Soap fans should brace themselves to bid farewell to numerous beloved Coronation Street and Emmerdale characters this year. Several stars are departing both ITV soaps in the coming months, with some exits already having aired in early 2026.
Confirmed Departures
Among the notable exits is Corrie's Billy Mayhew, portrayed by Daniel Brocklebank, who met his demise in January during the special Corriedale episode. Meanwhile in Emmerdale, villainous Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) also exited at the beginning of the year following his murder at the hands of Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards).
Mollie Gallagher, who rose to prominence as Nina Lucas on Coronation Street in 2019, has opted to step away after six and a half years. She has already secured her next role as Clarice Starling in the theatrical adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs. A Coronation Street spokesperson told Digital Spy: "Mollie has created a unique and well-loved character in Nina over the past six and a half years, and everyone will be sorry to see her go."
Emmerdale Cast Changes
Bradley Johnson, who plays Vinny Dingle, is poised to depart after seven years. An Emmerdale source told The Sun: "Bradley is a very popular member of the cast and especially close with his on-screen Dingle family. Everyone is shocked that bosses decided to axe him but it's all part of the ITV cuts and they still need to trim back the cast."
Nick Miles, who has portrayed Jimmy King for over 20 years, has reportedly been axed and will be killed off. A source told The Sun: "Bosses are under pressure to cut costs and sadly that means popular cast members being told their time is up. Once the decision was made that Nick would be leaving, the writers quickly realised his character wouldn't abandon his wife and children so they had to kill him off."
Coronation Street Exits
Claire Sweeney, who has played Cassie Plummer since 2023, departed the show in January and will leave the cobbles in the summer in a "dramatic" exit. Her departure comes as she takes on the role of Miss Hannigan in the forthcoming tour of Annie.
Sue Devaney's character Debbie Webster received a young-onset vascular dementia diagnosis last year. While Debbie's diagnosis will ultimately lead to her departure, the actress confirmed in June 2025: "I know the story is going to go on well into 2027, so Debbie's not going anywhere yet."
A Coronation Street and Emmerdale spokesperson said that they do not comment on cast contracts. Further departures are expected as both soaps continue to trim their casts amid cost-cutting measures.
