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

We're finally in 2026 in EastEnders.

2025 saw some major exits, including the deaths of Nish Panesar and Martin Fowler, along with the departure of Stacey Slater.

Elsewhere, we experienced some major comebacks with the returns of Zoe Slater, Anthony Trueman (RIP), and Max Branning.

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 2026

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
• Kim Medcalf as Sam 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
• Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman
• Shane Ritchie as Alfie Moon
• Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman
• Tracy-Ann Oberman as Chrissie Watts
• 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 Peacock
• 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
• Maylo Miller as Mica Fox
• Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar
• Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar-Unwin
• Arthur Gentleman as Albie Watts
• James Farrar as Zack Hudson
• Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe
• Lois Hawkins as Annie Carter
• 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
• Sophie Khan Levy as Priya Nandra-Hart
• Aaliyah James as Avani Nandra-Hart
• 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
• Ronni Ancona as Bea Pollard

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

JOINING

'Man' (Stephen Aaron-Sipple)

When is 'Man' arriving? 2026.

A mysterious figure appeared in EastEnders' New Year's Day flash-forward episode, sharing a nod with Max and later joining the Beale-Branning clan after Max is arrested.

The 'Man' is credited as being played by actor Stephen Aaron-Sipple, an East-End London actor who stars in small roles in The Witcher season 4 and Silo.

He previously played a delivery guy in EastEnders in 2020, but somehow we doubt he's the same guy...

Is this a future regular character on the show? Could he be an existing character recast?

We may have had a clue as BBC iPlayer's audio description referred to the man as 'Mark' - here's the latest theory.

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DEPARTING

Joel Marshall (Max Murray)

When is Joel Marshall leaving? Early 2026.

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, but executive producer Ben Wadey has confirmed the character's trial awaits in early 2026.

Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf)

When might Sam Mitchell be returning? Early 2026.

Kim Medcalf has reprised the role of Sam Mitchell for a short stint this festive season.

The character has returned following the discovery of a lump in her breast, which will turn out to be breast cancer and require a lumpectomy.

However, does Sam also have a motive for revenge against her old accomplice, Zoe Slater?

Either way, Sam looks set to survive her cancer battle, but will she leave Walford on good terms with son Ricky Branning and brother Phil Mitchell?

RETURNING

Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu)

When is Libby Fox returning? 2026.

Yes! Denise Fox's younger daughter, Libby Fox, will be back on Albert Square at some point in 2026, as she appeared in the 2027 flash-forward episode, once again played by Belinda Owusu.

The episode presents some potential brides for Max, which include Libby's older sister, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), and even Denise herself, given that Jack was calling the bride and Denise's phone is one of the ones to ring - despite Denise being absent from the episode, having apparently walked out on Jack the night before.

Is the reason for Libby's reappearance that her sister or mother is getting married? We'll have to wait and see.

• Read More: 21 EastEnders questions we have following that epic Max Branning flashforward episode

WHO MAY BE RETURNING?

Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)

When is Stacey Slater returning? TBC.

Lacey Turner took an extended break from the show recently, with Stacey departing for a new life in Brazil alongside her brother, Sean Slater, with her two youngest children, Arthur and Hope.

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 2026?

The following characters departed EastEnders in 2026.

• Nish Panesar (Guest)
• Dr Anthony Trueman

Which characters departed EastEnders in 2025?

The following character departed EastEnders in 2025.

• Nish Panesar
• Mr Lister (guest)
• Councillor Donald Barker (guest)
• Garry Hobbs (guest)
• Minty Peterson (guest)
• Peggy Mitchell (guest)
• Eric Mitchell (guest)
• Angie Watts (guest)
• 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
• Anna Knight
• Freddie Slater
• Teddy Mitchell
• Barry Evans (Guest)
• Debbie Bates (Guest)
• Pat Evans (Guest)

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.

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