Emmerdale cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?

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.

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
• 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
• 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
• James Moore as Ryan Stocks
• Rebecca Sarker as Dr Manpreet Sharma
• Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher
• 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
• Fred Kettle as Dylan Penders
• Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq
• Bradley Riches as Lewis Barton
• Chris Coghill as Kev Barton
• Casey Al-Shaqsy as Serena Sugden
• Chelsea Edge as DS Thea Ramsden

Here are the following changes ahead of the regular cast.

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LEAVING

Sadie King (Patsy Kensit)

When is Sadie King returning? Late 2026/early 2027.

Iconic Emmerdale villainess Sadie King is back on our screens as Patsy Kensit has reprised her role for a new storyline.

However, this is only a temporary stint, albeit a substantial six months.

So, expect some drama from Sadie for some while yet.

RETURNING

Thomas King (James Chase)

When is Tom King returning? 2027.

James Chase is returning as Belle Dingle's villainous and abusive ex-husband, Tom King, later in 2026.

Tom left the soap in 2024 after he was sent down for three years for the assault and coercive control of Belle, later making a guest appearance early last year.

She's finally moved on and found a good man in Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah), though their happiness is about to be upended when they hear that Tom is up for parole. His comeback will threaten to reopen old wounds for poor Belle.

While exact details of the story are yet to be announced, we do know that the Dingles will fight to keep him behind bars and prevent him from manipulating Belle once again.

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.

• Celia Daniels
• John Sugden
• Ray Walters
• DS Reid (Guest)
• Helen (Guest)
• Noah Dingle
• Steve Sykes (Guest)
• Dr Caitlin Todd
• Jimmy King
• Dawn Fletcher
• Vinny Dingle

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)
• Steph Miligan

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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