Emmerdale cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?
All the comings and goings in the lively village in 2026.
We've finally arrived at 2026 in Emmerdale - and there have been some big changes.
The year has started with a bang with the departure of Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill), while Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) stabbed his evil adopted mother, Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), to death to end her cycle of abuse, before being murdered himself by a mystery assailant.
However, there will be more changes in the village in 2026.
Read on for your essential guide from RadioTimes.com to the latest Emmerdale cast news that you absolutely need to know.
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Emmerdale cast: Who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?
Emmerdale cast 2026
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 Sugden
- 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
- Andrew Scarborough as Graham Foster
- 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
- Georgia Jay as Steph Miligan
- Fred Kettle as Dylan Penders
- Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq
- Bradley Riches as Lewis Barton
Here are the following changes ahead of the regular cast.
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RETURNING
Dr Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker)
Introduced last year for Jacob's foray into medicine at Hotten General, Dr Todd will be making a return for an extended run on the soap in a new storyline that depicts her as a workplace bully.
In a statement on her return, Harker said: "I’m delighted to be back at Emmerdale for a longer stint playing Doctor Todd. She’s a complex character and from what I’ve been told so far, quite a tricky one for Jacob to navigate. Workplace bullying is commonplace, and it will be interesting to see it brought to our screens in a serial drama such as Emmerdale."
Meanwhile, Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw added: "We are looking forward to seeing the machinations of someone like Caitlin Todd, and it’s not just at the hospital where she will start to make an impression. Caroline is a fabulous actor and brings such great experience to this role - we can’t wait for her to play out what we have planned for the character."
Just how nasty will Dr Todd get?
Steph Miligan (Georgia Jay)
When is Steph Miligan returning? TBC.
Ruby and Caleb's daughter, Steph Miligan, fled Emmerdale last year 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? And where will she stand with ex-boyfriend Ross Barton?
Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins)
When is Victoria Sugden returning? TBC.
Actress Isabel Hodgins has taken maternity leave from Emmerdale.
Isabel revealed to The Mirror: “I will miss it. I love the people there, but I’ve worked there for 19 years, so I feel like I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do and been selfish with my career.
“Now, it’s time to devote my life to being a mum, that feels right to me. But there’s still FaceTime, so they won’t forget me!”
The character left the village to stay with stepmother Diane Sugden to escape her guilt for killing half-brother John Sugden in self-defence.
Will Victoria feel more at peace when she eventually returns?
Who has left Emmerdale in 2026?
The following characters departed in 2026.
- Kev Townsend
- Celia Daniels
- John Sugden
- Ray Walters
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
- Cathy Hope
- 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?
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Lewis is the News and Trends Editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.
