![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_280757257-541b.jpg\")
\n\t\tSoap shake ups! (Picture: ITV\/Metro)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tSoap shake ups! (Picture: ITV\/Metro)<\/p>\n
The departures and returns are continuing in Emmerdale<\/a> as 2026 gets underway.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been quite the start to the year for the ITV soap. Some characters have departed for new lives elsewhere, while John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) all faced their ends via horrific murders. <\/p>\n Last year, we said farewell to a number of villagers, including Rachael Gill-Davis, who played Gail Loman<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another departee was Paula Lane<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0Ella Forster<\/a>, who\u00a0left the Dales in the back of a police car<\/a> after just fifteen months onscreen.<\/p>\n There was also the much-anticipated return of Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley)<\/a>, who came back to the village following a prison stint.<\/p>\n We even saw Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles)<\/a> pop back to the Dales for a brief stint.<\/p>\n More changes are afoot this year, so here\u2019s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap\u2026<\/p>\n EMMERDALE CAST RETURNS \t\t Nineteen-year-old Gabrielle Dowling<\/a> has also left the soap \u2013 but she will be back.<\/p>\n Recent storylines have included Cathy Hope<\/a> coming to terms with\u00a0a PMDD diagnosis<\/a>, and also dealing with the horrific death of twin brother\u00a0Heath, played by Gabrielle\u2019s brother Sebastian<\/a>, who passed away following a car accident.<\/p>\n Metro\u00a0understands that the star is just taking a short break and will return down the line.<\/p>\n When is Cathy Hope returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDon’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n Click the button below and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n \nAdd us as a Preferred Source<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \t\t Victoria Sugden<\/p>\n \t\t Victoria Sugden<\/a> left the Emmerdale village in February to tie in with Isabel Hodgins<\/a>\u2019 maternity leave.<\/p>\n The actress announced on her Instagram last month that she has given birth to her first baby, called Georgie Grace<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vic\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n When is Victoria returning? Currently unknown.<\/p>\n EMMERDALE CAST DEPATURES \t\t Amy Walsh<\/a> has now filmed her final scenes as Tracy Shankley<\/a>, which means it won\u2019t be long until another character departs the village.<\/p>\n The exit story will air in order to facilitate Amy\u2019s maternity leave. The star, who is married to Toby-Alexander Smith, is expecting her second child.<\/p>\n Tracy looks set to move out of the village following a difficult year adjusting to life as a single mum. In upcoming episodes, Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) discovers her plan to sell the house<\/a>.<\/p>\n When is Tracy leaving Emmerdale? In the coming weeks.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCost-cutting at ITV\t\t\t<\/p>\n It was reported on July 28, 2025<\/a>, that Emmerdale and Coronation Street will face more changes as a result of ITV slashing their budgets.<\/p>\n It is said that bosses at\u00a0ITV\u00a0will axe one in ten cast members from both soaps, as part of them cutting a further \u00a315 million from the total budget.<\/p>\n As part of the changes, it\u2019s also being reported that the number of scenes per episode will be cut.<\/p>\n Coronation Street currently has 84 permanent cast members, while Emmerdale has 70. Some of the older cast members have contracts, but most of the cast are paid by each episode.<\/p>\n This article was first published on October 25, 2024.<\/p>\n Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8:00pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us\u00a0soaps@metro.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Join the community by leaving a comment below and\u00a0stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow
\nCathy Hope<\/p>\n![\"Brenda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_244401149-54ff-e1743754143129.jpg\")
\n\t\tCathy departed with Brenda (Picture: ITV\/Mark Bruce\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Soaps](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774110491_657_SEI_278522320-46a3.jpg\")
\n\t\tNow you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team<\/p>\n![\"Isabel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_284884036-80cb.jpg\")
\n\t\tIsabel gave birth to her first baby last month (Picture: Jonathan Hordle\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nTracy Shankley<\/p>\n![\"Tracy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/PRI_199730761-bd56.jpg\")
\n\t\tTracy will leave the village soon (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
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