising Zoe knew the truth, Charity tried to seduce her to win her over – but her plan didn't work and Zoe testified that Charity killed Chris, which resulted in her going to prison.

Charity later gave birth to Chris' son Noah, and agreed to give Zoe custody in return for the evidence that Chris took his own life.

Zoe tried to adopt Noah but was refused permission.

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The Scott saga

Wanting her little girl to grow up with a mum and dad, Zoe had a very brief relationship with Scott.

Trouble is, she couldn't bring herself to be attracted to him and had an affair with Rachel Whatmore (Zoe Lambert).

After learning Zoe was planning to emigrate to New Zealand with Jean, Scott and his mum Viv plotted to try to stop her leaving.

Discovering his plan, Zoe took revenge on Scott by letting him think she was in love with him – prompting him to pop the question.

She brutally turned him down, declaring she would rather "put needles in her eyes".

This infuriated Scott and he attempted to rape her.

Trying to defend herself, Zoe stabbed him with a syringe full of Ketamine – and once he was unconscious, she injected him again, leaving Scott fighting for his life.

Zoe stood trial for attempted murder, but got off 'scott free' after Paddy (Dominic Brunt) told police she acted in self-defence.

Her explosive exit

In 2006 Zoe and estate manager Callum Rennie (Andrew Whipp) plotted to leave Home Farm, after Zoe was blackmailed into selling it at a fraction of the price by Sadie King (Patsy Kensit).

In a final twist, the pair broke a gas pipe and set a timer to go off just as the King family arrived.

They then famously watched the Home Farm explode – along with 8.5million viewers – before driving off into the sunset.

That year Leah won Best Exit at the British Soap Awards.

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