![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_280757257-541b.jpg\")
\n\t\tSoap shake ups! (Picture: ITV\/Metro)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tSoap shake ups! (Picture: ITV\/Metro)<\/p>\n
The departures and returns are continuing in Emmerdale<\/a> as 2026 races by.<\/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)<\/a>, Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths)<\/a> and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom)<\/a> 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\u2019s\u00a0Ella Forster<\/a>, who\u00a0left the Dales in the back of a police car 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) pop back to the Dales<\/a> 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 Robert\u2019s psychopathic but oddly-endearing ex-prison husband, Kev Townsend<\/a> will be returning to the village, with Chris Coghill<\/a> reprising the role \u2018by popular demand\u2019.<\/p>\n Discussing the return, producer of the show Laura Shaw said: \u2018Both Chris and the character of Kev made a massive impact on the show last year, so Chris is most definitely back by popular demand\u2019<\/p>\n Kev will have to deal with being in such close proximity to his ex-husband and ex-love rival, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), while deciding whether or not to tell\u00a0Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) that he is his biological father<\/a>.<\/p>\n When is Kev Townsend 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 Cathy Hope<\/p>\n \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 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 Tracy Shankley<\/p>\n \t\t Amy Walsh<\/a> recently left her role<\/a> as Tracy Shankley<\/a>, with the exit story will facilitating Amy\u2019s maternity leave. <\/p>\n The star, who is married to Toby-Alexander Smith<\/a>, recently gave birth to her second child<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n When is Tracy leaving Emmerdale? Currently unknown.<\/p>\n Emmerdale cast departures \t\t It was recently revealed that Olivia Bromley<\/a>\u00a0will be departing from her role<\/a> as Dawn Taylor<\/a> after 8 years.<\/p>\n Her axing is believed to be a result of ITV\u2019s cost-cutting measures, with both Emmerdale and Coronation Street\u00a0reducing the amount of screen time some actors have<\/a> and losing others.<\/p>\n Dawn\u2019s life is set to spectacularly fall apart in upcoming scenes when she reveals the true extent of boyfriend, Joe Tate\u2019s (Ned Porteous) cruelty.<\/p>\n Metro\u00a0understands that a final explosive story will play out for Dawn in the summer, with Olivia still currently filming.<\/p>\n When is Olivia leaving Emmerdale? Later this year.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWho is in the Emmerdale 2026 cast?\t\t\t<\/p>\n The present cast of Emmerdale is made up of:<\/p>\n Regular cast:<\/p>\n Ryan Hawley as Robert Sugden Recurring cast:<\/p>\n Andy Moore as Mike Swirling This article was first published on October 25, 2024 and has since been updated.<\/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
\nKev Townsend<\/p>\n![\"Kev](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_291801696-e6b8.jpg\")
\n\t\tKev\u2019s coming back \u2018by popular\u2019 demand (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n![\"Soaps](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775269873_99_SEI_278522320-46a3.jpg\")
\n\t\tNow you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team<\/p>\n![\"Brenda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_244401149-54ff-e1743754143129.jpg\")
\n\t\tCathy departed with Brenda (Picture: ITV\/Mark Bruce\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Isabel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_284884036-80cb.jpg\")
\n\t\tIsabel gave birth to her first baby last month (Picture: Jonathan Hordle\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Tracy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PRI_199730761-bd56.jpg\")
\n\t\tTracy will leave the village soon (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n
\nDawn Taylor<\/p>\n![\"Dawn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_282754729-90e1.jpg\")
\n\t\tDawn has recently been axed (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nChris Chittell as Eric Pollard
\nClaire King as Kim Tate
\nIsabel Hodgins as Victoria Sugden
\nJames Hooton as Sam Dingle
\nNed Porteous as Joe Tate
\nLisa Riley as Mandy Dingle
\nMark Charnock as Marlon Dingle
\nDominic Brunt as Paddy Kirk
\nEden Taylor-Draper as Belle Dingle
\nEmma Atkins as Charity Dingle
\nJeff Hordley as Cain Dingle
\nTony Audenshaw as Bob Hope
\nPatrick Mower as Rodney Blackstock
\nNicola Wheeler as Nicola King
\nZoe Henry as Rhona Goskirk
\nRosie Bentham as Gabby Thomas
\nCharlotte Bellamy as Laurel Thomas
\nLucy Pargeter as Chas Dingle
\nDanny Miller as Aaron Dingle
\nNick Miles as Jimmy King
\nJack Downham as Noah Dingle
\nKatie Hill as Sarah Sugden
\nGabrielle Dowling as Cathy Hope
\nAlfie Clarke as Arthur Thomas
\nNatalie J. Robb as Moira Dingle
\nAsh Palmisciano as Matty Barton
\nChris Bisson as Jai Sharma
\nJoe-Warren Plant as Jacob Gallagher
\nLaura Norton as Kerry Wyatt
\nMichelle Hardwick as Vanessa Woodfield
\nMichael Parr as Ross Barton
\nJonny McPherson as Liam Cavanagh
\nAmelia Flanagan as April Windsor
\nAmy Walsh as Tracy Shankley
\nKaren Blick as Lydia Dingle
\nAndrew Scarborough as Graham Foster
\nOlivia Bromley as Dawn Taylor
\nJames Moore as Ryan Stocks
\nRebecca Sarker as Manpreet Sharma
\nJay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher
\nBradley Johnson as Vinny Dingle
\nJoshua Richards as Bear Wolf
\nLawrence Robb as Mackenzie Boyd
\nKevin Mathurin as Charles Anderson
\nLouise Jameson as Mary Goskirk
\nWilliam Ash as Caleb Milligan
\nFlo Wilson as Claudette Anderson
\nBeth Cordingly as Ruby Fox-Milligan
\nGeorgia Jay as Steph Milligan
\nCaroline Harker as Caitlin Todd
\nFred Kettle as Dylan Penders
\nShebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq
\nBradley Riches as Lewis Barton<\/p>\n
\nHarvey Rogerson as Leo Goskirk
\nHuey Quinn as Kyle Winchester
\nKai Assi as Archie Breckle
\nCharlie Munro Joyce as Carl Holliday
\nArthur Cockroft as Moses Dingle
\nJack Jennings as Johnny Woodfield
\nTilly-Rue Foster as Dotty Thomas
\nBobby Dunsmoir as Isaac Dingle
\nNoah Ryan Aspinall as Lucas Taylor
\nBella James as Eve Dingle
\nAdam Pryor as Harry Sugden
\nEden Ratcliffe-Knights as Frankie Robinson
\nBertie Brotherton as Thomas Tate
\nMabel Addison as Clemmie Reed
\nAlice Mauve as Ivy Malcoms
\nMalachi McKenzie as Evan Fletcher<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Are Emmerdale, Corrie and EastEnders on this Good Friday and Easter weekend?<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Cancel your Easter weekend plans and binge these incredible shows instead<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Who is Kev in Emmerdale as controversial character returns?<\/a><\/p>\n