HOTTEST NEWS TODAY!!! All the Emmerdale cast returns, exits and new arrivals in 2026
There have been plenty of comings and goings in Emmerdale recently, with several more cast changes ahead.
Last year, we said farewell to a number of villagers, including Rachael Gill-Davis, who played Gail Loman.
Another departee was Paula Lane’s Ella Forster, who left the Dales in the back of a police car after just fifteen months onscreen.
There was also the much-anticipated return of Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), who came back to the village following a prison stint.
We even saw Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles) pop back to the Dales for a brief stint.
As 2026 begins, more changes are afoot… so here’s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap…
Cathy Hope
Nineteen-year-old 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.
Mandy Dingle
Mandy will be back before we know it
Mandy Dingle star Lisa Riley made a temporary exit to facilitate her taking part in the recent series of I’m A Celebrity.
Mandy departed the village in December to help look after Tina Dingle’s children, following the character once again getting into trouble with the law.
When will Mandy return? February.
Victoria Sugden
Victoria Sugden left the Emmerdale village this week to tie in with Isabel Hodgins’ maternity leave.The actress announced on her Instagram today (February 13) 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 returning? Currently unknown.
EMMERDALE CAST DEPATURES
Tracy Shankley
Amy Walsh has now filmed her final scenes as Tracy Shankley, which means it won’t be long until another character departs the village.The exit story will air in order to facilitate Amy’s maternity leave. The star, who is married to Toby-Alexander Smith, is expecting her second child.When is Tracy leaving Emmerdale? Currently unknown.
Ray Walters
In the episode of Emmerdale that aired before Corriedale, we saw Ray Walters’ (Joe Absolom) dead body being dragged across a field.We then saw it in the back of a depot van that was being driven by Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson).Towards the end of January, flashback episodes aired that eventually saw us learn that Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) killed Ray.
The character was on our screens again yesterday, as a figment of Bear’s imagination.
When did Ray leave Emmerdale? At the start of 2026.
