The departures and returns are continuing in Emmerdale as 2026 gets underway.
It’s 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.
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.
More changes are afoot this year, so here’s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap…
EMMERDALE CAST RETURNS
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.
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
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 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.
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.
When is Tracy leaving Emmerdale? In the coming weeks.
Cost-cutting at ITV
It was reported on July 28, 2025, that Emmerdale and Coronation Street will face more changes as a result of ITV slashing their budgets.
It is said that bosses at ITV will axe one in ten cast members from both soaps, as part of them cutting a further £15 million from the total budget.
As part of the changes, it’s also being reported that the number of scenes per episode will be cut.
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.
