EastEnders cast: Who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap?

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 2024

The full present regular cast for EastEnders can be found below in order of the character's first appearance.

• Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Cotton
• Letitia Dean as Sharon Watts
• Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale
• James Bye as Martin Fowler
• Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale
• Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell
• Patsy Palmer as Bianca Jackson
• Natalie Cassidy as Sonia Fowler
• Thomas Law as Peter Beale
• Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell
• Jessie Wallace as Kat Mitchell
• Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman
• Shane Ritchie as Alfie Moon
• Clay Milner Russell as Bobby Beale
• Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman
• Bobby Brazier as Freddie Slater
• Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater
• Gillian Wright as Jean Slater
• Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell
• Matt Di Angelo as Dean Wicks
• Zaraah Abrahams as Chelsea Fox
• Diane Parish as Denise Fox
• Grace as Janet Mitchell
• Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning
• Jamie Borthwick as Jay Brown
• Scott Maslen as Jack Branning
• Kitty Castledine as Penny Branning
• Freddie Phillips as Will Mitchell
• Shona McGarty as Whitney Dean
• 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 Peacock
• Elliot Briffett as Bert Moon
• Cody Briffett as Ernie Moon
• Arayah Harris-Buckles as Pearl Fox
• Harry Farr as Ollie Carter
• Elizabeth Green as Jade Masood
• Jake McNally as Louie Beale
• Rocco Brenner as Arthur Fowler
• Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Fox
• Clair Norris as Bernadette Taylor
• Isabelle Smith as Hope Fowler
• Tony Clay as Callum Highway
• Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar
• Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar
• James Farrar as Zack Hudson
• Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe
• Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes
• Heather Peace as Eve Unwin
• Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati
• Matthew Morrison as Felix Baker/Tara Misu
• Jaden Ladega as Denzel Danes
• Juhaim Rasul Choudhury as Davinder "Nugget" Gulati
• Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar
• Jonny Freeman as Reiss Colwell
• 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
• Howard Saddler as Pastor Gideon Clayton
• Christopher Fairbank as Eddie Knight
• Alan Ford as Stevie Mitchell
• Lola Campbell as Britney Wainwright

And here are the changes to the cast coming soon...

DEPARTING

Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty)

When is Whitney Dean leaving? Mid-2024.

Actress Shona McGarty has quit her role as Whitney Dean in EastEnders after 15 years.

The BBC One soap will lose the long-running character early next year as Whitney waves goodbye to Walford - but how will she go?

Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, McGarty commented: "I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show.

"I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships — and family — which will endure."

A source told the paper that Shona "is hoping the door will be left open for her character to return one day, but nothing is guaranteed and it is all in the hands of the scriptwriters."

RadioTimes.com understands that McGarty decided to leave at the end of her contract and she will depart our screens in Spring 2024, meaning fans have months left of Whitney being on-screen.

The character debuted in EastEnders in 2008 as she joined the show as the step-daughter of returning fan-favourite Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) alongside the latter's children, Liam, Tiffany, and Morgan.

Whitney's biggest storylines have included being the victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of Tony King, being sexually exploited by boyfriend Rob Grayson, being stalked by Tony's son Leo, her being placed on trial for Leo's death, the loss of boyfriend Kush Kazemi to serial killer Gray Atkins, and her various doomed romances including to husband Lee Carter.

Most recently Whitney entered into a romance with Zack Hudson after the pair terminated the pregnancy of their unborn baby Peach who was diagnosed with Edward's Syndrome.

The pair later went into fostering together but now face a new journey as Whitney is pregnant by Zack once again.

In the run-up to her exit, Whitney reunited with Bianca and recently paid to take in the troubled Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell).

Speaking to Inside Soap magazine in August 2023, McGarty said: "As a viewer, and after playing her for so long, Whitney deserves a happy ending. The majority of comments online and when I speak to people in the street are along the lines of, 'When is Whitney going to have her happy ending?' and I think it's time."

• Read More: EastEnders must give tragic heroine Whitney the happy ever after she deserves
• Read More: EastEnders’ Shona McGarty on exit: “Whitney deserves a happy ending”

RETURNING

Nadine Keller (Jazzy Phoenix)

When is Nadine Keller returning? 15th April 2024.

Widower Jay Brown is set to get a shock when his former love interest, sex worker, and drug dealer Nadine Keller returns to EastEnders and reveals she is pregnant with his unborn child!

Actress Jazzy Phoenix has been confirmed to be reprising her role and has already filmed her return scenes so we can expect her back on our screens in the coming weeks.

An insider revealed to RadioTimes.com: "Jay was in a dark place when he met Nadine, but things got even worse once they were involved. When Jay realised that he needed to sort his life out, he cut Nadine out, and they’ve not been in touch since. Why Nadine is back remains to be seen."

It seems to only be a short stint for the character for now but fans will have to wait and see what impact her return and news will have.

Big Mo Harris (Laila Morse)

When is Big Mo Harris returning? Spring 2024.

EastEnders has confirmed the permanent return of actress Laila Morse in her iconic role as Big Mo Harris.

The character left the soap in 2021 but last made a guest appearance in 2022 for granddaughter Kat's first wedding to Phil Mitchell.

Now, Big Mo will be back alongside great-grandson Freddie Slater after an initial return in a TikTok spin-off series.

RadioTimes.com understands that Morse has already started filming, and we can expect Mo's return to air in the spring.

Speaking of her comeback, she said: “I’m delighted to be coming home to Walford to bring Mo back to life. EastEnders holds such a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to be reunited with my on screen family, who are like my family, as well as old and new faces.”

EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome back Laila Morse to the role of Mo Harris. Although her time away from the Square has been short-lived, the Slater family has endured a huge amount of drama since she last appeared on screen and Mo’s return will be no different.

"We’re delighted to welcome Laila back permanently as she is thrust into the heart of the drama alongside great-grandson Freddie.”

While we'll just have to wait and see what brings Mo back. EastEnders has teased that where Mo goes, trouble inevitably follows. What has she been up to?

Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier)

When is Freddie Slater returning? Spring 2024.

Bobby Brazier will be returning to his much-loved role as Freddie Slater after taking a break for a stint on Strictly Come Dancing 2023 and its subsequent live tour.

Earlier this year, Freddie was seen heading to visit his mother Little Mo Slater after he was bailed for attempted murder following a violent confrontation with his old teacher Theo Hawthorne (Willliam Ellis), who had been stalking and then attempted to rape Freddie's cousin Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

The Slater family conspired to set up a crime scene that suggested Theo had a weapon and Freddie's actions were purely in self-defence when he repeatedly hit Theo with an iron.

Due to Brazier taking part in Strictly and signing up to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing tour, Brazier is not making his return until the Spring opposite Big Mo Harris.

Teasing Freddie's return, executive producer Chris Clenshaw teased to RadioTimes.com: "In terms of Freddie, he obviously left after a huge storyline in which we saw a very, very different Freddie - we've not seen him kind of act in that way before although I think we understood exactly where that was coming from."

He added that "when Freddie returns, he’s probably done a little bit of growing up since being away."

Shirley Carter (Linda Henry)

When is Shirley Carter returning to EastEnders? TBC.

EastEnders fan-favourite Shirley Carter made a surprise departure from Walford just after Christmas in 2022 following the apparent death of her son Mick Carter.

Deciding that there was nothing left for her in Walford, Shirley walked out of the Square with Lady Di the dog to stay with daughter Carly Wicks and her family, having said goodbye to friends Jean Slater and Denise Fox.

We then heard of Shirley in February 2023 when we learned that she had also reunited with her previously estranged son Dean Wicks off-screen, the man who had raped Mick's true love, Linda Carter.

When Dean made his horrific return on Halloween, he claimed that Shirley had experienced a mental breakdown and had been institutionalised and after Linda wasn't in contact with her, changed her number and wanted nothing to do with her.

Linda was distrustful of Dean's claims but was unable to get through to Shirley, meaning her fate remains mysterious.

Actress Linda Henry is taking an extended break from the show and has been off our screens for over a year.

However, the BBC confirmed to RadioTimes.com at the time of her exit that Shirley had not left the soap for good and would return.

Chris Clenshaw also told us in Autumn 2023: "So, Linda Henry is currently taking a break from the show.

"But you know, when she walked off with Lady Di last year, in the wake of Mick’s disappearance, it won't have been the last you see of her. I can say that for sure."

What will Shirley make of the new family in the Queen Vic, the Knights?

Which characters departed EastEnders in 2024?

The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2024.

• Ashton (Guest)
• Harold Martin (Guest)
• Sam Mitchell
• Karen Taylor (Guest)
• Keanu Taylor (Guest)
• Lucas Johnson (Guest)
• Ben Mitchell
• Gloria Knight

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.

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