Emmerdale is undergoing significant cast changes in 2026, with several departures, returns, and new arrivals confirmed. The ITV soap has already seen characters like John Sugden, Celia Daniels, and Ray Walters killed off in horrific murders, while others have left for new lives elsewhere.
Among the departures, Paula Lane's Ella Forster left the Dales in a police car after 15 months, and Rachael Gill-Davis's Gail Loman also exited. Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) left for Portugal in February due to maternity leave, and Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh) has filmed her final scenes ahead of her own maternity leave. However, Gabrielle Dowling, who plays Cathy Hope, is taking a short break and will return later.
Returning characters include Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), who came back after a prison stint, and Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles), who made a brief reappearance. The future of Cathy Hope's return remains unknown, while Victoria Sugden has promised to come back to the village.
Budget cuts at ITV are driving some of these changes, with reports that one in ten cast members from both Emmerdale and Coronation Street will be axed as part of £15 million in savings. The number of scenes per episode may also be reduced. Emmerdale currently has 70 permanent cast members.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
