'Emmerdale's abusive Andy Sudgen will attempt to take his own life when wife Jo finally decides to leave him.

The unstable man, played by actor Kelvin Fletcher, has been subjecting Jo to his violent outbursts in recent months, but she has reached the end of her tether and realises that she needs to get out of the volatile situation.

Fortunately, Jo (Roxanne Pallett) is not on her own as friend Sam Dingle (James Hooton) cottons on to the fact that her little 'accidents' are nothing of the sort when he takes her to the hospital to be treated for her latest injuries.

Determined to help his pal to get out of her dangerous relationship, Sam gives Jo the courage to leave Andy once and for all, which pushes her enraged husband over the edge.

Andy, distraught that his marriage is falling apart, resorts to drastic measures by trying to commit suicide by taking an overdose of pills.

A show source said in The Daily Star: "It's going to be a huge twist in their story and it will show fans exactly how messed up Andy really is.

"It's gone far beyond him just trying to control Jo. He can't look after himself any more and that feeling of not being in control pushes him over the edge.

"Naturally, Jo is shocked when she finds out and it has a huge impact on whether she makes a clean break from him or sticks around to see if this time he actually has changed."