All the Emmerdale cast returns, exits and new arrivals in 2026

The changes keep on coming (Picture: ITV/Metro) The departures and returns are continuing in ITV soap Emmerdale as 2026 races by. We’ve said tear-jerking ‘see ya’s’ to Jimmy King (Nick Miles), with less-emotional goodbyes to 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). We’ve also said temporary goodbyes to Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh), with both actors heading off on maternity leave. We’re also waiting for Vinny Dingle’s (Bradley Johnson) final scenes to air. It’s not all goodbyes though, as Sadie King’s (Patsy Kensit) return is looming. With plenty of changes afoot, here’s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap… Emmerdale cast arrivals Thea Ramsden A new detective is in town (Picture: ITV) DS Thea Ramsden, played by Chelsea Edge, arrived in the Emmerdale village to investigate Dr Todd’s death. It’s now been revealed that Thea is best mates with Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) and also has some sort of connection to the Tates. Emmerdale cast returns Sadie King Sadie is heading back to her old stomping ground (Picture: Mark Bruce/ITV) Former Queen bee of Home Farm Sadie King will be returning to the village she previously ran roughshod over. While we’re unsure how or why Sadie is coming back, producer Laura Shaw has confirmed that much drama will follow: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Patsy Kensit back to the cast and crucially to see the iconic Sadie King storm back into the village. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Her return will be explosive and guaranteed to shock.’ When is Sadie King returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown. Cathy Hope Cathy departed with Brenda (Picture: ITV/Mark Bruce/Shutterstock) Gabrielle Dowling has also left the soap – but she will be back. Recent storylines have included Cathy Hope coming to terms with a PMDD diagnosis, and also dealing with the horrific death of twin brother Heath, played by Gabrielle’s brother Sebastian, who passed away following a car accident. Metro understands that the star is just taking a short break and will return down the line. When is Cathy Hope returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown. Victoria Sugden Isabel gave birth to her first baby last month (Picture: Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock) Victoria Sugden left the Emmerdale village in February to tie in with Isabel Hodgins’ maternity leave. The actress announced on her Instagram last month that she has given birth to her first baby, called Georgie Grace. Vic’s exit saw her leave for a new life in Portugal. She told Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) that she would return, though when exactly this will be remains to be seen. When is Victoria Sugden returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown. Tracy Shankley Tracy will leave the village soon (Picture: ITV) Amy Walsh recently left her role as Tracy Shankley, with the exit story facilitating Amy’s 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 is Tracy Shankley returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown. Emmerdale cast departures Dawn Taylor Dawn has recently been axed (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) It was recently revealed that Olivia Bromley will be departing from her role as Dawn Taylor after 8 years. The character’s final scenes aired in the episode of Emmerdale dated August 30. After surviving the wedding marquee explosion, Dawn gave birth to a baby boy in hospital, but died shortly after. When did Dawn Taylor leave Emmerdale? At the end of August. Jimmy King Jimmy is expected to be killed off (Picture: ITV) Jimmy King, an undisputed Emmerdale legend and the last-standing member of the ruthless King dynasty, died during the soap’s huge wedding week. Jimmy crashed his car into the marquee where Dawn and Joe were supposed to get married. He died after it became clear that his injuries were too severe. When did Jimmy leave Emmerdale? At the end of August. Vinny Dingle We’ll be bidding Vinny goodbye (Picture: ITV/Mark Bruce/Shutterstock) After a seven year stint in the Yorkshire Dales, Vinny will be departing the village. Emerging as the son of Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and becoming central to various hard-hitting plotlines, including being abused by his step-dad Paul Ashdale (Reece Dinsdale), losing his wife Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele), struggling with his sexuality and an ill-fated marriage to Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham). Vinny’s axing is understood to be another casualty of ITV’s cost-cutting measures. When is Vinny Dingle leaving Emmerdale? Later this year. Who is in the Emmerdale 2026 cast? The present cast of Emmerdale is made up of: Regular cast: 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 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 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 Bradley Johnson as Vinny Dingle 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 Recurring cast: 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 Malachi McKenzie as Evan Fletcher This article was first published on October 25, 2024 and has since been updated. 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