Former James Bond producer's first project post-007 revealed - and it's starring Wicked's Cynthia Erivo
Oscar-nominated star Cynthia Erivo will be joined by David Oyelowo and Rachel Brosnahan.
Former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has revealed that her first post-007 feature film will be an adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello. Deadline reports that Broccoli announced the news at Industry Days in Qatar, hosted by the Film Committee at Media City Qatar in partnership with the Doha Film Institute. The film is reportedly being shot in the Gulf territory and has financial backing from within Qatar. Broccoli is producing the film alongside Nicky Bentham and actor David Oyelowo, who will also star as the titular character. Oyelowo previously played the role of Othello in Broccoli's 2016 theatre production of the play, which reinvisioned the play as being set in US army barracks in Iraq. In addition to Oyelowo, the film will also feature Superman actress Rachel Brosnahan in the role of Othello's wife Desdemona, with Brosnahan also returning from the theatre production. Finally, Broccoli also confirmed that Wicked: For Good star Cynthia Erivo has been cast in the role of Emilia in the adaptation. In the play, Emilia is the maidservant of Desdemona and the wife of the story's antagonist, the scheming Iago. The casting for one of Shakespeare's most iconic villains, Iago, has yet to be confirmed. The news comes after it was revealed earlier this year that Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G Wilson would no longer be in creative control of the James Bond franchise, which would now rest entirely with Amazon MGM Studios. At the time, Broccoli said in a statement: "My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. "I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. "With the conclusion of No Time to Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects." Producer Cubby Broccoli had been involved with the Bond film franchise since its inception. Wicked: For Good is out now in cinemas, while no release date has been set for James Bond 26. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Strictly's Tess Daly put on the spot at Blackpool with question on show future following exit news
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been confirmed to be leaving the show after this year.
Tess Daly was put on the spot over a potential return to Strictly Come Dancing for a suggested All Stars series. The BBC One show's long-running presenter recently confirmed her exit from the show after over two decades in the role, departing alongside co-presenter Claudia Winkleman and sharing a heartfelt message with fans. In this week's Blackpool show (22nd November 2025), the show has welcomed back stars and previous winners for a group performance, which will air on Sunday. However, Tess found herself asked by a former winner, The Wanted star Jay McGuiness, about her future with the Strictly brand, while sitting between him and another former contestant, actor Layton Williams. After Tess noted that Jay would be recreating his Pulp Fiction jive for viewers, Jay said, "I just have to keep reminding myself how lucky you are even to do this show. I think we all feel really lucky to be invited back." However, he then added: 'And, if, hypothetically, there were a Strictly All Stars, would you want to come back one more time for the road, would you Tess?" Tess initially turned to Layton before both men made clear they meant her. She laughed, surprised: "Who? Me? I'm not a dancer!" Layton then added with a wink: "Neither am I, Tess, neither am I." Tess then responded: "Yes, you are!" She then added: 'It's a lovely idea, I like that." Of course, the mention of a potential All-Star series did not go unnoticed by fans of the show on social media. One viewer penned on X, formerly Twitter: "jay mentioning strictly all stars!!! HAS TO HAPPEN!!!!! #strictly @bbcone DO IT PLZ" Another added to the sentiment, penning on the platform: "I would like for Jay's 'All Stars' idea to become reality please #strictly" Meanwhile, a different viewer mused: "Strictly all stars would be interesting" Finally, one concluded: "Strictly All Stars would be amazing!! Give next year a break! Let the best of the best return". View oEmbed on the source website Elsewhere this week, it was confirmed that La Voix has had to withdraw from the 2025 competition on medical grounds, meaning no contestant will be eliminated during the Blackpool shows. Read more: Dame Helen Mirren and Gavin & Stacey icon confirmed for The Repair Shop 2025 Christmas special with an historical twist Claudia Winkleman wasn't first choice to host The Traitors UK - BBC content boss reveals who was Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday 21st November at 6:35pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Add Strictly Come Dancing to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
New Emmerdale fan-favourite tipped for exit later this year - but will they return?
The character arrived in the village this Autumn - but how much longer will they stay?
Despite going down well with fans since his debut, it seems actor Chris Coghill may have already filmed an exit for his Emmerdale character Kev Townsend. The ITV soap announced in the summer that the former EastEnders actor would be joining the soap as a mysterious character. Following his introduction in September, Coghill's character turned out to be Kev Townsend, the recently paroled secret husband of show favourite Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley). Of course, this provided a fresh complication for star-crossed lovers Robert and his ex-husband, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), the pair having only just survived Robert's murderous half-brother and Aaron's new husband, John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), who has since fled the country. An additional twist in the tale saw Kev reveal that he was terminally ill, prompting Robert to stand by Kev until he died, despite his love for Aaron. Since then, a flashback episode revealed the complex relationship between Robert and Kev, while in the present day, Robert ended his romance with Kev, Kev has hidden that he is not actually terminally ill nor as wealthy as Robert believed, and also since returned to a life of crime. Finally, a fresh twist saw it revealed on Friday (21st November 2025) that Kev is also the biological father of another village newcomer, Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches), but this remains a secret from Lewis for the time being. Now, a report from The Sun suggests that Coghill has wrapped filming his planned limited stint as Kev, but the reception to the character and Coghill's performance has left the door open for a return. A source told the paper: "Viewers absolutely love Kev. Bosses knew Chris would be popular because he’s a great actor but for Kev to have become so popular has definitely come as a big surprise." They added: "Chris has filmed scenes through to the end of the year and that was meant to be it. But now the bosses are looking at ways to bring him back in future to give the fans what they want." RadioTimes.com has reached out to ITV for comment on this story. What will happen to Kev that might cause him to leave the village, and what will this mean for the futures of Robert, Aaron, and Kev's son, Lewis? Read more: 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Bear Wolf forced to commit heart-wrenching act Emmerdale star Joshua Richards reveals aftermath of harrowing Bear Wolf incident in ITVX release Emmerdale's Ryan Hawley teases Aaron's "explosive" reaction to Robert's secret husband – and backs surprise Kev story Chris Coghill reveals previous Emmerdale role and confirms true nature of new character Kev Emmerdale's Jaye Griffiths reveals future for Celia after shocking twist Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?
All the comings and goings in the lively village in 2025.
It's a dramatic time in Emmerdale at the moment, but then again, when isn't it? Following the end of last year, which saw the shock return of Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) and we have already seen some major changes to the cast of Emmerdale with some brutal deaths and exits. However, there remain some more surprises to come. So, who currently stars in the Emmerdale cast? Read on for your essential guide from RadioTimes.com to the latest Emmerdale cast news that you absolutely need to know. Emmerdale cast: Who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast? Emmerdale cast 2025 The full present regular cast for Emmerdale can be found below. Ryan Hawley as Robert Sugden Chris Chittell as Eric Pollard Claire King as Kim Tate Isabel Hodgins as Victoria Sugden James Hooton as Sam Dingle Ned Porteous as Joe Tate Lisa Riley as Mandy Dingle Mark Charnock as Marlon Dingle Dominic Brunt as Paddy Kirk Eden Taylor-Draper as Belle Dingle Emma Atkins as Charity Dingle Jeff Hordley as Cain Dingle Tony Audenshaw as Bob Hope Patrick Mower as Rodney Blackstock Nicola Wheeler as Nicola King Zoe Henry as Rhona Goskirk Rosie Bentham as Gabby Thomas Charlotte Bellamy as Laurel Thomas Lucy Pargeter as Chastity "Chas" Dingle Danny Miller as Aaron Dingle Nick Miles as Jimmy King Jack Downham as Noah Dingle Katie Hill as Sarah Sugden Gabrielle Dowling as Cathy Hope Alfie Clarke as Arthur Thomas Natalie J. Robb as Moira Dingle Ash Palmisciano as Matty Barton Rebecca Bakes as Angelica King Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma Joe-Warren Plant as Jacob Gallagher Luca Hoyle as Elliot Windsor Harvey Rogerson as Leo Goskirk Huey Quinn as Kyle Winchester Kai Assi as Archie Breckle Laura Norton as Kerry Wyatt Michelle Hardwick as Vanessa Woodfield Mike Parr as Ross Barton Jonny McPherson as Dr Liam Cavanagh Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor Amy Walsh as Tracy Robinson Charlie Munro Joyce as Carl Holliday Arthur Cockroft as Moses Dingle Jack Jennings as Johnny Woodfield Tilly-Rue Foster as Dotty Thomas Karen Blick as Lydia Dingle Bobby Dunsmoir as Isaac Dingle Olivia Bromley as Dawn Fletcher James Moore as Ryan Stocks Rebecca Sarker as Dr Manpreet Sharma Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher Bradley Johnson as Vinnie Dingle Joshua Richards as Bear Wolf Noah Ryan Aspinall as Lucas Taylor Bella James as Eve Dingle Lawrence Robb as Mackenzie Boyd Kevin Mathurin as Charles Anderson Louise Jameson as Mary Goskirk William Ash as Caleb Miligan Flo Wilson as Claudette Anderson Beth Cordingly as Ruby Miligan Oliver Farnworth as John Sugden Georgia Jay as Steph Miligan Fred Kettle as Dylan Penders Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq Bradley Riches as Lewis Barton Jaye Griffiths as Celia Daniels Joe Absolom as Ray Walters Chris Coghill as Kev Townsend Here are the following changes ahead of the regular cast. LEAVING Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) When is Celia Daniels leaving? TBC. Actress Jaye Griffiths has confirmed that her villainous character Celia Daniels is only in the soap for a finite time - unsurprising given her long list of monstrous acts. Chatting to RadioTimes.com and other media, Griffiths was asked if she always knew the full picture for her time on the ITV soap. "I knew it was finite, which I am very sad about, because I would like to stay forever," she explained. "It's such a strong arc." Will Celia be brought to justice, escape it, or face a grisly end? REPORTEDLY LEAVING Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) When is Kev Townsend reported to be leaving? December 2025. Actor Chris Coghill has been tipped to have wrapped filming for his planned limited stint as criminal Kev Townsend in Emmerdale. The mysterious character was eventually revealed to be the secret husband of Robert Sugden and was recently revealed to be the father of Lewis Barton. The Sun reports that Coghill's final scenes as Kev will air later this year, but also that bosses are keen for a comeback following the positive reception to the character. RadioTimes.com has reached out to ITV for comment on this story. John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) When is John Sugden reportedly leaving? TBC. It has been reported that killer John Sugden himself will also be leaving the soap when his storyline comes to an end, which is hardly a surprise. The Sun reports a source as saying: "It’s the beginning of the end for John. He’s got away with so much but he’s about to make a fatal mistake that sees him exposed for what he is. “Obviously Oliver knew that a character like John had a shelf life and that’s rapidly approaching." ITV declined to comment when approached by Radio Times. The character is currently on the run after his crimes were exposed, but we doubt this will be the last of him... RETURNING Steph Miligan (Georgia Jay) When is Steph Miligan returning? TBC. Ruby and Caleb's daughter, Steph Miligan, recently fled Emmerdale to start afresh and get away from her trauma and heartache. However, actress Georgia Jay is off on her maternity leave, which means that Steph won't be away from the village permanently. Will Steph be in a better place when she returns? Who has left Emmerdale in 2025? The following characters departed in 2025. Wendy Posner Anthony Fox Tom King (Guest) Suzy Merton Amy Wyatt Leyla Harding Dylan (Guest) Ella Forster Brenda Walker Nate Robinson (Guest) Gail Loman Cara Robinson (Guest) Bernice Blackstock (Guest) Faith Dingle (Guest) Who has left Emmerdale in 2024? The following characters departed in 2024. Heath Hope Lisa Dingle (Guest, voice) Damon "Harry" Harris (Guest) Amit Sharma Gus Malcolms Ethan Anderson Nicky Miligan Suni Sharma Josh Cope (guest) Samson Dingle Emma Barton (Guest) Nate Robinson Helen Fox (Guest) Tom King Amelia Spencer Esther Spencer Daz Spencer (Guest) Will Taylor Jade Garrick (Guest) Who has left Emmerdale in 2023? The following characters departed Emmerdale in 2023. Priya Sharma Amba Metcalfe Marcus Dean Ally Naomi Walters Marshall Hamston Rishi Sharma Georgia Sharma Colin Hamston Dan Spencer Victor Anderson Craig Reed Bernice Blackstock David Metcalfe Theo Metcalfe Damon "Harry" Harris Chloe Harris Reuben Harris Zak Dingle Who left Emmerdale in 2022? The following characters have departed Emmerdale in 2022. Gavin Ellis Chapman DS Rogers Carol Butler Meena Jutla Jason Denshaw Alex Moore Kit Sandra Flaherty Faith Dingle PC Harriet Finch Liv Dingle Diane Sugden Al Chapman Who else will be in the village by the end of the year? View Riddle on the source website Visit our dedicated Emmerdale page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders cast: Who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap?
All the changes to life in Albert Square you need to keep up with.
Following a dramatic year last year, we have finally entered EastEnders' 40th year in 2025, where there will be a host of new arrivals, returns and departures on the way. Last year saw some huge changes for EastEnders, including the departure of Whitney Dean after 15 years in the summer and the arrival of new matriarch Nicola Mitchell in November. RadioTimes.com is here with a handy update on which characters are leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders in the coming months. So who's in? Who's out? And which rumours are true? Read on for all the latest details on cast changes for EastEnders. EastEnders cast 2025 The full present regular cast for EastEnders can be found below in order of the character's first appearance. Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale Letitia Dean as Sharon Watts Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale Alice Haig as Vicki Fowler Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates Thomas Law as Peter Beale Karen Henthorn as Julie Bates Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell Laila Morse as Mo Harris Jessie Wallace as Kat Moon Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater Nicholas Bailey as Dr. Anthony Trueman Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman Shane Ritchie as Alfie Moon Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman Bobby Brazier as Freddie Slater Gillian Wright as Jean Slater Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell Zaraah Abrahams as Chelsea Fox Diane Parish as Denise Fox Grace as Janet Mitchell Jake Wood as Max Branning Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Beale Scott Maslen as Jack Branning Freddie Phillips as Will Mitchell Pierre Counihan-Moullier as Oscar Branning Kitty Castledine as Penny Branning Ellie Dadd as Amy Mitchell Tameka Empson as Kim Fox Lillia Turner as Lily Slater Frankie Day as Ricky Branning Sonny Kendall as Tommy Moon Isabella Brown as Lexi Pearce Kellie Bright as Linda Carter Charlie Suff as Johnny Carter Harriet Thorpe as Elaine Knight Elliot Briffett as Bert Moon Cody Briffett as Ernie Moon Arayah Harris-Buckles as Pearl Fox Harry Farr as Ollie Carter Jake McNally as Louie Beale Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Fox Tony Clay as Callum Highway Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar-Unwin James Farrar as Zack Hudson Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes Heather Peace as Eve Panesar-Unwin Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati Jaden Ladega as Denzel Danes Juhaim Rasul Choudhury as Davinder "Nugget" Gulati Colin Salmon as George Knight Francesca Henry as Gina Knight Molly Rainford as Anna Knight Sophie Khan Levy as Priya Nandra-Hart Aaliyah James as Avani Nandra-Hart Roland Manookian as Teddy Mitchell Elijah Holloway as Harry Mitchell Lewis Bridgeman as Barney Mitchell Dayo Koleosho as Kojo Asare Laura Doddington as Nicola Mitchell Alex Walkinshaw as Ross Marshall Max Murray as Joel Marshall Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness as Jasmine Fisher And here are the changes to the cast coming soon... DEPARTING Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) When is Freddie Slater leaving? 2025. Actor Bobby Brazier has quit his role as Freddie Slater after three years on the soap. Brazier's departure was first reported in The Sun, with an EastEnders spokesperson confirming the news. They told the publication: "We can confirm that Bobby Brazier will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future." Since he started on the soap, Brazier's storylines have included Freddie's ADHD diagnosis, an upsetting reunion with his biological father Graham Foster, and almost killing Stacey's stalker Theo Hawthorne, when defending his cousin. Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) When is Anna Knight leaving? 2025. Anna Knight is set to become the first member of the Knight clan to depart Walford after their debut in 2023. The BBC One soap has confirmed that Molly Rainford will be leaving the role of Anna as the character leaves Walford later this year. “We can confirm that Molly Rainford will be leaving EastEnders later this year, and we wish her all the best for the future,” the BBC told RadioTimes.com in a statement. We have no further details on her exit, but given that Freddie is also off soon, could the pair romantically reconcile and leave together? The soap mentioned a planned trip to Australia for Anna, so maybe that will be how we lose another Knight! Joel Marshall (Max Murray) When is Joel Marshall leaving? TBC. It has been reported that the misogyny storyline has reached its climax concerning troubled teen Joel Marshall (Max Murray). The character is currently in police custody following his attack on Vicki Fowler and furiously rejecting his father, Ross. It would seem punishment awaits Joel, and his time on the show will apparently come to a close. According to Metro, Max Murray will leave the Square as his character Joel's misogyny storyline reaches a head. A spokesperson for EastEnders declined to comment when approached by RadioTimes.com. A source told the publication that Murray will depart from the soap after a storyline that will "leave viewers on the edge of their seats". Who is joining EastEnders? At present, no new cast members have been confirmed or reported for EastEnders. RETURNING Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) When might Sam Mitchell be returning? December 2025. Kim Medcalf has been confirmed to be reprising the role of Sam Mitchell for a short stint this festive season. Last seen in January 2024, Sam will return with more trouble for Walford residents after burning bridges with brother Phil last year. However, this time Sam comes face to face with an old murder accomplice, Zoe Slater. Will they get on, or does Sam want revenge for Zoe never suffering prison like she did? Speaking on her return, Medcalf said: “It’s such a joy to be asked to come back to EastEnders, especially as it’s the festive period and you know there will always be plenty of fireworks. "I love the character of Sam, she always causes drama wherever she goes, but she also has that vulnerable side too, which is great to play. "It’s also lovely being back on set with the fantastic cast and to see old friends and new faces.” Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: “I’m delighted to welcome Kim Medcalf back to EastEnders for a short stint later this year. "It’s no secret that wherever Sam Mitchell goes, drama inevitably follows, and with ex-accomplice Zoe Slater back in the Square, only time will tell if there is space for forgiveness between the pair, or whether battle lines will be drawn.” We know actress Michelle Ryan was keen - and so are we! Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement) When is Pat Evans returning? December 2025. Walford icon Pat Evans will be making another posthumous appearance this Christmas in a special episode depicting Nigel Bates's dementia symptoms worsening and being transported back to the 1990s. Pam St. Clement reprises the role she originated in 1986 and played until Pat's death from cancer in 2012. She later returned for a ghostly appearance around best pal Peggy Mitchell's final episode in 2016. Speaking on her return, St Clement said: "I was both surprised and excited to be asked back to tread the streets of Walford once again and to be involved in Nigel’s touching dementia storyline. "It was lovely to be welcomed back by those with whom I had worked for so long. It was just like coming home." Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: "It’s an honour and a privilege to welcome Pam St Clement back to EastEnders for a special episode in Nigel’s ongoing dementia storyline. "Pat Evans is one of the most cherished and iconic characters to have graced the streets of Walford, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say what a delight it was to see Pat and Pam back in The Queen Vic as she helps Nigel in his time of need." Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) When is Barry Evans returning? December 2025. Pat won't be alone when she returns either - as her late stepson Barry Evans will also be back for the Nigel episode, once again played by Shaun Williamson. Barry first appeared in Walford in 1994 as the son of Pat's love interest and future husband, Roy Evans (the late Tony Caunter), going on to be a staple in Walford for the next decade until he was killed by scheming newlywed bride Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) in 2004. Barry was survived by his son, Jack, and his first wife, Natalie Price (Lucy Speed). Executive producer Ben Wadey said of Williamson's return: "I’m delighted to welcome Shaun Williamson back to EastEnders for Nigel’s special episode. "Barry Evans was renowned for being one of Walford’s unluckiest residents, most notably for his choice of shoes, and so it was a privilege to welcome him back alongside Pat for these special scenes in The Vic." WHO MAY BE RETURNING? Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) When is Stacey Slater returning? TBC. Lacey Turner went on an extended break from the show recently, with Stacey departing for a new life in Brazil with her brother Sean Slater and her two youngest children. However, Turner has affirmed that she will return to the soap in the future, but no firm return date has been set. So, expect to be without Stacey for a while yet! Which characters departed EastEnders in 2025? The following character departed EastEnders in 2025. Nish Panesar Julie Bates (guest, voice cameo) Mr Lister (guest) Councillor Donald Barker (guest) Garry Hobbs (guest) Minty Peterson (guest) Peggy Mitchell (guest) Eric Mitchell (guest) Angie Watts (guest, cameo) Reiss Colwell Martin Fowler Grant Mitchell (guest) Brenda Collins (guest) Gaz (guest) Andy (guest) Ruby Allen Roman Allen Tom "Rocky" Cotton (guest) Terry Cant (guest) Bex Fowler (guest) Julia Fowler Bianca Jackson Sonia Fowler Felix Baker Bernadette Taylor Jay Brown Jonno Highway (Guest) Hope Fowler Arthur Fowler, Jr. Stacey Slater Stuart Highway (Guest) Ben Mitchell (Guest) Norma Unwin (Guest) Tobias "Okie" Okyere Junior Knight Which characters departed EastEnders in 2024? The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2024. Ashton (Guest) Harold Martin (Guest) Sam Mitchell Keanu Taylor (Guest, hallucination) Lucas Johnson (Guest) Ben Mitchell Gloria Knight (Guest) Eddie Knight (Guest) Keeley Wainwright (Guest) Britney Wainwright Dolly Dean-Hudson Whitney Dean Monique Knight (Guest) Xavier Knight (Guest) Karen Taylor (Guest) Stevie Mitchell Debbie Colwell (Guest) Ayesha Siddhu (Guest) Dean Wicks Chrissie Watts (Guest) Jake Moon (Guest) Jane Beale (Guest) Bobby Beale Pastor Gideon Clayton Lola Pearce-Brown (Guest) Joe Wicks (Guest) Holly (Guest) David Wicks (Guest) Micky Miller (Guest) Nancy Carter (Guest, fantasy) Lee Carter (Guest, fantasy) Which characters departed EastEnders in 2023? The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2023. DCI Samantha Keeble (Guest) Ricky Butcher (Guest) Scarlett Butcher Edward "Jed" Chadwick (Guest) Ryan Malloy (Guest) Dr Ash Kaur Vi Highway Shifty Shiv (Guest) Roxy Mitchell (Guest) Duncan Boyd (Guest) Lola Pearce-Brown Lauren Branning (Guest) Louie Beale (Guest) Finlay Baker Jo Cotton (Guest) Peggy Taylor (Guest) Lisa Fowler (Guest) Arthur "Fatboy" Chubb (Guest) Graham Foster (Guest) Dorian Gates (Guest) Nadine Keller (Guest) Theo Hawthorne Karen Taylor Mitch Baker Bailey Baker Mia Atkins Mackenzie Atkins Keanu Taylor Tom "Rocky" Cotton Which characters departed EastEnders in 2022? The following characters departed EastEnders in 2022. Iqra Ahmed Mila Marwa Kioni Marwa Gray Atkins Keegan Baker Tiffany Butcher Isaac Baptiste Aaron Monroe Nancy Carter Avery Baker Rainie Highway Roland Highway Stuart Highway Dana Monroe Frankie Lewis Dr Nina Gupta Kheerat Panesar Lofty Holloway (Guest) Mary Smith (Guest) Disa O'Brien (Guest) Ian Beale (Guest) Colin Russell (Guest) Barry Clark (Guest) Kirsty "Dotty" Cotton Jada Lennox Alyssa Lennox Mick Carter Janine Carter Shirley Carter EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Luther film sequel confirmed by Netflix with Idris Elba joined by returning fan-favourite
John Luther is back on the case - and this time he's got familiar company.
Former DCI John Luther is finally on his way back to our screens in an all-new film outing from Netflix. The Luther television series, led by the iconic Idris Elba, ran for five seasons on the BBC from 2010 to 2019 before receiving a feature-length outing on Netflix and in select cinemas, subtitled The Fallen Sun, in 2023. The film made some small changes to previous plot developments, but served as a sequel to the series. Now John Luther, last seen being recruited by MI5 after escaping prison in the previous film, is set to tackle a new case, and this time he will be joined by some familiar faces. Most importantly for Luther die-hards is the confirmed return of the award-winning Ruth Wilson as Luther's nemesis and sometime love-interest Alice Morgan. The character was last seen falling to her apparent death in the conclusion of the show's fifth season finale, but now Alice is back here. Is the murderous character alive after all, or is something even more sinister happening to John Luther? Elsewhere, series mainstay Dermot Crowley will also reprise his role as Martin Schenk, last seen as a retired ally of Luther in The Fallen Sun. The previous film's cast saw Academy Award nominee and Wicked star Cynthia Erivo join Luther as Odette Raine, the head of the Serious and Serial Crime Unit (SSCU), but she is not currently set to return here. The new film will once again be penned by series creator Neil Cross and will be directed by another series mainstay, Jamie Payne, who also helmed The Fallen Sun. In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Cross said: "Luther, Alice and Schenk are more than characters to me, they’re family." He added: "I never stop wondering where they are, what’s become of them … and what horrors might be stirring in the shadows of London while Luther’s not around. So we decided to get together and find out what happens next." The film will see Luther attempt to solve a series of seemingly unrelated brutal murders, all while trying to avoid being killed by numerous other parties. Cross previously spoke with us for The Radio Times Writers' Room, our video interview series in which we get to know what makes screenwriters tick, when he was asked about the chances that we will see Luther again. "There are extraordinarily strong possibilities you might see him again," Cross said at the time. "Is that the heaviest hint that’s possible to give without Netflix sending a trained assassin around to silence me? Yeah, there's every chance you will meet him again." Cross also previously hinted at a return for Alice Morgan too. We think we've heard this song before. Luther's next outing is set to begin filming in February 2026, and no release date is currently set. Luther: The Fallen Sun is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Movies coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Harry Potter legend stars in ominous first look at "thrilling and compulsive" new Channel 4 drama Summerwater
The Channel 4 drama is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Sarah Moss.
Dougary Scott stars alongside Harry Potter legend Shirley Henderson (yes, Moaning Myrtle!) in the unsettling first look trailer at new Channel 4 drama Summerwater. The new six-part Scottish drama is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Sarah Moss and boasts plenty of atmosphere in this promo, which airs on Channel 4 tonight (Sunday 2nd November 2025). Summerwater has been adapted by Utopia scribe John Donnelly and is directed by TV crime drama veterans Robert McKillop and Fiona Walton. The footage teases a non-linear narrative as a destructive event in a Scottish holiday park prompts questions about the dramatic lives of those in residence. The official synopsis from Channel 4 reads: "Set predominantly at a remote loch-side Scottish holiday cabin park, Summerwater looks at the simmering tensions between holidaymakers that eventually erupt into a devastating climax." View oEmbed on the source website If the box above is not showing, you may need to change your privacy settings. In the Radio Times site footer, click ‘Manage Privacy Settings’. Under ‘Site Vendors’, consent to ‘YouTube’, then press Save & Exit. The synopsis continues: "Weaving together the lives of several families as they navigate unspoken conflicts, private dilemmas, and fleeting moments of beauty from their disparate cabins, the story flashes back to dramatic events in key characters’ lives before their holiday which may have consequences in the present." Channel 4 itself boasts that the show is "thrilling and compulsive" and "character-led". Could this be a classic whodunnit? Or something all the more disturbing? Alongside Scott and Henderson, who are visible in the trailer, the drama also features performances from Blue Lights favourite Valene Kane, Showtrial's Anna Próchniak, House of the Dragon actor Gabriel Scott, Vigil's Anders Hayward, and The White Lotus season 3 actor Arnas Fedaravičiu. We'll have to see who is playing a guilty party when the drama finally arrives on our screens... Summerwater airs on Channel 4 in November. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Summerwater to your watchlist when it arrives on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Doctor Who and Downton Abbey legends star in exciting first look at all-new detective series
Rob James-Collier and Mandip Gill star as the detective duo Cooper & Fry.
We finally have our first look at a new mismatched detective duo in the all-new series Cooper & Fry, which was confirmed earlier this year. The upcoming Channel 5 crime drama features favourites from two of Radio Times' most beloved franchises: Downton Abbey star Rob James-Collier and former Doctor Who companion Mandip Gill, who feature as the titular detective duo. The shadowy trailer shows the first meeting of DC Ben Cooper (James-Collier) and DC Diane Fry (Gill) and their fractious dynamic as they bring two very different mindsets to some ghoulish cases in the Peak District. What awaits looks positively gothic, unsettling, but also full of heart - with James-Collier and Gill's characters' personalities shining. The official synopsis for the series reveals: "Set in the mystery-shrouded Peak District, DC Ben Cooper, an affable local, is thrown together with guarded newcomer DC Diane Fry, to investigate a string of mysterious deaths." View Gallery on the source website The pair will come together to tackle some strange cases, but Fry is much more sceptical than Cooper of local folklore and "shadowy beliefs". Naturally, the pair's personal lives will intertwine with the cases, and a new and unique friendship will be formed. The synopsis concludes: "While Cooper and Fry unearth old rituals and beliefs, they must rely on each other to not only bring justice, but to survive." The series is based on the beloved and bestselling novels by author Stephen Booth. Cooper & Fry will consist of four two-hour episodes, each based on a novel from the run of books. The first season will adapt the first four novels in the series: Black Dog, Dying to Sin, Blind To the Bones, and Dancing with the Virgins. We may just have a new crime obsession! Read More: Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea has release window confirmed with new-look images Brassic future teased by star Ryan Sampson as series comes to a close Cooper & Fry is coming soon to Channel 5. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Cooper & Fry to your watchlist when it arrives on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Coronation Street cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the soap?
Your essential guide to the comings and goings on the cobbles in 2025.
With twists and turns galore in soapland it can be hard to keep track of all the comings and goings in the cast of Coronation Street. Last year ended with the huge departure of one of the street's longest-serving stars, Gail Rodwell (Helen Worth). 2025 has already seen some major departures, with recent big exits including Rovers barmaid Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) and the moving final days of Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh-Jupe). However, there are more changes to come. RadioTimes.com is here with a handy update on which characters are leaving, joining and returning to the cobbles of Coronation Street in the coming months. So who's in? Who's out? And which rumours are true? Read on for all the latest details on cast changes. Coronation Street cast 2025 The full present regular cast for Coronation Street can be found below. William Roache as Ken Barlow Barbara Knox as Rita Sullivan Kate Ford as Tracy McDonald Sue Nicholls as Audrey Roberts Ben Price as Nick Tilsley Michael La Vell as Kevin Webster Sue Devaney as Debbie Webster Sally Dynevor as Sally Metcalfe Tina O'Brien as Sarah Barlow Simon Gregson as Steve McDonald Jack P. Shepherd as David Platt Rob Mallard as Daniel Osbourne David Neilson as Roy Cropper Jane Danson as Leanne Battersby Georgia Taylor as Toyah Habeeb Alan Halsall as Tyrone Dobbs Jimmi Harkishin as Dev Alahan Samia Longchambon as Maria Windass Andy Whyment as Kirk Sutherland Gareth Pierce as Todd Grimshaw Sam Robertson as Adam Barlow Jennie McAlpine as Fiz Dobbs Antony Cotton as Sean Tully Sam Aston as Chesney Brown Elle Mulvaney as Amy Barlow Tanisha Gorey as Asha Alahan Ryan Prescott as Ryan Connor Alison King as Carla Barlow Liam McCheyne as Dylan Wilson Mikey North as Gary Windass Patti Clare as Mary Taylor Charlie Wrenshall as Liam Connor Jr. Peter Gunn as Brian Packham Cherylee Houston as Izzy Armstrong Kyran Bowes as Jack Webster Isabella Flanagan as Hope Stape Catherine Tyldesley as Eva Price William Flanagan as Joseph Brown Macy Alabi as Ruby Dobbs Joe Duttine as Tim Metcalfe Bobby Bradshaw as Jake Windass Brooke Malonie as Lily Platt Sair Khan as Alya Nazir Dolly-Rose Campbell as Gemma Winter Daniel Brocklebank as Billy Mayhew Liam Bairstow as Alex Warner Joshua Leavy as Harry Platt Aurora Bradshaw as Susie Price Julie Goulding as Shona Platt Harriet Bibby as Summer Spellman Sally Carman as Abi Webster Maureen Lipman as Evelyn Plummer Jason Callender as James Bailey Trevor Michael Georges as Ed Bailey Ryan Russell as Michael Bailey Jane Hazlegrove as Bernie Winter Mollie Gallagher as Nina Lucas Tony Maudsley as George Shuttleworth Jude Riordan as Sam Blakeman Vinta Morgan as Ronnie Bailey Vicky Myers as DS Lisa Swain Jodie Prenger as Glenda Shuttleworth Channique Sterling-Brown as Dee Dee Bailey Cait Fitton as Lauren Bolton Claire Sweeney as Cassie Plummer Jacob Roberts as DC Kit Green Sydney Martin as Betsy Swain Ryan Mulvey as Brody Michaelis James Cartwright as Theo Silverton Natalie Anderson as Danielle Silverton Jonathan Howard as Carl Webster Raphael Akuwudike as Ollie Driscoll Amy Cudden as Becky Swain Aaron McCusker as Ben Driscoll Pauline McGlynn as Maggie Driscoll Lucas Hodgson-Wale as Will Driscoll Below are the upcoming changes to the regular cast. LEAVING Dee Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) When is Dee Dee Bailey leaving? Late 2025/early 2026. It has been confirmed that Channique Sterling-Brown is departing Coronation Street - meaning we will soon be saying goodbye to fan-favourite Dee Dee Bailey. "I made the decision in spring, and it wasn't a rash decision," Sterling-Brown explained to press. "I took a couple of months from being offered my next year's contract to actually even respond. I felt really torn but I just had the sense that it was time. "I'm very led by my faith, so I really took my time over it and prayed into it, and I found a real sense that I had done what I'd come to do, I'd achieved what I was sent here to do, so it was time to be brave." As for beloved Dee Dee, Sterling-Brown remained tight-lipped on her final storyline, only spilling that "how it ends is right for her journey". No air date has been confirmed for Dee Dee's final episode. Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) When is Billy Mayhew leaving? 2026. Actor Daniel Brocklebank has been confirmed to be leaving our screens as Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street next year. The Sun reports that a story-based decision will see Billy Mayhew depart the cobbles not long after losing his husband, Paul Foreman, in a new issues-based storyline in 2026. Confirming his exit to the paper, Daniel said: "I have been working on Corrie for a quarter of my life. "I have adored every minute I have been in that building and have never not looked forward to going into work. "I love everyone who works on this show and whilst I am sad to be going, I am equally excited to see what the future holds." RadioTimes.com reached out to ITV for comment. Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) When is Debbie Webster leaving? 2027. Actress Sue Devaney is being written out of the show as her fan-favourite character Debbie Webster is due to be killed off in a long-running dementia storyline. Devaney first appeared as 15-year-old Debbie Webster and starred in the role for one year, before returning to the soap in 2019, and has been a main cast member since 2020. A source told Metro: "It’s one of the show’s biggest storylines of the year, and a real chance for Sue to finally get her time in the spotlight – it will just be devastating for fans that it will effectively be her final storyline." They added: "It’s one of many major storylines new boss Kate Brooks has in the bag, and there will not be a dry eye in the house. "There is no doubt in the Corrie family that she will give the performance of a lifetime and make Debbie’s exit one to remember for years." The report also revealed that the character of Debbie was expected to stay in the show beyond 2025 to complete the long-running storyline, so there is plenty of Debbie still to come on-screen. The storyline has since been confirmed by ITV and actress Sue Devaney, who revealed in June 2025 that she would still be on the soap until 2027. Who has left Coronation Street in 2025? Mason Radcliffe Matty Radcliffe (Guest) Brie Benson (Guest) Gus Deering (Guest) Anthea Deering (Guest) Eric Sandford (Guest) Yasmeen Nazir Tommy Orpington (Guest) Max Turner Rob Donovan Daisy Midgeley Julie Carp Bobby Crawford PC Craig Tinker Eileen Grimshaw Jason Grimshaw (Guest) Mick Michaelis Lou Michaelis Logan Radcliffe (Guest) Aadi Alahan Noah Hedley (Guest) Jenny Bradley Who has left Coronation Street in 2024? The following regular characters have departed Coronation Street in 2024. Sarge Bailey (Guest) Moses Ekundayo Harvey Gaskell Violet Wilson (Guest) Eliza Woodrow Simon Barlow Nathan Curtis Tommy Orpington Beth Tinker Rowan Cunliffe Nicky Wheatley Dorian Pop Alina Pop Stu Carpenter Damon Hay Paul Foreman Sabrina Adetiba Joel Deering Rowan Cunliffe Richard Hillman (Guest, dream sequence) Jesse Chadwick Gail Chadwick Who has left Coronation Street in 2023? The following regular characters have departed Coronation Street in 2023. Griff Reynolds Jacob Hay Mike Hargrave Esther Hargrave Teddy Thompkins Cilla the Cincilla Daryan Zahawi Rufus Donahue Faye Windass Jackson Hodge Miley Hodge Justin Rutherford Karen Rutherford Aggie Bailey Aaron Sandford Geoffrey "Spider" Nugent Isabella Benvenuti Henry Newton Shelly Rossington Stephen Reid Darren Vance Courtney Vance Crystal Hyde Peter Barlow Who left Coronation Street in 2022? The following regular characters have departed Coronation Street in 2022. Ted Spear Marrium Nazier Clint Stubbins Linda Hancock Grace Vickers Lydia Chambers Jon Spear Emma Brooker Laura Neelan Elsie Ben Chancellor Imran Habeeb Cathy Matthews Nicky Wheatley Camilla Perrin Mimi Halliday Frank Bardsley Phill Whittaker Geoff Metcalfe (Guest, hallucination) Saira Habeeb Rick Neelan (Guest, hallucination) Kelly Neelan Leo Thompkins James Bailey Martha Fraser Wendy Crozier Harvey Gaskell Who else will remain in Weatherfield by the end of the year? Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide. Take part in the Screen Test, a project from Radio Times and the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, to explore the role of television and audio in our lives. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders advance spoilers reveal ominous fallout for dark Joel Marshall episodes
The BBC soap's ongoing misogyny storyline is reaching a crisis point in the next couple of weeks.
New advance spoilers for EastEnders have been revealed by the BBC - and they hint at dark drama to come. The BBC One soap has been depicting a disturbing but relevant storyline around young male teens being radicalised with online misogyny through the behaviour and views of relative newcomer Joel Marshall (Max Murray). The character was introduced as the son of Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), the latest partner of classic character Vicki Fowler, now played by Alice Haig. Joel has committed multiple sexual offences since he arrived on the show and was revealed to have had a history of similarly dark behaviour when he used to reside in Australia. He has also threatened Vicki herself on more than one occasion. The teen has been a bad influence on Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall), who only recently reconciled with his parents after previously abusing his mother, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace). Next week, an incident occurs at Walford High, connected to the two boys, in a special episode that will provoke debate across the Square surrounding harmful online content. However, events will escalate when Joel displays violence towards Vicki in the episode. This instalment of the soap will be followed by a special documentary on the issues tackled by EastEnders. Now, we have information on the following week's episodes, and it spells some concerning fallout and harsh truths being faced by Joel's father, Ross, in particular. Monday 13th October 2025 A worrying situation escalates in Albert Square, and Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) and Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) grow concerned. Tuesday 14th October 2025 Ross is shocked by recent events, Tobias 'Okie' Okyere (Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu) finds a new way to manipulate a situation, and Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe) reveals her big plans to Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter). Wednesday 15th October 2025 Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) steps up for his family, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) accidentally offends, and Elaine gives Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) food for thought. Thursday 16th October 2025 Ross struggles with the consequences of Joel's actions. Meanwhile, Gina tries to distract herself, Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and Nigel join forces to see out a plan, and Johnny turns pale when he learns of his mistake. So, there are a few stories to look forward to in October, but it seems there will be serious consequences following Joel's crimes. What next for Ross and Vicki? Read more: EastEnders airs multiple exits after explosive Slater showdown over Max Branning reveal in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs scandalous Max Branning cliffhanger in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs Max Branning's dramatic return amid Lauren and Peter outcome in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders airs wedding cliffhanger for Lauren Branning and Peter Beale in BBC iPlayer release EastEnders star teases "unfinished business" with Max and hints at "revenge" plot EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app– download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Coronation Street exit revealed for another beloved character following flurry of major departures
Another Coronation Street favourite has reportedly quit the cobbles.
Another departure is on the way for Coronation Street. The ITV soap, which recently won Best Soap at the Inside Soap Awards 2025, has seen several cast changes this year, with major exits from the likes of Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) and Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver). However, a report from Express.co.uk has revealed that the actress Channique Sterling-Brown, who plays popular lawyer Dee-Dee Bailey on the soap, has quit the role and is filming her final scenes later this month. It is suggested that Sterling-Brown is seeking new opportunities elsewhere and we understand this was very much her decision to leave the soap. It is understood that the timeline of her reported departure would mean she will remain on-screen until the end of the year. A source told the website: "Posters are up around the Corrie set behind the scenes, it is common knowledge that Channique is going, and cast have been informed." ITV declined to comment when approached by RadioTimes.com. Representatives of Channique Sterling-Brown have also been approached for comment. Dee-Dee joined the established Bailey clan in Coronation Street in 2022 and quickly became a favourite with fans, with Sterling-Brown bagging the award for Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2023. Sterling-Brown's most prominent storyline was her relationship with the villainous lawyer Joel Deering (Calum Lill), which climaxed in 2024 with Joel's bloody demise. Dee-Dee later gave birth to a daughter by Joel, named Laila Bailey. No details have been revealed about what Dee-Dee's exit will entail, but it comes hot on the heels of producer Iain McLeod teasing a death on the way for one character. Is Dee-Dee going to be safe? The news comes following the exit of iconic character Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews) in Wednesday's episode (1st October 2025) after the decision was made to write Jenny out of the soap. Read more: 4 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Asha Alahan in devastating story and are Abi and Carl exposed? Coronation Street airs big Debbie Webster discovery in ITVX episode Coronation Street airs dramatic fallout of Kevin and Abi Webster split in ITVX release 7 Coronation Street spoilers: Carla Connor is suspicious of Becky Swain and Bethany Platt in police twist Coronation Street boss teases brutal character "sacrifice" as soap approaches 65th anniversary 7 Coronation Street spoilers: Carla confronts Becky Swain and Debbie catches Abi with Carl Coronation Street reveals who knocked down Tyrone Dobbs in ITVX episode amid devastating injury Coronation Street just saved its police story with powerful Lisa Swain scenes Coronation Street newcomer teases Becky Swain's "dark side" after fake death bombshell Coronation Street's Alan Halsall on Tyrone's shock hit and run ordeal and life-changing spinal injury Visit our dedicated Coronation Street page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Emmerdale's fugitive killer John Sugden spotted in major Coronation Street crossover clue
Oliver Farnworth's Emmerdale villain John Sugden is currently a fugitive in the ITV soap.
We may finally have a huge clue to the upcoming soap crossover event between Coronation Street and Emmerdale. The ITV soaps are to have a bumper special episode in the new year to mark the all-new soap schedule for 2026, but bosses have been tight-lipped about what we can expect. However, a recent scene from Wednesday 24th September 2025, for the Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) storyline in Coronation Street at the police station saw a major clue emerge with an Easter egg for soap fans, as on the wall of the station we could see a wanted poster for a fugitive criminal: killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) from Emmerdale. September saw John's twisted misdeeds exposed in Emmerdale as he almost killed husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and his best friend Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), while also being revealed as the killer of Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter). However, despite finally publicly being exposed as a murderer and his love rival and half-brother, Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), finally being vindicated, John remains at large. After abandoning a plan to take revenge on Robert, John blackmailed Caleb Miligan (William Ash) into helping him escape the country or risk exposing the long-held secret of Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) murdering her evil father, Anthony Fox. Despite the best efforts of Caleb's brother and Nate's father, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), Caleb succeeded in helping John escape the country, but Cain remains determined to find the killer. Yet, now we know that John's antics are being recognised in Coronation Street, could the killer end up resurfacing in the upcoming crossover event? An explosive climax to the story would certainly make for blockbuster viewing for both ITV soaps. ITV described the crossover episode as "self-contained, but the consequences of the high-stakes drama will have repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps". The two soaps will be part of a new schedule shake-up on the channel, which will see both soaps air half-hour episodes on weekdays for an hour from 8pm. The episodes will continue to be dropped on streaming service ITVX at 7am, so fans can watch early online, similar to BBC iPlayer's release of EastEnders. Corrie star and Celebrity Big Brother 2025 winner Jack P Shepherd has confirmed he has a role in the crossover episode. Read more: Emmerdale icon teases "never done before" storyline to run into 2026 - and hints at Christmas drama Emmerdale airs big Robron update amid Robert's secret marriage twist in ITVX release Emmerdale reveals major Robert Sugden secret in mindblowing ITVX release 6 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Charity Dingle plans secret termination over baby DNA results Emmerdale fans "in for a ride" with Robert Sugden twist as star prepares to exit Emmerdale star teases John Sugden "twists and turns" as Aaron and Robert remain in danger Is John Sugden an imposter in Emmerdale as villain's comeuppance draws closer? Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX. Add Emmerdale to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Waterloo Road cast: Full list of actors and characters
Waterloo Road is back on our screens with its sixteenth season – and there are plenty of familiar faces back for the latest instalment. Jason Merrells is back as Jack Rimmer, now acting as the school counsellor, while other returning cast members include include Adam Thomas (Donte Charles), Hollie-Jay Bowes (Debs Rafferty) James Baxter (Joe Casey), Jo Coffey (Wendy Whitwell), Kym Marsh (Nicky Walters). Lindsey Coulson also returns as headteacher Dame Stella Drake and it looks as if she'll be forced to navigate new challenges this time around as her grandchildren arrive at the school (played by new additions Fintan Buckard and Savannah Kunyo). Other new cast members in season 16 include Jon Richardson as media studies teacher Darius Donovan and Christopher Jeffers (Riot Women) as Mitch Swift, the new SenCo lead (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator). Need a rundown of all the new and returning faces in season 16? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Waterloo Road in its revival and also in its original run. Waterloo Road 2025 cast: Meet the old and new characters in season 16 of the BBC drama The following cast members have been confirmed for the sixteenth run of Waterloo Road. Jon Richardson as Darius Donovan Christopher Jeffers as Mitch Swift Fintan Buckard as Ben Drake Savannah Kunyo as Hope Drake Christine Bottomley as Sam Drake Jason Merrells as Jack Rimmer Lindsey Coulson as Dame Stella Drake James Baxter as Joe Casey Ryan Clayton as Mike Rutherford Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell Neil Fitzmaurice as Neil Guthrie Rachel Leskovac as Coral Walker Kym Marsh as Nicky Walters Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers Adam Thomas as Donte Charles Liam Scholes as Noel McManus Summer Violet Bird as Tonya Walters Thapelo Ray as Dwayne Jackson Zak Sutcliffe as Schumacher "Schuey" Weever Maisie Robinson as Portia Weever Tillie Amartey as Stacey "Stace" Neville Sonya Nisa as Aleena Qureshi Miya Ocego as Lisa Taylor-Brown Danny Murphy as Luca Smith Matthew Khan as Jared Jones Olly Rhodes as Billy Savage Saira Choudhry as Nisha Chaudra Now here is all you need to know about the major characters. Jon Richardson plays Darius Donovan <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/03/Waterloo-Road-Darius-8b89702.jpg" width="2700" height="1800" alt="TX DATE:23-09-2025,TX WEEK:38,EMBARGOED UNTIL:16-09-2025 00:00:01,DESCRIPTION: ***EMBARGOED UNTIL TUESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2025 2025***,COPYRIGHT:Wall to Wall/Warner Brothers TV Production Services Ltd,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Wall to Wall/Warner Brothers TV Production Services Ltd" title="532014,TITLE:Waterloo Road S16" /> Who is Darius Donovan? Darius is a new media teacher at the school who’s able to charm pupils and staff alike with his charming exterior. But underneath all that he’s a master manipulator. “He’s an absolute monster, but he believes himself to be a charming, charming man who acts only in self-defence and has everyone’s best interests at heart” Richardson told the BBC of his character. What else has Jon Richardson been in? Richardson started his career as a stand-up comedian and got his big break when he won his heat of the BBC New Talent Comedy search in 2003. He has since toured the UK with his gigs and appeared on numerous TV panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and Would I Lie To You? In terms of acting, Richardson has starred in an episode of Drunk History UK and also played a version of himself in Meet the Richardsons. Christopher Jeffers plays Mitch Swift Who is Mitch Swift? Mitch is the new SenCo lead (Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator) at the school who has years of experience under his belt. “He’s got a cool, confident exterior, but underneath it all there’s a lot of lived experience and a real vulnerability," Jeffers told the BBC of Mitch. He added: "He’s been through it himself – had a rough start in life, made some questionable decisions, and experienced a tragic loss – but he’s turned all of that into fuel for the way he teaches.” What else has Christopher Jeffers been in? Jeffers is an actor and dancer who has appeared in the likes of Bridgerton, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and Rocketman. He’s also set to star in Sally Wainwright’s upcoming drama Riot Women. Fintan Buckard plays Ben Drake Who is Ben Drake? Ben is a year 11 pupil and one of headteacher Stella Drake’s grandchildren. He has a nonchalant exterior but is actually quite a tortured teen. What else has Fintan Buckard been in? Buckard is best known for his role as Ethan in the BBC Three series Phoenix Rise. Savannah Kunyo plays Hope Drake Who is Hope Drake? A year 9 pupil and granddaughter of headteacher Stella Drake, Hope is a positive and spirited student who has hopes of becoming a famous singing star. What else has Savannah Kunyo been in? Kunyo previously portrayed Eliza Woodrow in Coronation Street. Christine Bottomley plays Sam Drake Who is Sam Drake? Sam is the daughter of the headteacher Dame Stella Drake, as well as Ben and Hope’s mum. What else has Christine Bottomley been in? Bottomley is known for her recent roles as Rachel Crossley in Sherwood and Scribonia in Domina. She has also appeared in Early Doors, Hope Springs, The End of the F***ing World and Back to Life. Lindsey Coulsen plays Dame Stella Drake Who is Dame Stella Drake? Stella takes on the role of the new headteacher in season 16. She was once at the top of Ofsted but her career was hampered when a video of her talking about parental incompetence went viral. What else has Lindsey Coulson been in? Coulson is best known for her iconic role as Carol Jackson in EastEnders but has also appeared in Manchild, Clocking Off and Paradise Heights. Jason Merrells plays Jack Rimmer Who is Jack Rimmer? Jack is the former headteacher of the original Waterloo Road school and the first in the show's history. He's now the school counsellor. What else has Jason Merrells been in? Outside of his original Waterloo Road run, Merrells is best known for his roles in Cutting It, Queer as Folk, and as Declan Macey in Emmerdale. James Baxter plays Joe Casey Who is Joe Case? Joe is one of the deputy heads at the school. Joe is married to police officer named Mike. What else has James Baxter been in? Baxter is best known for his role as Jake Doland in Emmerdale, along with turns in Alma's Not Normal, Still Open All Hours, and Holby City. Ryan Clayton plays Mike Rutherford Who is Mike? Mike is the husband of Joe Casey at the school and is also a police officer. What else has Ryan Clayton been in? Clayton is best known for his previous role as evil rapist Josh Tucker in Coronation Street. Jo Coffey plays Wendy Whitwell Who is Wendy Whitwell? The dutiful personal assistant to the headteacher. What else has Jo Coffey been in? Coffey has also appeared in Netflix’s The Lark, and the films Artemis Fowl and All Is True. Neil Fitzmaurice plays Neil Guthrie Who is Neil Guthrie? A grumbly history teacher at the school, Guthrie pretended to be a widower before it was revealed his wife left him to live in New Zealand. What else has Neil Fitzmaurice been in? Fitzmaurice is best known for his comedy and roles in series such as Peep Show, Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, and Benidorm. Rachel Leskovac plays Coral Walker Who is Coral Walker? The former Head of English and now Deputy Head at the school, Coral suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and is prone to being rather pessimistic. Coral is now in a relationship with Neil Guthrie. What else has Rachel Leskovac been in? Leskovac is best known for her roles as Natasha Blakeman in Coronation Street, Kelly Yorke in Holby City, and Joanne Cardsley in Hollyoaks. She also appeared in Shameless and Happy Valley. Kym Marsh plays Nicky Walters Who is Nicky Walters? The school dinner lady and a former beautician who was put out of business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicky is also the mother to two pupils. Nicky previously dated Donte Charles. What else has Kym Marsh been in? Marsh is best known as a singer from the band Hear'Say, acting in Coronation Street as Michelle Connor, and presenting Good Morning Live. Shauna Shim plays Valerie Chambers Who is Valerie Chambers? A music teacher at the school who is always willing to speak up for what is right. What else has Shauna Shim been in? Shim is best known for her work as Miss Drill in The Worst Witch, Biff and Chip, and Dogville. Adam Thomas plays Donte Charles Who is Donte Charles? One of the original pupils in Waterloo Road, Donte was known for his star-crossed romance with Chlo Grainger which saw them elope and also become teenage parents to daughter Izzy. Donte and Chlo grew up and were also parents to a son named Tommy. In season 11, Chlo died suddenly, leaving Donte a single parent. After joining the school as a caretaker, Donte is now an early career teacher. What else has Adam Thomas appeared in? Thomas is best known outside of Waterloo Road for his role as Adam Barton in Emmerdale (2009-2018) but also appeared in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2016. Saira Choudhry plays Nisha Chaudra Who is Nisha Chaudra? The Head of Maths at Waterloo Road and a prickly genius, Nisha is not afraid to speak her mind and also do as little work as possible What else has Saira Choudhry been in? Choudhry has starred in Life, Coronation Street, Hollyoaks, and No Offence. Liam Scholes plays Noel McManus Who is Noel McManus? Noel is a pupil at the school and is a troublemaker. Summer Violet Bird plays Tonya Walters Who is Tonya Walters? The younger sister of Preston and the daughter of school dinner lady Nicky. Lucy Eleanor Begg plays Caz Williams Who is Caz Williams? Caz was an intelligent pupil at Waterloo Road with a razor-sharp tongue when needed, and went to university in season 15. Thapelo Ray plays Dwayne Jackson Who is Dwayne Jackson? A pupil at the school who is close to his little brother Zayne. Inathi Rozani plays Zayne Jackson Who is Zayne Jackson? The younger brother of Dwayne and another pupil at the school. Zak Sutcliffe plays Schumacher "Schuey" Weever Who is Schuey Weever? A pupil at the school and another troublemaker. Maisie Robinson plays Portia Weaver Who is Portia Weaver? The mouthy sister of Schumacher Weaver who always shares her opinion. Tillie Amartey plays Stacey "Stace" Neville Who is Stace Neville? A brash and rebellious personality who clashes with teachers and fellow pupils. Aabay Noor Ali plays Mollie "Mog" Richardson Who is Mollie "Mog" Richardson? Previously home-schooled, computer wiz and gamer Mollie is mentored by Preston. Olly Rhodes plays Billy Savage Who is Billy Savage? A former pupil at Waterloo Road and the son of former headteacher Steve Savage, Billy was imprisoned for killing Boz Osbourne. Teddy Thomas plays Tommy Charles Who is Tommy Charles? The son of Donte and Chlo Charles and the younger brother of Izzy. Who is Teddy Thomas? The real-life son of actor Adam Thomas who plays his son on-screen. Sonya Nisa plays Aleena Quereshi Who is Aleena Quereshi? A pupil at Waterloo Road who is friends with Stace but is faced by a secret from her previous school. Miya Ocego plays Lois Taylor-Brown Who is Lois Taylor-Brown? A friend of Stace's who is forced to say goodbye to a beloved family member. Danny Murphy plays Luca Smith Who is Luca Smith? A pupil at Waterloo Road who came from a specialist school and now must cope with changing provisions for being deaf. Matthew Khan plays Jared Jones Who is Jared Jones? Another pupil from a specialist school for deaf pupils, Jared is charismatic and connects with Libby – but their romance soon turns toxic, thanks to Jared. Cory McClane plays Ashton Stone Who is Ashton Stone? A troublemaking new pupil with a good heart who starts at the school but has a surprising connection to Donte – he's his biological son! Former characters on Waterloo Road The following characters were much-loved figures in the original and revival runs of Waterloo Road. Hattie Dynevor as Libby Guthrie Who is Libby Guthrie? The daughter of Mr Guthrie who comes to live with him and proves to be an antagonistic pupil at Waterloo Road. Who is Hattie Dynevor related to? Hattie is the sister of Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and the daughter of Coronation Street icon Sally Dynevor. Chiamaka "ChiChi" Ulebor as Shola Aku Who is Shola Aku? A thoughtful pupil at the school, Shola is not afraid to speak out on important issues. Scarlett Thomas as Izzy Charles Who is Izzy Charles? Named after her maternal grandmother Izzie Redpath, Izzy Charles is a new pupil at Waterloo Road and is encouraged by both of her parents to make the most of her time there. After losing her mother and disliking her father moving on, Izzy chose to go and live with her aunt Mika. Now, in the latest run, Izzy is back, but for how long? What else has Scarlett Thomas been in? The niece of her on-screen father Adam Thomas as the daughter of his brother Ryan Thomas with former partner Tina O'Brien, both of whom are Coronation Street actors. O'Brien also appeared in earlier seasons of Waterloo Road as a pupil, Bex Fisher. Lauren Patel as Jas Sharma Who is Jas Sharma? A new early career teacher who has a spark with Donte but is also Nisha's daughter. What else has Lauren Patel been in? Patel has worked on Everyone's Talking About Jamie and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Katherine Pearce as Amy Spratt Who is Amy Spratt? A passionate English teacher, Amy is now a settled face at the school but goes above and beyond to protect a pupil. What else has Katherine Pearce been in? Pearce has also appeared in the drama Three Girls and the films My Cousin Rachel and England Is Mine. Niamh Blackshaw as Agnes Eccleston Who is Agnes Eccleston? Agnes is a Christian pupil who is drawn to the troublemaker Schuey. What else has Niamh Blackshaw been in? Blackshaw has also appeared in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. Lucy Chambers as Cat Guthrie Who is Cat Guthrie? The younger sister of Libby and the other daughter of Neil Guthrie. Cat also returns from New Zealand to live with her father and sister. Jason Mansford as Steve Savage Who is Steve Savage? An experienced new headteacher for Waterloo Road who goes way back with Nicky Walters and served as a mentor to Joe Casey. Steve is a maverick and isn't afraid to break the rules to achieve what he needs to do. What else has Jason Mansford been in? Mansford is well known for his work as a stand-up comedian and as a presenter, including on The One Show. Mansford has also had acting roles, including on the West End in Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls, Curtains and The Wizard of Oz. Angela Griffin as Kim Treneman, formerly Campbell Who is Kim Campbell? The former headteacher of the new Waterloo Road school, Kim Campbell used to work at the original Waterloo Road in Rochdale as an Art and PSHE teacher and was also the Head of Pastoral Care. A caring and compassionate teacher, Kim had a relationship with deputy head Andrew Treneman and left with him for Rwanda, before later returning home with a baby daughter named Grace, who she took from Rwanda illegally. Kim later lost custody of Grace. Following a merger with another school, Kim had an affair with the villainous executive head Max Tyler but later broke off their relationship when he showed his true colours. Despite this, Kim later found out that she was pregnant with Max's child and gave birth to her son Dexter before leaving the school. In the new season, Kim revived the Waterloo Road name but has since reunited with old love Andrew and left her post as headteacher. What else has Angela Griffin been in? Griffin is best known for her role as Fiona Middleton in Coronation Street, DS Lizzie Maddox in Lewis and Nurse Jasmine Hopkins in Holby City. Griffin also appeared in the series Mount Pleasant, Turn Up Charlie, and White Lines. Noah Valentine as Preston Walters Who is Preston Walters? One of the most popular boys in school, Preston is the ex-boyfriend of Samia and the current boyfriend of Kai. Preston is the son of school dinner lady Nicky. Alicia Forde as Kelly-Jo Rafferty Who is Kelly-Jo Rafferty? A confident and humorous pupil who is not afraid to speak out. Friends with Samia Choudry. Francesco Piacentini-Smith as Dean Weaver Who is Dean Weaver? A joker and troublemaking pupil who is not afraid to disrupt a class and is friends with Noel McManus. Dean is now the boyfriend of Kelly-Jo. Jamie Glover as Andrew Treneman Who is Andrew Treneman? Appearing in the show until season 2, the deputy head managed to rile up his colleagues by trying to introduce policies he’d used while working in expensive private schools. He eventually decided to take a teaching job in Rwanda, inviting Kim along too, and left in 2007. However, Andrew returned in the twelfth season and resumed his romance with Kim before they began to work together again. However, in the thirteenth season, he struggled with a cancer diagnosis before proposing to Kim and stepping back from his academy job. What else has Jamie Glover been in? Glover is perhaps best known for his role in Waterloo Road but after his departure, went on to play Harry Potter in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He has also had roles in The Crown, Endeavour, Father Brown and Holby City, and has voiced many roles in various video games such as Star Wars: Empire at War, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Troy: A Total War Saga, to name a few. Ava Flannery as Verity King Who is Verity King? The whip-smart daughter of Deputy Head Lindon King. Zenele Nyoni as Jess Clarke Who is Jess Clarke? A whip-smart young new pupil at Waterloo Road. Teddy Wallwork as Declan Harding Who is Declan Harding? A cheeky new pupil at Waterloo Road. Vincent Jerome as Lindon King Who is Lindon King? One of the deputy heads at the school, Mr King is a proud and ambitious teacher dealing with personal dramas. Lindon has left the school before the fourteenth run of the drama. What else has Vincent Jerome been in? Jerome has also had roles in The Peripheral and Sins of Solitude. Priyasasha Kumari as Samia Choudhry Who is Samia Choudhry? A very popular pupil at the school and was the girlfriend of Preston Walters until they split and she dated Danny Lewis until his death. After a difficult period, Samia left the school after the last season. Adam Ali as Kai Sharif Who is Kai Sharif? An unapologetically vibrant and theatrical pupil who was friends with Danny Lewis and is the boyfriend of Preston Walters. Kai took an stage school opportunity away from Waterloo Road at the end of the last season. Sonia Ibrahim as Jamilah Omar Who is Jamilah Omar? The calm and compassionate social worker who worked at the school. What else has Sonia Ibrahim been in? Ibrahim previously appeared as Mel Maguire in Coronation Street. Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis Who is Danny Lewis? A pupil who has faced his fair share of hardship, Danny was friends with Kai Sharif and was in love with Samia. Danny died in a fire at the end of the twelfth season. Osian Morgan as Myles Massey Who is Myles Massey? Massey is a brand new student, who has been let go by a football academy and is struggling to come to terms with a life back in mainstream education. He soon makes it clear that he’s not the kind of kid who wants to make friends and immediately sets about making a lasting impact on the school. The character is ultimately arrested after causing a fire in the season 12 finale which killed Danny Lewis. Lisa Faulkner as Hannah King Who is Hannah King? The wife of deputy head teacher Lindon King and the mother of their daughter Verity. What else has Lisa Faulkner been in? Faulkner previously appeared in the shows Holby City, Spooks, EastEnders, and Celebrity Masterchef. Chelsee Healey as Janeece Bryant Who is Janeece Bryant? Trouble-prone Janeece joined in season 1 back in 2006 and stuck around until season 4, like her friends Chlo and Donte. Her time at the school involved stealing a dinosaur tooth from a local museum, scamming money through a fake school raffle, and a brief dalliance with creationism. Despite that track record, she managed to get a job as the school secretary in season 6, which aired from 2010 to 2011. The character has a guest appearance in the new episodes. What else has Chelsee Healey been in? Outside of Waterloo Road, Healey went on to appear in Hollyoaks and was partnered with Pasha Kovalev in the ninth series of Strictly Come Dancing, eventually reaching the final. Katie Griffiths as Chlo Charles Chlo was one of the original pupils in Waterloo Road and the daughter of art teacher Izzie Redpath (Jill Halfpenny) who was killed in a stabbing. Chlo was also close to her late stepfather Tom Clarkson. A romance with Donte Charles saw them elope and later have daughter Izzy. Fans got to see Chlo all grown up with children of her own but unfortunately, she experienced a brain haemorrhage and died in the first episode of the 2023 revival series. Grantly Budgen - Philip Martin Brown The cantankerous and often sarcastic head of English was Waterloo Road’s longest-serving character, appearing in the first nine series of the show from 2006 to 2013. His grouchy exterior belied a softer side, which viewers saw after the death of his wife and during his subsequent romance with dinner lady Maggie, and his final storyline, in which he developed kidney failure and eventually died before a donor could be found, packed an emotional punch. Eddie Lawson - Neil Morrissey Maths teacher and deputy head Eddie joined the show at the start of season 3 in 2007, and stuck around until the end of season 4 in 2009. Why did he leave so soon? Romantic drama, naturally — after spending a whole season tiptoeing around his feelings for headteacher Rachel Mason, he started a relationship with her sister Melissa, who then became pregnant. After departing Waterloo Road, Morrissey has continued to have a string of memorable roles in shows like Line of Duty and The Night Manager. Izzie Redpath - Jill Halfpenny Drama teacher Izzie, the mother of Chlo Grainger and her sister Mika, appeared on the show from its first season until her dramatic death in the closing episode of season 2 in 2007, when she was stabbed by hardman Jed Seddon while protecting her boss, headteacher Jack. Before that, she’d embarked on a relationship with her colleague Tom Clarkson, who’d previously been married to her best friend. Halfpenny has continued to have a successful screen and stage career — you might have recently seen her as a spiky TV producer in the BBC adaptation of Everything I Know About Love. Rachel Mason - Eva Pope Waterloo Road’s third headteacher, Rachel joined part way through season 3 in 2007 and managed to stick out this poisoned chalice of a job until the end of season 5, with her final episode airing in 2010. Her reign encompassed a major fire and a disgruntled governor driving a digger through the school. Pope, meanwhile, has gone on to appear in shows like Silent Witness and CBBC’s Hetty Feather. Max Tyler - Tom Chambers Max joined the school in season 5 to serve as its executive headteacher following the merger with private school John Fosters, managing to bag a job after bad mouthing acting headteacher Rachel to the local authority. His hardline approach didn’t go down too well with staff or pupils, and he lasted for just 10 episodes, which aired in 2009. Since appearing on the show, Chambers has starred in Father Brown and Casualty, and is another Waterloo Road star to have taken part in Strictly, eventually winning the sixth series with Camilla Dallerup. Tom Clarkson - Jason Done One of Waterloo Road’s best-loved and longest-standing teachers, Tom started out in season 1 and continued on the show until season 8, with his final episode airing in 2013. As well as taking in the Grainger sisters after their mother’s death, he later learned he was the father of pupil Josh Stevenson, who joined Waterloo Road after the merger with John Fosters. His time on the show ended in dramatic fashion, when he fell from the school roof while trying to talk student Kyle Stack down. Steph Haydock - Denise Welch Steph, who was part of the show’s main cast from season 1 to season 5, wasn’t exactly a natural teacher, given she could barely control her classes and her exam results were always rubbish. Still, she was a popular member of staff, even if her love of gossip often got her in trouble. Her last hurrah came in season 6 when, over the course of two episodes which aired in 2010, she returned to help her old colleague Grantly while his wife was suffering from dementia. Welch went on to star in Benidorm and Hollyoaks, and remains a regular fixture on the Loose Women panel. Maggie Budgen - Melanie Hill Joining the school as a dinner lady for season 7 in 2011, Maggie eventually moved up the ranks as a food tech teacher and strikes up a romance with Grantly, who she married shortly after the school was relocated from Rochdale to Scotland (don’t ask…) She continued to appear in the show until it ended in 2015, keeping herself busy with her role as the leader of the school’s boarding house following her husband’s death in season 8. These days you can spot Hill on the cobbles as Coronation Street’s Cathy Matthews. Bolton Smilie - Tachia Newall Another Waterloo Road bad boy who was actually just a bit misunderstood, Bolton joined in season 3 in 2007 and left in season 5 after sticking around for sixth form. He quickly got a reputation as a class clown, but proved himself during the school fire, when he managed to save some pupils who were trapped in a corridor. Before bowing out of the show in 2010, he and love interest Sambuca Kelly were named prom king and queen. He later made a brief comeback in season 8, when he made an ill-advised visit to the school after absconding from the army. Finn Sharkey - Jack McMullen A troublemaker who joined Waterloo Road in the latter half of season 5 (with his first episode airing in 2010), Finn arrived with a bad reputation, having tried to set Chris Mead’s car on fire at his previous school. He struck up a friendship with Josh and later became embroiled in romantic dramas with a series of girls, including Sambuca, eventually finding love with fellow pupil Trudi Siddiqui. He left at the end of season 7 in 2012, travelling to Canada with Trudi. McMullen Josh Stevenson - William Rush Josh started at Waterloo Road in season 5 after it was merged with his previous school, and later learns that English teacher Tom Clarkson is his dad. He starts acting out after that revelation (under the influence of his friend Finn) but he and Tom eventually strike up a close bond, with his father supporting him when he comes out as gay in season 6. He continued to appear on the show until season 8, when he returned to the school to retake his exams. Ruby Fry - Elizabeth Berrington Food tech teacher Ruby joined the school in season 5 and, in one of the series’ most impressive career glow-ups, left at the end of the following season in 2011 to focus on her work as an author. Berrington’s career has gone from strength to strength too: she has recently appeared in HBO drama The Nevers and in BBC One’s police thriller The Responder, as well as appearing as Princess Anne alongside Kristen Stewart’s Princess Diana in the film Spencer. Lindsay James - Jenna Coleman Coleman’s stint on Waterloo Road was short and, inevitably, highly dramatic: her character, who appeared in the first half of season 5 in 2009, was eventually found guilty of murdering her father, after it was revealed that her mother had covered up for her and tried to take the blame. The actress is now best known for her roles as Doctor Who companion Clara and the young queen Victoria in the ITV period drama, and will soon appear in Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman. Jonah Kirby - Lucien Laviscount Jonah only stuck around for the show’s sixth season, which aired from 2010 to 2011, but he definitely made an impression thanks to a dubious storyline which involved him falling in love with his Spanish teacher then deciding to elope with her to Gretna Green in Scotland. Laviscount went on to appear in shows like Trollied and Skins, before carving out an acting career on the other side of the Atlantic, with roles in Scream Queens and Riverdale spin-off Katy Keene. His biggest gig to date came in the most recent season of Netflix’s Emily in Paris. Jodie ‘Scout’ Allen - Katie McGlynn Coronation Street star McGlynn got her breakout role as Waterloo Road’s Scout, who comes from a troubled background and tries to provide for her younger brother by any means possible. She joined the show in season 7 in 2011, and Scout was one of the pupils to move up to Scotland with the school in season 8. Her final episode aired in 2013, when it was revealed that Scout was off to teacher training college. Sambuca Kelly - Holly Kenny Named after her mum’s favourite drink, Sambuca joined the show for season 4 in 2009. Although she often got dragged into conflict by her friends, she was a much-loved pupil, and the storyline surrounding her death from brain cancer in season 7 was an emotional one. After leaving the show in 2011, Kenny has appeared in shows including Shameless, Channel 4 period piece The Mill and in Kay Mellor drama In The Club. Chris Mead - William Ash Science teacher Chris was a former lawyer with a penchant for flash cars and clothes, until he packed it in for a career in education. He joined Waterloo Road for season 5 in 2009 and soon became a favourite among pupils and staff. Throughout his stint at the school, though, he ended up getting dragged into his pupils’ personal dramas and failing to maintain boundaries, so decided to resign halfway through season 7, with his last episode airing in 2011. Siobhan Mailey - Phoebe Dynevor Before Bridgerton catapulted her to superstardom, Dynevor got her breakout role in Waterloo Road’s fifth season, playing Siobhan, a student who joined after the merger with John Fosters. She stuck around for 20 episodes between 2009 and 2010. Michael Byrne - Alec Newman Michael was brought into the school at the start of season 7 (which aired in 2011) in an attempt to turn its reputation around. He was the architect of Waterloo Road’s dramatic move to Scotland, but didn’t stay around for long after that, leaving at the end of season 8 after a row about the school’s PRU. After quitting the show in 2013, Newman has appeared in dramas like Shetland, Showtrial and the most recent series of ITV’s Unforgotten. Guy Braxton - Regé-Jean Page Dynevor’s Bridgerton co-star also had an early gig on Waterloo Road, though their time on the show was five years apart. The future Duke of Hastings appeared in the 10th and final series as newly qualified teacher Guy, who ended up releasing that one of his new pupils was in fact his estranged sister. His episodes aired in 2015. Denzil Kelly - Reece Douglas The younger brother of Sambuca, Denzil had a troubled time of it at Waterloo Road, joining at the start of season 4 in 2009 and tragically dying in a car accident in the final episode of season 7, which aired in 2012 and saw the school make its move from Rochdale to Scotland. Since his time on the show, Douglas has appeared in ITV’s The Bay and is set to appear alongside Adrian Dunbar in the upcoming police thriller Ridley. Waterloo Road season 16 arrived on BBC iPlayer at 6am and on BBC One at 9am on Tuesday 23rd September. Previous seasons are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
John Stapleton, renowned journalist and popular GMTV presenter, dies aged 79
The presenter had been living Parkinson's disease, revealing his diagnosis in 2024.
Renowned broadcaster John Stapleton has died at the age of 79. The journalist, best known as a presenter on the likes of GMTV, Sky News, and Watchdog, has been confirmed to have died in hospital on Sunday (21st September 2025) in the early hours of the morning. Stapleton made public his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease in 2024 and was living with the condition and managing it as best as possible. His agent, Jackie Gill, confirmed that he had faced complications with his Parkinson's after being diagnosed with pneumonia in recent days. Gill's statement on Sunday reads: "John had Parkinson’s disease, which was complicated by pneumonia. "His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have been constantly at his side, and John died peacefully in hospital this morning." Stapleton's son Nick was his only child from his marriage of over four decades to his Watchdog co-presenter Lynn Faulds Wood, who died following a stroke in 2020. John Stapleton began his career in regional newspapers before moving to Fleet Street and then to television, with numerous roles at the BBC and ITV, including on Panorama, Newsnight and Good Morning Britain. Stapleton joined GMTV in 1998 and presented on the show and its successors, Daybreak and Good Morning Britain, until 2015. Stapleton won the News Presenter of the Year award in 2003 from the Royal Television Society, largely for his coverage of the Iraq War on GMTV. In 2008, Stapleton also spoke openly about how he struggled with anorexia nervosa in his youth. Speaking to BBC One's Morning Live in 2024, Stapleton was candid about his health and how best he was trying to live with Parkinson's. Stapleton said (via The Guardian): "Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years. "It’s very frustrating sometimes, particularly [when] people are constantly saying to you: ‘Sorry, what did you say?’ And you have to repeat yourself, time and time again. "I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?"
EastEnders' Sharon Watts returns to unexpected reunion tomorrow in dramatic first look clip
Letitia Dean is back as Sharon Watts in Monday's episode.
After five months away, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) finally returns to EastEnders on Monday (22nd September 2025). The iconic BBC One soap character left Walford following the funeral of dear friend Martin Fowler (James Bye) and went to go and stay with her oldest friend and Martin's grieving sister, Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully, Jenna Russell), in Australia. When Sharon left, she took her and ex-husband Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden) son, Albie Watts (Arthur Gentleman), with her. Sharon and Phil had been poised for a romantic reunion before she left, but then he discovered that she had shared a one-night stand with his brother and her first husband, Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). Before leaving, Sharon also gave a loan to her adopted half-sister and Michelle's daughter, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), who actually used the money to help her partner, Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), pay off a victim of his twisted teenage son, Joel Marshall (Max Murray). Now, on Monday, Sharon finally arrives back in Walford, and a first-look clip has been released by the show which depicts her returning to Albert Square in a black cab with son Albie. Watch the clip below. View oEmbed on the source website If the box above is not showing, you may need to change your privacy settings. In the Radio Times site footer, click ‘Manage Privacy Settings’. Under ‘Site Vendors’, consent to ‘X’, then press Save & Exit. However, Sharon gets the shock of her life when, across the square, she sees her old foe Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) staring back at her from the Slater house. The pair share a dramatic staring down of each other before Sharon retreats to her home with young Albie as Zoe looks on, bemused. What happened between Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater in EastEnders? Fans will recall that Sharon and Zoe were once fierce love rivals for Sharon's adopted brother and later second husband, Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). Despite a romance with Zoe, Dennis was madly in love with Sharon and the pair were poised to leave Walford together on Christmas Day 2004 until Dennis and Sharon's evil father, Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), convinced Zoe to lie about being pregnant with Dennis's child. The result saw Sharon leave Walford with Vicki, and Dennis stay with Zoe. Zoe struggled to try and conceive a child with Dennis after this and was manipulated by Den into sleeping with him to get pregnant. Ultimately, Dennis caught Zoe in bed with his father and, knowing the truth, ended their relationship and tracked down Sharon to reunite with her. In the aftermath, Zoe was pregnant with Den's child but was persuaded to get an abortion by his furious second wife, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman). Chrissie and Zoe then teamed up with an aggrieved Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) to take further revenge on Den and engineered Sharon's return to see Den's true colours. As a result, Den violently attacked Chrissie until Zoe struck him with a doorstop and believed she had killed him to save Chrissie. Yet, after Zoe had left the scene, Den awoke until he was finally murdered by Chrissie with the same doorstop. Sam witnessed the truth, but Chrissie allowed Zoe to think she was a killer, and they buried Den in cement in the Queen Vic basement. Eventually, Sam told Zoe the truth, and she punched Chrissie. Zoe also came clean that she aborted Den's baby and did not suffer a miscarriage. Zoe made a semblance of peace with Dennis and Sharon before leaving Walford for Ibiza in an emotional goodbye to Kat in 2005. The truth of Den's murder was discovered later that year, with Chrissie going to prison for 20 years and Sam going on the run for four years. In 2006, Zoe gave birth to twins, with her daughter apparently dying and the son being abandoned by a distraught Zoe. The father remains unknown. What's next for Sharon Watts in EastEnders? Sharon is reunited with her adopted half-sister Vicki and biological half-brother Zack Hudson (James Farrar), but remains very much focused on Zoe's presence in Walford and wants to confront her. Despite any tension, Sharon eventually heads to the Vic and calls a truce with Zoe. Elsewhere, the situation between Sharon and Phil remains awkward, but she tries to build bridges by suggesting he look after Albie, and he agrees. Next, Sharon turns her attention to Vicki and the debt she owes her, but Vicki is struggling so much with Joel's horrific behaviour that she leaves the house and runs into Zoe, leading to a brawl breaking out and Zack getting struck accidentally while he and Dr Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) try to break up the fight. Sharon is happy to share a warm moment with Phil, but soon discovers the drama between Vicki and Zoe. Storming over to the Vic to confront Zoe, Sharon is left floored when Zoe delivers her a shocking confession that leaves Sharon in disbelief and furious. Kat responds by throwing Sharon and Vicki out of the pub. While Sharon doesn't know what to think about Zoe's confession, and is consoled by her old friend and ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and his mother Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth). Ian is sure that Zoe is lying, while Kat and her husband, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), also question Zoe's claims. Just what is Zoe claiming, and is she telling the truth? And, if so, what will Sharon do now? Read more: EastEnders boss Ben Wadey teases "unusual territory" with one upcoming storyline EastEnders' Michelle Collins teases "more dysfunction" for scheming Cindy Beale 5 huge EastEnders questions after shock Max Branning return and Zoe Slater twists EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe" EastEnders' Scott Maslen argues soap will be "even more key" with stories as "the world's a mess" EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders advance spoilers reveal huge decision for Stacey Slater and shock for Lauren Branning
It seems Stacey faces a big choice ahead of actress Lacey Turner's upcoming exit.
It seems a major decision looms for Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) in EastEnders in the coming weeks. The BBC One soap has already teased in spoilers for this coming week that Stacey will be questioning her future in Walford after her brother Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) invites her to move to Brazil with the kids and live with him. Actress Lacey Turner is set to take an extended break from the soap when Stacey leaves this Autumn, so will Stacey take up Sean on his offer? The week commencing Monday 29th September 2025, has teased in the first episode of the week that "Stacey makes a decision for her family". Is this connected to Sean's offer, or does Stacey face an entirely different dilemma? As if that wasn't enough, the same week, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) is plotting a major surprise, but the potential for it all to blow up in his face remains, with his fiancée Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) trying to save face on the following day as she is "shell-shocked". Meanwhile, as he continues his new criminal lifestyle, it seems the stress is not ending for Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway), but this week, he turns to his mum Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington). As the week continues, things are looking brighter for Harry, but we have to question whether it will last... Elsewhere, newcomer Jasmine (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) still sounds like she is rubbing people up the wrong way! The new episode descriptions from the BBC are below... Monday 29th September 2025 Peter pulls rank as he plans a surprise that could backfire, Stacey makes a decision for her family, and Harry is overwhelmed by a growing situation. Tuesday 30th September 2025 Lauren is shell-shocked as she attempts to save face, Harry turns to Nicola for support, and Jasmine makes a bad first impression on one family. Wednesday 1st October 2025 There’s drama ahead in Walford following an unexpected surprise, things are looking up for Harry, and Priya and Ravi face more hurdles. Thursday 2nd October 2025 Recent events have consequences for all involved. That final episode description is rather ambiguous and is also the second episode of the week to be penned by legendary EastEnders scribe Simon Ashdown. We're expecting some very high drama this week! Read more: EastEnders boss Ben Wadey teases "unusual territory" with one upcoming storyline EastEnders' Michelle Collins teases "more dysfunction" for scheming Cindy Beale 5 huge EastEnders questions after shock Max Branning return and Zoe Slater twists EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe" EastEnders' Scott Maslen argues soap will be "even more key" with stories as "the world's a mess" EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
5 Emmerdale spoilers for this coming week: John Sugden's next targets revealed as Cain Dingle wants revenge
The killer has finally been exposed but he remains a fugitive from the law.
The truth is finally out about John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), but that doesn't mean the villagers of Emmerdale can rest easy. The ITV soap aired some dramatic scenes in the last fortnight as John's husband, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), discovered the dark truths around him, including that he murdered Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) and has been holding Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) prisoner. While John's half-brother and Aaron's ex-husband, Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), raced to save Aaron, events culminated in John pulling himself and Aaron over a cliff edge and then framing Robert for pushing them both out of jealousy. Thankfully, Aaron awoke from a coma and remembered everything that occurred, leaving John exposed and forcing him to go on the run. Friday's episode (19th September) saw Robert freed from prison as he was exonerated of the crimes he was accused of, but John was seen in hiding in the village and watching over events. 5 Emmerdale spoilers for this coming week 1. John Sugden prepares to murder his brother and love rival, Robert Sugden Next week, police are swarming the village in an attempt to find the fugitive killer, John. As the manhunt continues, John hides out at Keepers' Cottage and lies in wait for love rival Robert and armed with a syringe. However, when John listens in to a conversation between Robert and their sister, Victoria Sugden (Isobel Hodgins), he hears her question how much John ever really cared for their family. Conflicted, John flees the scene and heads to see someone else entirely... 2. John Sugden blackmails Caleb Miligan over Anthony's murder The person John turns to next is, in fact, Aaron's uncle, Caleb Miligan (Will Ash). Of course, Caleb would want nothing to do with John, but the killer army medic has something to hold over Caleb when he arrives at the depot asking for help to escape the country: the murder of Anthony Fox. Earlier in the year, John helped cover up the murder of the evil Anthony at the hands of his daughter, Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly), who he had sexually abused during her childhood. John ended up moving Anthony's body in an apparent bid to protect the Miligan-Dingles, but now he is the only one who knows where it is. As John needs to escape the country, will Caleb lie to Ruby and his family and help the murderer get away? As Caleb tries to sneak away from home the next day, he is cornered by a suspicious Ruby. Is Caleb about to do something he will regret? 3. Cain Dingle wants revenge Cain Dingle is understandably furious after discovering that John murdered Nate. Initially, irrationally, Cain turns his anger on his recovering nephew, Aaron. Given that Cain also unwittingly helped John leave the hospital, there's no doubt some self-loathing is going on. Just how far will Cain go to get justice for his late son? 4. Dr Liam Cavanagh and Dr Manpreet Sharma question John's impact on the surgery As John remains at large, Dr Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and Dr Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Starmer) worry that there are more horrors that John may have delivered through the surgery. The pair decide to do a thorough audit of the surgery to see if even darker truths lie beneath the surface. Given all the health dramas that John created, could it come back to bite the doctors? 5. Mackenzie Boyd and Aaron Dingle recover in the aftermath of last week Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) is finally and literally free from John's prison, but the scars will certainly run deeper, and the same can be said for his best friend, Aaron. Mack pays a visit to Aaron in his hospital room, and they discuss what they both experienced at the hands of John. Given Mack's previous suspicions about John, is it too early to say "I told you so"? Later in the week, Ruby visits Aaron and compares his situation with John to how she feels about Anthony. Aaron blames himself for not seeing what John was like, but Ruby reassures him that they were fooled. While Ruby and Chas are both convinced that John is gone, Aaron remains sure this is not the end of his husband... Read more: Emmerdale star teases John Sugden "twists and turns" as Aaron and Robert remain in danger Is John Sugden an imposter in Emmerdale as villain's comeuppance draws closer? 5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Pregnant Charity Dingle takes a DNA test and April Windsor is manipulated by Ray Emmerdale's Aaron will 'share in hatred' of husband John as dark storyline moves forward Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX from 7am. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Brace yourself, The Morning Show season 4 is set to deliver pure chaos and here’s why you can’t miss it
The most unhinged but addictive TV drama going is back with its stellar A-list cast.
Apple TV+'s premier drama series is finally back as The Morning Show returns to our screens after two years away. The series, which began mostly as an examination of gender dynamics and sexual exploitation in the workplace of a news show, soon evolved into an even more wide-ranging examination of the media industry. Despite a flurry of awards and plaudits for its stars, however, The Morning Show is fantastic melodrama, delivering campy, heartbreaking and amusing scenes in spades. The run picks up two years after the events of the preceding season and brings with it some new faces, some returning old ones, and boasts some bigger and somehow even more wild plots to explore. Now, given news of the show's assured future with a fifth season confirmed, it's worth the investment. So, strap yourselves in, as the premiere for the fourth season shows, it's only just beginning and here's what you have to watch for... **Spoiler warning for The Morning Show so far and season 4 episode 1** 10 things we’re excited to see in The Morning Show season 4 1. Women in power The Morning Show has explored gender imbalances in power throughout the media industry across its previous three seasons, with its first being a riveting examination of a #MeToo reckoning hitting a beloved media institution. However, with the end of the third season and a huge corporate shake-up, the show’s setting is now overseen by three female leaders in a welcome shake-up to the usual dynamics. The new season opens in the aftermath of the UBA/NBN merger, and we now have the new media giant UBN dominated by three powerful women: Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston, of course), CEO Stella Bak (the magnetic Greta Lee), and new face Celina Dumont (Oscar winner Marion Cotillard). Alex has long been caught up in scandal and controversy, but her ability to navigate these and come out stronger and more beloved has been a major calling card for the character. How will Alex deal with these issues, however, now that she’s in charge and the buck will often stop with her? Elsewhere, work-addicted Stella, who herself suffered under the dangerous tech giant Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), is now the big boss, having stepped out of the shadow of mentor Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) - but with power comes other weights and dangers. The premiere also shows that Stella must balance honouring key working relationships with hard business as colleague Mia Jordan (Karen Pittman) waits for her long-deserved promotion to Head of News. Finally, the new face of Celine, the head of the board of directors of the company and an offspring of a wealthy French dynasty, is an enigmatic new addition to the cast, meaning how she will impact the roles of Alex and Stella is anyone’s guess. Either way, women are in power in season 4 of The Morning Show; the question is: what do they do with that power? 2. Oscar winner Marion Cotillard in general Aside from the impact that Celine will bring to the power dynamic, she’s played by Marion Cotillard! One of France’s most celebrated actresses and an Academy Award winner, Cotillard is one of the most distinguished additions to The Morning Show cast (and this is in a cast full of Hollywood heavyweights). Whether it is gravitas, tragedy, beguilement or mystery, Cotillard can always bring it in spades, and the fact that she’s such a key player in the fourth season bodes very well for what’s to come. Though given the last time she played an enigmatic corporate suit - as Miranda Tate/Talia Al Ghul in The Dark Knight Rises - ended in a violent car crash amid a nuclear bomb plot, we hope things don’t get quite so explosive for Celine... but this is The Morning Show after all, the show that put Reese Witherspoon's character in space before Katy Perry ascended to the stars. Cotillard knows how to roll out the camp, and where is more appropriate than The Morning Show? However, one story does look set to cause heartache… 3. Stella Bak (Greta Lee) and her messy affair A major threat to this new trinity of female leaders is a new romance for Stella - with Celine’s charismatic artist husband, Miles, played by rising star Aaron Pierre. The premiere set up a very sexy rendezvous for the pair in a cocktail bar, in what initially seemed like a fiery first meeting but turned out to be the latest outing for the pair. Pierre and Lee deliver great chemistry, but the potential fallout from their adulterous affair and the reaction of the enigmatic Celine looks poised to be must-see TV. Greta Lee has only had more success off the back of her stunning turn in the film Past Lives by Celine Song, so it’s an extra treat to see her back in the fourth run of The Morning Show after being the definite highlight of season 3. 4. Jeremy Irons as Martin Levy The other most notable addition in the new season has to be legendary thespian Jeremy Irons. And who is he? Why, Jennifer Aniston’s father of course! The premiere introduces us to Alex’s academic father, Martin Levy (Jeremy Irons), and there’s clearly a lot of water under the bridge between this pair. Martin has a request for Alex to help further his legacy by continuing coverage of his life’s work. Alex hardly seems to be jumping for joy at the prospect, and there’s definitely resentment bubbling under the surface here. Who’s betting it’s all going to explode in signature melodramatic style from Alex Levy? We’ll grab the popcorn and ready ourselves for further insight into Alex’s backstory. 5. What's next for Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup)? He’s a fan-favourite for a reason. Billy Crudup’s award-winning turn as the delightfully quirky former UBN CEO, Cory Ellison, is set to continue in the fourth run. The last season ended with Cory exiting UBA and his love for Bradley becoming abundantly clear, but the pair parted ways. Worryingly, it seemed it might have been the end of the road for Cory. However, he’s back and fully in the realm of film producing in California and in true bombastic Cory style too. Of course, Cory won’t be out of the thick of the action for long, but how on Earth will he be drawn back into the main story? Well, it seems Alex has an eye to use him in a very specific fashion - an obstacle for Bradley. Either way, Cory’s inevitable reunion with Bradley will be rewarding and rich with pathos, and we’re sure Crudup will bring a tear to the eye when it does. 6. Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) is back - but for how long? One of the wildest plots for the previous season was Bradley conspiring to cover up her brother's involvement in the 6th January 2020 Capitol attack, and it left her compromising her journalistic principles - and the law. Given that a potential prison sentence was on the cards for intrepid reporter Bradley at the end of the third season, again, the future looked ominous for one of our key players. However, Bradley was back, teaching and living a quiet life in Virginia until producer Mia returned and asked her to come back and front The Morning Show for a limited time, cynically also to appeal to Republican states and turn away from those Capitol controversies. While Bradley will return to the fold, we discover that her freedom is really because she cut a deal with the FBI and her leaving for New York and returning to journalism while an informant for the government could cause some conflicts of interest. In the end, Bradley is coming back, despite Alex's irritation, but this feels like it'll only end in chaos. Does Bradley have a long-term future at TMS? And what would a potential betrayal of UBN for the FBI mean for Bradley's friendship with Alex? 7. Artificial Intelligence A major recurring element of the new season that has been much-touted in promotional material and prominent in the premiere is the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media, and at UBN in particular, with Stella spearheading its use for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. The world in 2025 is very much aware of how much change AI is already bringing to many industries, and the media and journalism are among the most fraught now with questions of accuracy, trust and manipulation more glaring than ever. Now, can the melodramatic and spicy tone of The Morning Show tackle such a weighty new topic with aplomb? You betcha, and it couldn't be more timely. 8. Chris Hunter (Nicole Beharie) enters the spotlight One of the most dynamic and gifted additions to the show in season 3 was the addition of Miss Juneteenth star Nicole Beharie as former Olympic gold medalist turned TV presenter Christine "Chris" Hunter. The new episodes finally see Chris ascending to the leading lady of the titular breakfast show at the centre of the series, making her more important than ever and also, hopefully, exploring her personal life even more. Chris is one of the more fascinating characters in the workplace drama, with a very different life experience for the show to draw from. Let's hope Beharie gets her dues! 9. Where does Clare Conway (Bel Powley) fit in? Now this is a very mysterious element of the season, but actress Bel Powley was spotted filming scenes with Reese Witherspoon for the season in New York, suggesting a return for Bradley's former assistant, Clare Conway. Clare was last seen furious with UBA for the treatment of the late Hannah (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who died by suicide in season 1. The character also had a controversial workplace romance with weatherman Yanko Flores (Néstor Carbonell). Now, Yanko is the anchor of TMS and is in a relationship. Would Clare's return cause any issues? 10. Paul Marks (Jon Hamm) will return... Another character who many expected to be off the show following his downfall in the season 3 finale and the end of his romantic relationship with Alex was tech giant Paul Marks (Jon Hamm). An antagonistic figure, but one who had a very real love story with Alex, Marks was a dynamite addition to the ensemble of characters, so it's great to know that we have not seen the last of him. Apple TV+ confirmed that Hamm will appear in the new season, but in what capacity remains to be seen. Will Paul and Alex reunite as friends or foes? Hamm, of course, is excellent and boasts fantastic chemistry with Aniston, so fireworks are definitely on the menu. The Morning Show season 4 airs weekly on Wednesdays on Apple TV+ through to 19th November. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Morning Show season 4: Release date, trailers, and latest news
The Morning Show cast just keeps getting bigger and better!
It's been a little while now since The Morning Show was last on our screens with its dramatic season 3 finale – but at long last, the show is finally back. Picking up for the failure of Paul Marks (Jon Hamm) to buy out UBN, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) must cope in an ever-changing media landscape - and with some major new characters too. The series also needs to answer the question of what happened to Bradley after she turned herself in to the FBI about aiding her brother Hal in the January 2021 Capitol Attack. So, it's safe to say that fans have been left to wonder when season 4 will be coming to our screens. Read on for everything we know so far about The Morning Show season 4. The Morning Show season 4 release date speculation The Morning Show season 4 will premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday 17th September 2025. The season will consist of 10 episodes and will release an episode weekly on the platform. Who is starring in the new season? The following main cast members will be starring in The Morning Show season 4. Jennifer Aniston as Alexandra "Alex" Levy Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison Mark Duplass as Charlie "Chip" Black Karen Pittman as Mia Jordan Greta Lee as Stella Bak Nicole Beharie as Christine "Chris" Hunter with Jon Hamm as Paul Marks and Marion Cotillard as Celine Dumont The main cast changes to note for season 4 are the addition of Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as French socialite and chairwoman of the board of directors, Celine Dumont. Meanwhile, despite the end of his romance and takeover bid last season, Jon Hamm's Paul Marks remains part of the show, but you'll have to wait and see how. Elsewhere, Néstor Carbonell will reprise his role as anchor Yanko Flores, who is now in a happy romantic relationship with his girlfriend Angela. Meanwhile, Yanko's ex-girlfriend and former colleague, Clare Conway, looks poised to make a return as actress Bel Powley was spotted on set. Other new additions this season include Jeremy Irons as Alex's father, Martin Levy, Aaron Pierre as artist Miles, William Jackson Harper as Head of Sport, Ben, and Boyd Holdbrook as outspoken podcaster Brodie Hartman. What could The Morning Show season 4 be about? The official plot synopsis for season 4 reads... "Season four opens in spring 2024, almost two years after the events of season three. With the UBA-NBN merger complete, the newsroom must grapple with newfound responsibility, hidden motives and the elusive nature of truth in a polarised America. "In a world rife with deepfakes, conspiracy theories and corporate cover-ups - who can you trust? And how can you know what’s actually real?" So, it's very clear, including from promotional material, that AI and shifting technology's impact on the media will be explored. The series will also explore the most recent presidential election and the recent Olympics in Paris. Despite their apparent departures from the world of the show, Bradley, Cory, and Paul Marks will all be back in the fold in the new episodes, but how remains to be seen entirely, but we do know that Bradley will return to working as an anchor. Alex also looks set to face her past with the arrival of Jeremy Irons as her father, Martin Levy, so expect some skeletons to fall out of that family closet. Finally, UBA-NBN is now led by a trio of women - Alex, Stella, and newcomer Celine - but will they work together or fall apart? Is there a trailer for The Morning Show season 4? Yes, you can catch the main trailer for the season below. View oEmbed on the source website The Morning Show streams on Apple TV+. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ending explained with full spoilers – how does the franchise end?
Spoiler warning for the ending of the Downton Abbey story.
The final instalment of the Downton Abbey story is finally here with its third feature film, subtitled The Grand Finale. The new film picks up two years after Downton Abbey: A New Era, with much of the film's action centred on the scandal of the divorce of Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery). Elsewhere, the question of Downton's future is always on the table, with many wondering what will become of the fortune left from the wealthy family of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern). So, what becomes of Lady Mary, the Crawleys, the staff and all of the cast of Downton Abbey? Here's everything you need to know – and with some quotes from the film's cast shared with RadioTimes.com. *Spoiler warning for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.* Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale ending explained with full spoilers So, the Downton Abbey franchise comes to a close with a very emotional and sentimental conclusion in The Grand Finale. The ending will certainly leave fans with a lot of emotion, and, unsurprisingly, the cast felt that way too. "I didn't actually expect to cry," revealed Joanne Froggatt, recalling how she ended up hugging co-star Michelle Dockery during one screening of the film. On the weight of filming this final chapter, Dockery added: "Definitely, in particular scenes, you really felt the way." So, as we conclude, what exactly happens to every character? What happens to Lady Mary Crawley at the end of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale? The final film sees Lady Mary face scandal following her divorce from Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode, absent in the film). An outcast and looked down upon for much of the film, the question also arises over whether she should be the one to take charge of Downton as her father, Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), hands over the reins. Mary does find some distraction in the new arrival, Gus Sambrook (Alessandro Nivola), an American businessman and associate of her uncle Harold Levinson (Paul Giamatti). After a night of passion, Guy seeks to repeat their lustful encounter, but Mary is aware of the scandal and soon Gus is also exposed as a con artist looking to take more of the Levinson family fortune from Downton. Thankfully, this is avoided, and Gus is sent on his way by a stern Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael). As the film comes to a close, Lady Mary finds that she has the support of the staff at Downton and also from the community at large and soon Robert feels comfortable to step back, move to the Dower House once occupied by his mother, and let Mary take the lead as a single mother. In the final scenes, Mary parts ways with much of the family, including maid Anna Bates and her sister Edith, with whom she has finally reached an understanding after all these years. "I mean, our ending, you know, when we did our last moment together, yeah, and the characters are actually leaving one another," noted Dockery to Carmichael of the weight of their final scenes. "So we were sort of holding it back and our goodbye, I felt that was quite a tough one. So there are definitely those moments, actually, where the characters were also saying goodbye, were quite hard to play." The final scenes – a tribute to Dame Maggie Smith After this, Mary looks around Downton and experiences a vision of the Servants' Ball (as shown in the Christmas at Downton Abbey special) with visions of the family and servants dancing happily together, including Mary with her late one true love Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) and also sees her late younger sister Lady Sibyl Branson (Jessica Brown-Findlay) and, of course, her late grandmother Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Dame Maggie Smith). View oEmbed on the source website The emotional and almost angelic scene fills Mary with emotion before she walks away, and the camera rests on the portrait of her late grandmother with a tribute to the late Maggie Smith. Speaking about the nostalgic final scenes, Dockery said: "Well, that was actually an addition during filming, that was an idea from the creatives, and Simon Curtis was really adamant that they put something in like that. "When you see Mary remembering those moments within the hall, it was really hard to film that. Have to say, I found it really difficult because Mary's so stoic. "She's not someone who sort of bursts into tears, and that's all I wanted to do, but they played the music, which was a piece from Matthew and Mary's scene together at the train station, which is one of my favourite pieces of music, and they played it over the speakers as I was imagining everybody in the room. And it took a few takes, because the first take, I just welled up too much. They had to check my makeup and go back and be stoic again. "So it wasn't, it wasn't an easy one to shoot, but really rewarding, because I think it's such a beautiful tribute to Maggie at the end. And that was all Simon Curtis's vision, which really worked so beautifully." What happens to the rest of the Crawley family? As mentioned, Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, and his wife Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), decide to move to the Dower House and let Mary focus on running the estate while they spend time together. Elsewhere, Lady Edith Pelham – now a steely matriarch herself – remains happily married to Herbert "Bertie" Pelham, Marquess of Hexam (Harry Hadden-Paton), and now has a strong relationship with Mary. "She feels very secure," noted Carmichael. "Where you find her, she's very happily married, and also is returning to work. She's got this newspaper, and I think it gives her so much confidence and status. She has a bit of power and she uses that in this film to help her sister, which is really cool to see that change from the early days." Dockery added, "Yeah, she feels really anchored. I think that's why Mary leans on her, because she needs someone to hold on to and to help her through this predicament that she's got herself in. "Their dynamic has always been so brilliant and for us, this film was like the last great kind of moment between the two of them, which we hadn't really seen." Meanwhile, Mary's former mother-in-law, Isobel Grey, Lady Merton (Penelope Wilton), also remains a fixture in the community and remains close to the family after remarrying to Richard Grey, Baron Merton (Douglas Reith). Finally, former Irish Republican and socialist activist Tom Branson (Allen Leech) remains happily married to his second wife, Lucy (Tuppence Middleton, absent from the film) and their young child, along with his eldest child, daughter Sybie. Despite living away from Downton and being a true businessman now, Branson remains close to his first wife's family. What happens to the staff of Downton Abbey? <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/09/4226D05100413R-aad8475.jpg" width="4500" height="3000" alt="4226_D051_00413_R(L to R) Jim Carter stars as Mr. Carson, Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore, Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates and Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates in DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale, a Focus Features release. Credit: Rory Mulvey / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC" title="DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale" /> Despite some absolute difficulty on his part, Charles Carson (Jim Carter) did finally retire for good this time, while his beloved wife, Elsie Hughes (Phyllis Logan), stayed on as housekeeper of Downton. Speaking about where Carson is at in the film, Jim Carer said: "Carson's obviously not going to cope well with retirement....I mean, you've been in service for 50 years?" Elsewhere, Beryl Patmore (Lesley Nichol) retired herself but was uncertain about leaving service behind and wondered what sexual demands her husband Albert Mason (Paul Copley) might make of her – but Mrs Hughes soon put her mind at rest – and revealed she might enjoy it. Mrs Patmore also handed over the reins of the kitchen to her protégée, Daisy Parker (Sophie McShera), who she told was like a daughter to her in a very sweet scene. Meanwhile, Daisy's husband Andy Parker (Michael Fox) finally took over from Mr Carson full-time as the new butler of Downton. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/09/4226D00600328R-c3bbf8c.jpg" width="4500" height="3000" alt="4226_D006_00328_R(L to R) Raquel Cassidy stars as Miss Baxter, Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley, Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker, Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore, Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates and Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates in DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale, a Focus Features release. Credit: Rory Mulvey / © 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC" title="DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale" /> Phyllis Baxter (Raquel Cassidy) also finally managed to persuade her husband Joseph Molesley (Kevin Doyle) not to be so obsessed with his new career in screenwriting and to focus on making their own home life happy, too. Also, as the Earl and Countess leave Downton for the Dower House, it is decided that Baxter will swap her roles with Anna Bates and become the lady's maid to Lady Mary in the manor. Finally, the conclusion of Anna Bates and John Bates (Brendan Coyle) sees them preparing to welcome another child to their family. Both Anna and Bates leave working at Downton to work at the Dower house in their roles as the lady's maid and butler, respectively, for the Earl and Countess of Grantham. Before leaving Downton, Anna asks her former mistress and friend, Lady Mary, to be the godmother to her future child, and a delighted Mary agrees. What happens to Thomas Barrow in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale? The former scheming valet Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier) returns to Downton with his new boss – and lover – hit actor Guy Dexter (Dominic West). Guy visits as a guest of the Crawleys for a get-together after they previously were shown seeing his latest work in a Noël Coward (Arty Froushan) play, bringing Coward with them. Barrow visits initially as just an employee and visits his old colleagues downstairs, but Lady Mary insists on Barrow joining Dexter upstairs with the family, and he does, despite the prejudices around homosexuality being rampant at the time. Coward, meanwhile, is inspired by Lady Mary's tumultuous personal life to write a play, which the film reveals will be his real-life hit Private Lives. Is there an end credits scene in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale? Yes, the film shows off the various central characters in their new, happy personal lives with their families, and all are happy and well. Read More: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale cast and creator talk saying goodbye to beloved franchise - and the potential for spin-offs Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale first reviews are in - and its early Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale star reveals whether fan-favourite couple are due a happy ending Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be released in UK cinemas on 12th September 2025. All seasons of Downton Abbey are available to stream on Disney Plus, ITVX, and Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale star reveals whether Matthew Goode absence impacted Lady Mary plot
Matthew Goode's Henry Talbot is absent from the final Downton Abbey film, The Grand Finale.
Actress Michelle Dockery has opened up about Matthew Goode's absence from Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. The third and final film in the Downton Abbey series brings the entire franchise to a close and sees Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) facing a fresh scandal when it becomes public that she is now divorced. Mary's now ex-husband, Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), was last seen in the first Downton Abbey film in 2019 but was absent in the second film, A New Era, with the character having gone travelling and marital issues being hinted at. Goode previously revealed to Deadline that he had hoped to feature in a small role in the third film for a short scene with Dockery, but scheduling conflicts and medical issues prevented this. Speaking to RadioTimes.com ahead of the release of The Grand Finale, Dockery suggested that had Goode featured in the film, there would not have been a major change to the plot. "I think the seeds were planted in the second film," said Dockery, "because you knew that there was trouble between them. So, I think that was the plan quite early on that they would divorce and whether Matthew would be part of that in the movie, had he been in it, the story would have remained the same. So it was definitely something that I saw coming." Of course, despite losing her marriage to Henry, Lady Mary remains a key figure at Downton for the final instalment. The future of the Crawley family and their home is a major point of discussion, particularly following the passing of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley (the late Dame Maggie Smith). Dockery previously told Radio Times magazine about working with the late Smith: "I was always slightly nervous going into those scenes, even though we were great friends and we worked together for 15 years." She continued: "I will treasure those moments, and how we played Bananagrams between scenes. She was so good at it, and so sweet." In addition to the returning cast members, new additions include Simon Russell Beale, Alessandro Nivola, Joely Richardson, and Arty Froushan as playwright Noël Coward. Read More: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale cast and creator talk saying goodbye to beloved franchise - and the potential for spin-offs Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale first reviews are in - and its early Rotten Tomatoes score has been revealed Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale star reveals whether fan-favourite couple are due a happy ending Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be released in UK cinemas on 12th September 2025. All seasons of Downton Abbey are available to stream on Disney Plus, ITVX, and Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions
Can we hope to see the former Mrs Branning back on Albert Square?
The Branning clan on Albert Square is growing once again in EastEnders. Alongside Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and his youngest children Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and Ricky Branning (Frankie Day), the return of cousins Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) in 2024, followed by Lauren's brother Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) earlier this year, and now her estranged father Max Branning (Jake Wood) this week, the Brannings are back at the centre of the action as one of the key families in Walford. However, one person who remains absent but is often mentioned is Max's ex-wife and the mother of Lauren and Oscar, Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner). Originally appearing as a regular character from 2006 to 2013, Tanya was last seen struggling outside the funeral of her and Max's youngest daughter, Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), during a guest appearance in 2018. Tanya has been mentioned recently as she's washed her hands of troubled son Oscar, while Max revealed in flashbacks to Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) that their granddaughter Abi Branning Jr. is staying with her now. Of course, Joyner remains a very busy actress and is often on our screens, but could we dare to hope for a return for the beloved Tanya? Speaking at a press event on the set of the soap, executive producer Ben Wadey remained full of praise for Joyner but did note there was already an embarrassment of riches in the cast. Responding to my question on a potential Tanya return, Wadey laughed: "We've just given you Max and Zoe!" He did continue: "Yeah, I mean, Jo's amazing, isn't she? We've also got an amazing cast with brilliant performances that deserve and need stories..." Read More: EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return Actor Scott Maslen then humorously interjected: "We need a bit of naughty Max first, don't we? Yeah, we need him back for a while and let her come and sort him out." So, we're not letting our hope of a Tanya comeback die just yet! There's certainly enough drama on the way for Walford in the meantime... Read more: EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe" EastEnders star confirms Stacey Slater and Max Branning have "unfinished business" as her exit approaches EastEnders star teases Jack and Ravi storyline in shooting aftermath Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders Autumn 2025 Preview: Joel story explodes, Sharon returns, Lauren and Peter wedding drama
Executive producer Ben Wadey, cast and Radio Times tease all that we have to look forward to in Walford this Autumn...
Well, September well and truly kicked off a dramatic Autumn for EastEnders. The BBC One soap aired Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) returning to Walford last week and revealed multiple secrets about her - including a shocking connection to fellow soap icon Max Branning (Jake Wood)! Speaking at an EastEnders press event on Wednesday (3rd September 2025), executive producer Ben Wadey noted: "Well, this week kicks off a really big autumn for us. There's lots of drama ahead for lots of different families." So, just what do we have to look forward to EastEnders Autumn Preview 2025 1. Joel Marshall's misogyny storyline explodes One storyline that has certainly got fans talking is the ongoing storyline surrounding teen Joel Marshall (played by Max Murray), who has been radicalised into extreme misogyny and has committed multiple sex crimes. Joel's dad, Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), has failed to discipline his son so far, despite the warnings from his own partner, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig). As Joel continues to influence friend Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) and run riot on the Square, just how bad will things get? Executive producer Ben Wadey has noted: "We've got Joel's story, which, in the next couple of months, is going to really come to a head." That sounds rather ominous... Read More: EastEnders set to produce documentary 'spin-off' from dark misogyny storyline and feature key cast members 2. Lauren Branning and Peter Beale's wedding day Wedding bells are on the cards for childhood sweethearts Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law). The pair have struggled with grappling with their baby son Jimmy, dealing with severe sight impairment, all while coping with other various dramas involving the Beale and Branning families. Of course, nothing has ever been plain sailing for this couple - especially now Lauren's wild younger brother Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) lives with them. Wadey noted: "We've got Lauren, Peter and Oscar. There's plenty of drama to unfold there..." Meanwhile, actress Jacqueline Jossa commented: "You can expect wedding bells, okay, but it's a Walford wedding, so maybe don't fork out [for a nice hat]. It's never gonna be plain sailing, exactly." Will Lauren become the next Mrs Beale? 3. Zoe Slater continues to bring the chaos in a wild period for the Slaters So, Zoe Slater is finally back in Walford - now recovering from a gunshot wound, hiding an affair with Max Branning, potentially having killed a man, and obsessed with tracking down the baby son she abandoned as an infant - all while keeping the father a secret. Well, only a few things to deal with! Wadey said of the story: Of course, Zoe is now back in the square, and Zoe and Kat's relationship is complicated. There are 20 years there for them to try and recover and get to know each other. I think Kat's been expecting one thing when Zoe would come back, and actually meeting your adult daughter is more complicated than perhaps Kat thinks. There's a lot for them to get to understand about each other. "Zoe has a lot of secrets that she's going to bring into the Square with her, so the Slaters are in for a whole ride this autumn." Read More: EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions 4. Sharon Watts returns to Walford Another thing many fans have been crying out for - Hurricane Sharon is returning to Walford. A recent trailer confirmed actress Letitia Dean is back filming as Sharon Watts, and executive producer Ben Wadey previously teased that there would be tension between Sharon and her old love rival Zoe. Wadey noted: "And just wait until Sharon sees that Zoe is back…" As if that wasn't enough, Sharon has to deal with half-sister Vicki's troubles and the romantic tension she has with ex-husband Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). Life is never simple for Walford's original 'princess'. 5. Max Branning returns - and faces drama from Cindy Beale Max Branning is back and will be in the soap before a full-time return later this year, marking a major new era for the Branning clan. Of course, there's so much for Max to deal with, including Zoe and his estranged children. Speaking at the press event, Jake Wood commented: There's just so much in there. Obviously, he's got a son that he hasn't seen for a few years. He hasn't seen Lauren." He continued: "Obviously, there's the relationship with Zoe...and there's, as Ben [Wadey] mentioned, the Branning interacts with so many different characters and they pull so many other characters into the story. So there are just so many ways it can go, and so many people on that Square that have unfinished business. [with Max].' One person in particular was also singled out by Wood: "You know, you've got Cindy as well, who I think blames Max for the death of Steven [Beale, in 2017]." When questioned later on about the two adulterous characters who share three grandchildren finally meeting, Wadey said: "I think there'd be fireworks." He went on: "I mean, as Jake said, Cindy blames Max for the death of her son, and Max is returning at a point when Lauren and Peter are in a relationship, so there's a lot of Branning-Beale history there. I think, should they meet, you'd want popcorn, right?" 6. Linda Carter must deal with Max Branning finding out about Annie Another fan-favourite on a break from Walford is former Queen Vic landlady Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who is currently on a much-needed holiday, cruising around the world with her youngest children. However, when Linda returns, she will soon have to face a blast from the past in the form of former lover Max Branning - and the secret she and his family have been hiding from him: their daughter, Annie Carter. Wadey commented: "He doesn't know he's got another kid out there, but there's lots for him to come back and find out. But Max, because he is such a big personality within the Square, he's got friends there, but he's got a lot of enemies as well. So he's a joy to have back, because everybody has a different reaction to seeing him in their lives again, not all of them positive." How will Linda be impacted by having Max back in her life? 7. Jack Branning and Ravi Gulati face the aftermath of the shooting Former love rivals, policeman Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and gangster Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) have found themselves back in each other's orbit as they cover up their connection to the shooting of Zoe Slater. Discussing the audience vote between the pair on the 40th anniversary of the heart of Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Scott Masen said: "It was tough for Ravi in that sense. I mean that the vote, [Jack and Denise] had been together a long time, so [the audience is] invested in us. You know, Aaron, let's not take it away - he's another one like Pierre [Moullier], one of the younger actors that's come in and done a really admirable job. You know, he cares. He's really involved, and he really wants to do the best. And he's, you know, he's learning. That's what you do in his job. You come and you're learning. You know, we were all learning all the time." Speaking about the tension between the pair now, as they face a new dance with each other, Maslen continued: This is two people that don't like each other at all. Nemeses, you know..." "We're going on a journey now where we're not playing the same notes; these are two people that don't like each other at all," Maslen explained. "[The writers] have come up with some really great ways where we circumnavigate this hatred. I'm reading stuff and thinking, 'This is just easy to play!" He continued: "I'm really excited about everything. The stuff with me and Ravi is only just beginning. It goes everywhere... and it should go everywhere because that's what we wanna do!" 8. Callum Highway loses his dad - and reunites with brother Stuart Highway and husband Ben Mitchell In the coming weeks, policeman Callum Highway (Tony Clay) is going to deal with the death of his estranged father, Jonno Highway (Richard Graham). As Callum navigates his complicated feelings for friend Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff), he will deal with being reunited with his jailed husband Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) at the funeral. Will Callum come clean about cheating with Johnny? And just what will Callum's older brother, Stuart (Ricky Champ), have to say to his younger brother? 9. When - and how- will Stacey Slater leave Walford? Another thing that fans must brace themselves for is the eventual exit of Stacey Slater as actress Lacey Turner takes an extended break from the soap. The show hinted at a potential exit for Stacey in the past week as she admitted she fantasised about leaving Walford and her history of grief and hardship there. Of course, one thing we all want to know is whether she will reunite with Max before she goes - and actor Jake Wood teased "unfinished business" there He added when reminded that Stacey lost her second husband, Martin Fowler (James Bye), earlier this year: 'Yes, she's on her own, as Max is not quite on his own, but yeah...there'll always be a connection with Max and Stacey. So, regardless of where they are and who they're with, I think there'll always be an emotional connection between them. They understand each other." Wood continued: "They'll always be connected, regardless of what they're doing, whether the timing is always ever right for them to reconnect on that level, and whether they both want to." Will Stacey get away from Walford happily or sadly? Read more EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe" EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reveals old spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater exists in "parallel universe"
Will we ever hear again about Zoe's twin brother?
If you're a hardcore EastEnders fan, then you probably watched its 2017 spin-off, Kat & Alfie: Redwater. The British-Irish series continued a storyline from the main soap in 2015 and 2016, which saw Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) discover that when she had given birth to daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) as a teenager, she had actually given birth to twins, with the son given up for adoption without her knowledge. In the spin-off series, Kat ventured to Ireland to track down her son, who she found in the form of murderous priest Father Dermott Dolan (Oisín Stack). The series ended on major cliffhangers as Kat appeared to drown and be critically injured because of the actions of Dermott, while her husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) was in peril at the hands of a brain tumour - a medical plot also introduced in the main soap. However, the series was cancelled after one run the same year it aired, and Kat and Alfie each returned to the main soap separately in 2018, confirming both of their survivals, but no mention of the events of Redwater or Zoe's twin brother has occurred since. In September, Kat was finally reunited with Zoe after not being seen together in two decades, while it was also revealed that Zoe herself had given birth to twins in 2006, a girl who had appeared to die, and a boy she had abandoned in her depression. So, with these parallels and the complicated family history, do the events of Kat & Alfie: Redwater still count, having never been referenced in the main soap? Speaking at a press event following Zoe's return, executive producer Ben Wadey responded to a question about the validity of Redwater's events and whether we'll find out what happened to Zoe's twin. Read More: EastEnders responds to calls for Jo Joyner return as Tanya Cross amid Branning reunions Wadey answered: "Interesting question. It was a brilliant show, Redwater, that obviously was a fair few years ago now, and adds a different element in I'd say, for now, parallel universe to Walford." That sounds like we can probably discount Redwater for now - and there's no sign yet of Zoe's twin being mentioned again. Well, a good thing then that there is certainly enough drama to go around with Zoe back on her own and for the rest of Walford too this Autumn. Read more: EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return EastEnders star confirms Stacey Slater and Max Branning have "unfinished business" as her exit approaches EastEnders star teases Jack and Ravi storyline in shooting aftermath Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders' Scott Maslen argues soap will be "even more key" with stories as "the world's a mess"
Soaps continue to play an important part in society.
It's long been known that soaps have an important place in society, as they often reflect major issues going on in communities. EastEnders has a long and rich history of doing just this, with countless storylines over the years tapping into the zeitgeist and presenting real-life issues with accuracy and responsibility. Scott Maslen, who plays Jack Branning on the soap, has been keen to share his thoughts on how important soaps are, telling RadioTimes.com and others at a recent press event that "messaging has never been more important". Speaking about the future of EastEnders amid a dramatic time for the Branning family, Maslen said: "I'm very excited about the future because we've got lots of stories we need to address. The world's a mess. EastEnders is going to be even more key. "I think moving forward, we're in desperate times and I think the right messaging is really important." Discussing the change that's been happening on EastEnders for the past few months, including the departure of Chris Clenshaw and the arrival of new showrunner, Ben Wadey, Maslen was keen to praise his new boss. "Ben's come in after Chris, and everyone was big on Chris, but Ben's come in and created such brilliant scripts and I'm very excited. Ben's been clever in getting Jake [Wood, who plays Max Branning] back because that's a key player." Read more: EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories EastEnders needs to complete the Branning reunion with a Tanya return Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders star teases Jack and Ravi storyline in shooting aftermath
If there's two men who've consistently been at loggerheads on EastEnders, it's Jack Branning (played by Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara). On the BBC soap at the moment, the pair's behaviour hit an explosive climax earlier in the week when Ravi realised the police officer had his gun and of course, he set off trying to recover it for fear of being nicked. Denise (Diane Parish), who previously spurned her former lover, caught Ravi sneaking around the home, but it was up to Jack to confront his nemesis. The pair started wrestling over the gun and it unfortunately went off in the direction of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Zoe (Michelle Ryan), leaving the later shot (but not fatally). With Jack and Ravi now horrifically linked via the shooting, it's safe to say EastEnders fans are desperate to know who will come out on top – the criminal who owns the gun, or the police officer who was involved in the shooting? Speaking to RadioTimes.com and others at a recent press event, Maslen revealed the storyline between Jack and Ravi has only just started. "We're going on a journey now where we're not playing the same notes; these are two people that don't like each other at all," Maslen explained. "[The writers] have come up with some really great ways where we circumnavigate this hatred. I'm reading stuff and thinking, 'This is just easy to play!'" He continued: "I'm really excited about everything. The stuff with me and Ravi is only just beginning. It goes everywhere... and it should go everywhere because that's what we wanna do!" Read more: Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders star confirms Stacey Slater and Max Branning have "unfinished business" as her exit approaches
Jake Wood has teased what may lie ahead for Max and Stacey.
It's been nearly two decades since they began their iconic affair, but now former lovers Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) look set to reunite on EastEnders. Max made his unexpected comeback to the BBC One soap this week as he was revealed to have struck up a romance with Stacey's cousin Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) in his time away from Walford since he left in 2021. Flashbacks detailed their romance and how he helped her to try and track down a secret son that she had abandoned after giving birth to twins, a daughter who appeared to have died. However, Max and Zoe parted ways when he refused to be an accessory to potentially having killed a man who had promised to lead her to her son, only to attack her. Now, speaking at a press event to launch his return to the soap on Wednesday (3rd September 2025), actor Jake Wood responded to a question about Max and Stacey having "unfinished business". Wood answered: "Undoubtedly, yeah, I think so, yes." He added when reminded that Stacey lost her second husband, Martin Fowler (James Bye), earlier this year: 'Yes, she's on her own, as Max is not quite on his own, but yeah...there'll always be a connection with Max and Stacey. So, regardless of where they are and who they're with, I think there'll always be an emotional connection between them. They understand each other." As Wood's co-star Scott Maslen, who plays Max's brother Jack Branning, noted that the Max and Stacey affair reveal on Christmas Day 2007 stands as one of the soap's most iconic moments, Wood continued: "They'll always be connected, regardless of what they're doing, whether the timing is always ever right for them to reconnect on that level, and whether they both want to. "We all know Lacey Turner's going on an extended break. Will Max and Stacy's paths cross before she goes? You have to just keep watching. Personally, I really hope so." Of course, one thing that Max does not know about is Stacey's affair with his brother Jack - and it wouldn't be the first time that a woman had come between those Branning brothers. "There are lots of hidden little things that [Max] doesn't know about, and they were done to protect the people in it," noted Maslen. When asked if Stacey could cause issues between the pair, Maslen answered: "Of course." Fans will have to wait and see if Max and Stacey cross paths before actress Lacey Turner takes her extended break. This week, the soap appeared to tease Stacey's exit as she remarked to her mum, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), that she only returned to Walford due to the crisis with Zoe and actually wanted to escape the bad memories of Albert Square. Perhaps Max will be just one bad reminder too many... Read more: EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories EastEnders needs to complete the Branning reunion with a Tanya return Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return
Actor Jake Wood has spoken about Max's big return to the soap.
Actor Jake Wood has spoken out about the surprising return of Max Branning to EastEnders. The BBC One aired the surprise return scenes on Wednesday night before Thursday's episode revealed in flashback scenes to earlier this year that Max had been in a romantic relationship with another recent returnee, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). In addition to the history that Max has with the Slater clan, he also becomes privy to Zoe's secrets surrounding her twins, whom she gave birth to in 2006 and also that she may have killed a man during her quest to find her surviving son. In the present day, a recent shot Zoe called Max to warn him not to return to Walford, but he didn't sound so keen... Speaking to the press on the set of Walford, actor Jake Wood revealed what it was like to finally be back as Max Branning, having left the soap in 2021. On the twist of Max and Zoe's connection, Wood revealed he was "excited", adding: "Like I knew that Michelle was coming back – really pleased that she was coming back and she wasn't being recast iconic character. And I think it's really interesting to have Max in the mix; it makes everything so much more complicated. I do return for a little bit. It's quite soon before my sort of permanent return, and there's lots of drama and chaos to issue." He added: [The flashback storyline] works really well. You get a lot of exposition, a lot of the explanation of the relationship, so by the time Max turns up proper, there's already an established relationship between the two of them. It's just been a joy." Given that neither Max nor Zoe has had particularly smooth-sailing love lives, is this a true romance? Wood is a firm believer that their connection was true and real feelings are involved. "I mean, from my point of view, I think the relationship between them is genuine," confirmed Wood. "I think there are genuine feelings between them. "But I think by the time Max comes back onto the Square, it's just become very complicated in terms of in terms of where Max is at and what he's about at that moment, to be able to commit to her, but I do feel like they do have a connection, and I think a lot of that was down to Zoe's looking for her son that she gave up for adoption, and that Max helps her financially to to pay for the PI, to help look for it. "Obviously the you know, that's got very deep meaning for Max, the not having a relationship with his kids. So I think there was a lot of common ground." Read More: EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories When asked about whether the episodes this week were just a tease for Max's full-time return, Wood responded in the affirmative and revealed that new executive producer Ben Wadey was the reason he came back. "I think mainly it's all down to Ben's vision, really," noted Wood. "I had lunch with Ben in January, and that kind of cemented it for me. Ben is a big fan of the show and understands all the characters' intrinsically exciting stories coming up, so just all the mix of those things was, after that lunch, a bit of a no-brainer for me to think about coming back after five years. "It's such a good atmosphere with all the cast. It's probably the highest I've ever known it in 15 years being here; everyone's on a real high. And the show seems to be going from strength to strength, and it's just such a great time to be coming back." Read more: Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders boss Ben Wadey wants the Brannings "at the heart of the show" and teases future stories
Executive producer Ben Wadey has discussed his vision for the show as Max Branning returns.
Executive producer Ben Wadey has discussed the future of the Brannings on EastEnders. The BBC One soap first introduced the dynasty in the 1990s in the form of Carol Jackson and her clan, and the family reached its zenith in soap domination from 2007 onwards with the arrivals of womanising brothers Max (Jake Wood) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen). Now, Max has finally returned to the soap after leaving in 2021. A surprise twist revealed his romantic connection to fellow returnee Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), and he is set to return to Walford, where various secrets threaten to unravel. It's a dramatic period on the way for the family as he is to be reunited with his younger brother Jack, always their father's favourite and with whom he has always had a complicated dynamic, and his estranged children Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier). If that wasn't enough, Max will also inevitably discover he has another daughter in the form of Annie Carter, his love child with former flame Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), which his other kids and Jack are well aware of... Speaking at a press event for Max's return, executive producer Ben Wadey revealed he always wanted to get Jake Wood back as Max – and just as much for the Brannings as a family as for Max as an individual. On whether Max's return was always on his mind, Wadey answered: "Oh, absolutely. Max is a brilliant character and Jake's such an incredible performer, but the whole Brannings are an iconic legacy family. I wanted to put them at the heart of the show. I wanted big stories for them. "And what I'm really excited about is that we've got those legacy characters in the Brannings that can give us so much story and are brilliant in terms of what they can continue to give us, but we also have the new generation coming through, not just Oscar and Lauren, but you've got Penny, you've got Amy, Ricky. So there's a new generation coming up who also have loads of stories." So, we can also expect big things for Jack's children: Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine), Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), and Ricky Branning (Frankie Day). Read More: EastEnders icon Jake Wood breaks silence on Max and Zoe affair and reveals "chaos" for Walford return When asked to tease the upcoming stories further, Wadey added: "I won't tell you much, but there's plenty of drama ahead, and I think because the Brannings have so many connections to the other amazing families as well, it brings in a lot of other characters. "But Max has got a lot of history on the show, but there are a lot of secrets that Max doesn't know about, which other characters, including his own family, do know about. So secrets tend to have a way of coming up in Walford at all the wrong times. So I imagine there's going to be some things that come up. It's going to create some drama in this family." That might be where Linda's daughter Annie fits in... Wadey noted: "There's a lot for him to come back and find out. But Max, because he is such a big personality within the square, he's got friends there, but he's got a lot of enemies as well. So he's a joy to have back, because everybody has a different reaction to seeing him, not all of them positive." That might be a potential feud with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) that has already been teased on-screen! Additionally, speaking more on the renewed focus on the Branning clan, actor Scott Maslen noted at the same event: "I think Ben's been clever in getting Jake back, because that's a key player." He added: "Listen, I don't want to say we're at the centre, because it's divisive. That language, to me, is a little bit divisive. The show is many families, many people, and they're all really strong, you know? So Jake's come back at a time when the show's in a really good place. "Yeah, he is a phenomenal character, and it is going to be seminal, but I think EastEnders used to be certain families get you go and have a cup of tea, when the other ones are on, now it is you go from person to person, and you're watching and you're involved. They're all working well together. It's about playing, you know? It isn't just 'Oh, I like the Brannings' or 'I like the Slaters', they're all working well together. It's about playing." Maslen then joked about Max: 'Listen, here's a dirty dog, what do you wanna know? We've got great history, and I'm very excited about putting it on screen." Read more: EastEnders needs to complete the Branning reunion with a Tanya return Who is the father of Zoe Slater's secret children in EastEnders? Anthony Trueman and other possibilities EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders airs fresh Max Branning and Zoe Slater revelations in early BBC iPlayer release
**Warning: Contains major spoilers for the Thursday 3rd September 2025 episode of EastEnders, available now on BBC iPlayer.** This article contains mentions of a sexual assault that some readers may find distressing. EastEnders has revealed the true nature of how returnees Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) are now connected. The BBC One soap has been airing the return of Zoe to Walford this week as she was reunited with estranged mother Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) before being accidentally shot by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) as they struggled over a gun. In Wednesday's much-anticipated instalment, fans saw Zoe taken to hospital as flashbacks to 2006 revealed she had given birth to twins by a mystery father, but a daughter died, while a son survived, but Zoe subsequently abandoned him. In the cliffhanger to the episode, a mysterious caller to Zoe's phone was threatened by Kat, who believed it to be someone wanting to hurt Zoe. The caller hung up, revealing a brooding Max. In Thursday's episode, penned by veteran scribe Simon Ashdown, fresh revelations came to light via further flashbacks to earlier this year. In the scenes at a bar, Max was shown to have met Zoe by chance, asking after her connection to Kat and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) when her card was declined. After this, Max paid for her drinks and the pair got talking about their histories, including time in Walford. Max revealed that his ex-wife, Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner), had been trying to call him as she was looking after their granddaughter, Abi Branning Jr. He then revealed that he prefers being a dad, but he’s not a very good one. Max mentioned his estranged son Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) and how he’s not seen him for three years, before referring to his eldest daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), along with sad mentions of his late children Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). Following this, the pair were shown to have slept together, and while in bed, Zoe revealed what happened with her twins and how she is now trying to track down her son with a private investigator, but is struggling to find him without any money. In the present day at the hospital, a worried Stacey was tempted to respond to the mystery texts - unknown to her to be from her former lover and father-in-law, Max - and noted to her mother Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) that they were not threatening, they were nice. Stacey also revealed to Jean that she hadn't wanted to return to the Square before Zoe returned, and was keen to get away from Walford and escape the memories. Could this be paving the way for Stacey's upcoming exit from the soap? Max then texted Zoe's phone again, offering to give her the necklace or money should she need it. A further flashback then revealed that a necklace had been Max’s present to Zoe at a time she needed to pay a former neighbour of her son's foster parents, and Max suggested she pawn the necklace for the PI, but Zoe refused. Max then offered to pay for the information to help her; if he can’t get Bradley back, she could get her son back. In the present day, Stacey then called the number, and Max answered, but the line was distorted, so Stacey couldn't recognise his voice, and he stayed silent before hanging up on her. As the flashbacks continued, Zoe was driven by Max to the neighbour of her son’s foster parents in a rundown neighbourhood, but wanted to go in alone. Zoe entered the flat of the source, Greg Dolan (Dean Williamson), and handed over the money. Greg then recalled the "sweet" but "sad" young boy who kicked his football over the fence to Greg's, with a "face of an angel" who used to call for his mum, but no one ever came. Greg then demanded more money for more information, but a desperate Zoe revealed she had none and just wanted to be reunited with her boy. In the present day, Zoe was revealed to still be unconscious to an anxious Kat, but had stabilised, and it was unknown when she would wake up. In further flashbacks, Zoe continued to beg for more information, but Greg was harsh on her for abandoning her son. Greg then offered to trade more information for sex, but when Zoe refused, he tried to rape her, prompting her to hit him with a nearby lamp and then strike him a second time so he wouldn't get up before fleeing. Max refused to be Zoe's getaway driver and accomplice when she revealed what had happened, and so she abandoned him in his car and walked off, angrily calling him a "bunk-up" and a "blank cheque". Zoe was then shown calling Stacey for help, which is where we found her when she first made her comeback. Back in the present day in the hospital, Zoe woke up in her hospital bed with Kat, Alfie and Stacey by her bedside as Kat tried to put her at ease. Once left alone to recover more, Zoe then called Max herself, asking for the necklace as she now wants to pawn it. Max then asked Zoe if she was back in Walford, as he had heard Stacey on her phone earlier. In response, Zoe warned Max to stay away, claiming that she didn’t need him and never had. Zoe threatened to "end" Max if he returned to Walford, and he responded: "That’s the thing about me, Zoe, I really hate being told what to do." What will happen next? Questions still remain, including when we will see Max back in Walford and who the father of Zoe's son is, but one thing is for sure: drama awaits. Read more: EastEnders teases feud for Max Branning return with another iconic character EastEnders' new boss teases dramatic reunion for old rivals Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater EastEnders star confirms filming break: “I won't be on it for a while” Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.