As 2026 draws to a close, Emmerdale has seen a wave of cast departures and arrivals. Tearful goodbyes were bid to Jimmy King (Nick Miles) and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley), who died in a tragic car wreck, while Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) was sent to prison for causing it. It was also confirmed that Cathy Hope (Gabrielle Dowling) won't be returning.
Four of the village's most evil residents – John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) and Dr Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker) – have also left. Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh) have taken temporary farewells as both actors headed off on maternity leave.
New arrivals and returning faces
With loss comes gain, as the village has welcomed Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) and DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge). The vile Tom King (James Chase) is also set to return.
Tom King will return to the show when he's released from prison after his campaign of abuse against ex-wife Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper). Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: 'James' return isn't just about bringing back a familiar face; it's about reigniting a complex and challenging story. When Belle gets the news that Tom is up for parole she's forced to confront a trauma she battled hard to overcome.'
'With her family and new partner Kammy [Hadiq (Shebz Miah)] by her side, we explore the lasting impact of Tom's abusive actions on Belle as she fights to keep Tom away from the village.' The exact date of Tom's return is currently unknown.
Maternity leave and permanent exits
Victoria Sugden left the village in February to tie in with Isabel Hodgins' maternity leave. The actress announced on Instagram that she has given birth to her first baby, called Georgie Grace. Vic's exit saw her leave for a new life in Portugal, and she told Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) she would return, though when remains to be seen.
Amy Walsh recently left her role as Tracy Shankley, with the exit story facilitating her maternity leave. The star, who is married to Toby-Alexander Smith, recently gave birth to her second child. Tracy moved out of the village following a difficult year adjusting to life as a single mum, but she will return when her maternity leave comes to an end.
When Gabrielle Dowling left the soap, it was initially believed to be for an extended break – but it's since been confirmed on the October 14 episode that she won't be returning. Having joined step mum Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop) on a world cruise after the death of her twin brother Heath Hope (Sebastian Dowling), her dad Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) confirmed that Cathy had decided to stay in Canada in a chat with Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler).
Former Queen bee of Home Farm Sadie King has returned to the village, though it's been confirmed to be a finite return. 'We are building to the end point and a big denouement for that character,' Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper said. 'Sadie's momentum, and the impact she's going to have on our villagers, is only going to grow. There will be some incredible, exciting twists and turns, and a lot of unexpected revelations.' Sadie is set to leave next year.
Current cast list
The present cast of Emmerdale includes regulars such as 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 Chas Dingle, Danny Miller as Aaron Dingle, Patsy Kensit as Sadie King, Katie Hill as Sarah Sugden, Alfie Clarke as Arthur Thomas, Natalie J. Robb as Moira Dingle, Ash Palmisciano as Matty Barton, Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma, Joe-Warren Plant as Jacob Gallagher, Laura Norton as Kerry Wyatt, Michelle Hardwick as Vanessa Woodfield, Michael Parr as Ross Barton, Jonny McPherson as Liam Cavanagh, Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor, Amy Walsh as Tracy Shankley, Karen Blick as Lydia Dingle, Andrew Scarborough as Graham Foster, James Moore as Ryan Stocks, Rebecca Sarker as Manpreet Sharma, Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher, Joshua Richards as Bear Wolf, Lawrence Robb as Mackenzie Boyd, Kevin Mathurin as Charles Anderson, Louise Jameson as Mary Goskirk, William Ash as Caleb Milligan, Flo Wilson as Claudette Anderson, Beth Cordingly as Ruby Fox-Milligan, Fred Kettle as Dylan Penders, Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq, Bradley Riches as Lewis Barton, Chris Coghill as Kev Townsend and Chelsea Edge as Thea Ramsden.
Recurring cast members include Andy Moore as Mike Swirling, Harvey Rogerson as Leo Goskirk, Huey Quinn as Kyle Winchester, Kai Assi as Archie Breckle, Charlie Munro Joyce as Carl Holliday, Arthur Cockroft as Moses Dingle, Jack Jennings as Johnny Woodfield, Tilly-Rue Foster as Dotty Thomas, Bobby Dunsmoir as Isaac Dingle, Noah Ryan Aspinall as Lucas Taylor, Bella James as Eve Dingle, Adam Pryor as Harry Sugden, Eden Ratcliffe-Knights as Frankie Robinson, Bertie Brotherton as Thomas Tate, Mabel Addison as Clemmie Reed, Alice Mauve as Ivy Malcoms and Malachi McKenzie as Evan Fletcher.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8:00pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
