Emmerdale's Vanessa Woodfield has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Monday night's episode saw Pierce Harris, who is holding the vet hostage at Mulberry Cottage, disclose the news to viewers. Vanessa hasn't been able to tell her loved ones about her diagnosis yet, with her kidnapper the only one who knows about it. Through the next few months, Emmerdale viewers will see Vanessa try and come to terms with her diagnosis and symptoms - and get ready for her treatment. Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa, admitted that it's a "challenging storyline" - but the ITV soap has been working with Bowel Cancer UK as part of the storyline. "This is such a challenging storyline, but we’ve been working closely with Bowel Cancer UK, who have been enormously helpful to me in researching Vanessa’s symptoms and treatment," Michelle Hardwick said [via Metro]. "I hope to do Vanessa’s story justice. I was actually really shocked to learn that bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, but diagnosed early is treatable." "We greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with the Emmerdale team on this important storyline. While everyone’s experience of diagnosis is different, it is vital that Vanessa’s story is as accurate as possible," Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said. "Although bowel cancer is more common in the over 50s, it can affect people of all ages. More than 2,500 people under 50, like Vanessa, are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every year. This storyline will help to raise awareness of bowel cancer, and we hope it encourages viewers to recognise the symptoms and visit their GP if they’re concerned."