There have been plenty of comings and goings across Britain’s biggest soaps this year, with familiar faces returning to the Square and the Dales, new characters arriving and some established favourites preparing to say goodbye.
From EastEnders and Emmerdale to Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, here’s your guide to the latest confirmed and reported cast changes.
This article will be updated as further casting announcements are made.
EastEnders
There is a particularly busy period ahead in Walford, with several recognisable characters set to return.
Sean Slater — returning
Robert Kazinsky is returning to EastEnders as Sean Slater later this year.
Sean was originally a major part of the Slater family before leaving the Square in 2009. His return is expected to be more than a fleeting visit, with Kazinsky reprising the role on a longer-term basis.
Lee Carter — returning
Danny Hatchard is also heading back to Walford as Lee Carter.
Lee, Linda Carter’s eldest son, will return for a short stint in autumn 2026, giving the Carter family another familiar face during a major period of change.
Nancy Carter — returning
Maddy Hill is reprising her role as Nancy Carter.
Nancy will return alongside her brother Lee for a short stint in autumn, bringing two members of the Carter family back together.
Janine Butcher — reportedly returning
One of Walford’s most notorious residents could also be making another appearance.
Charlie Brooks is reportedly returning as Janine Carter, formerly Janine Butcher, for two episodes this autumn. The BBC has not confirmed the report, so this should currently be treated as reported rather than officially confirmed.
Libby Fox — returning
Belinda Owusu’s Libby recently left after her latest stint in Walford, but viewers have not seen the last of Denise Fox’s daughter.
Libby is expected back around the New Year, making her recent departure more of a temporary goodbye than a permanent exit.
We posted our full story here.
Stacey Slater — possible return
Lacey Turner has previously confirmed that she will return to EastEnders following Stacey’s departure for Brazil.
There have also been reports that Turner will film scenes in October and November for a short return, although a firm return date has not been officially confirmed.
Ravi Gulati — leaving
Aaron Thiara is reportedly set to leave his role as Ravi Gulati.
Reports suggest the actor will finish filming towards the end of 2026, with Ravi’s exit expected around late 2026 or early 2027. The BBC has not confirmed the departure.
Megan Hawkins — joining
A new member of the Hawkins family is also on the way.
Megan Hawkins, the daughter of Gemma and Ned, is expected to arrive in Walford in early 2027. Bosses have already teased that she could become an important new character.
Emmerdale
The Dales have also seen some major changes, with several familiar faces coming and going.
Tom King — returning
James Chase is returning as Tom King, following Tom’s dramatic exit and prison sentence.
His return is set to cause fresh problems for Belle King and the wider village.
Sadie King — returning
Patsy Kensit has already made her highly anticipated return as Sadie King after around two decades away from the soap.
Sadie arrived back in the village in September, immediately raising questions about why she has really returned. (ITVX)
Vinny Dingle — leaving
Bradley Johnson is set to leave his role as Vinny Dingle.
His departure is currently expected in October, although further details surrounding Vinny’s exit remain under wraps.
More Emmerdale changes
ITV has also announced a number of other casting developments during 2026, including new characters and returning faces. The show’s official casting information confirms that Joe Tate has returned and that new characters are joining the Dales.
Coronation Street
Weatherfield has had its own share of casting changes, although not every reported departure currently has a confirmed date.
Jesse Chadwick — returning
One of the latest returns is John Thomson as Jesse Chadwick.
Jesse is coming back to the cobbles just as Eileen Grimshaw returns from Thailand, but his real reason for coming back is connected to Gail Rodwell.
The character’s arrival is set to create fresh tension between the Weatherfield residents.
Nina Lucas — departed
Mollie Gallagher has stepped away from her role as Nina Lucas after several years on the soap.
Nina’s exit came as Gallagher took on a new stage role, with her final scenes airing in 2026.
Sophie Webster — could she return?
There is currently no confirmed return for Sophie Webster, but former star Brooke Vincent has recently spoken about the possibility.
Vincent played Sophie from 2004 until 2019 and has now addressed the prospect of reprising the role. For the moment, though, fans should treat a return as speculation rather than confirmed casting news.
Debbie Webster — exit storyline ahead
Sue Devaney’s Debbie Webster remains part of a major storyline surrounding the character’s dementia diagnosis.
Reports indicate that Debbie’s story will continue into 2027, meaning viewers should not expect an immediate departure despite the eventual direction of the storyline.
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks continues to introduce new stories and characters, although there are currently fewer major confirmed cast announcements than on the other three soaps.
The soap remains packed with ongoing storylines involving characters including Warren Fox, Mercedes McQueen, Sienna Blake, James Nightingale and Leah Barnes, with current episodes continuing to move several of those plots forward.
As new casting announcements are confirmed, this section will be updated.
Soap comings and goings at a glance
🔴 Leaving
EastEnders
- Ravi Gulati — Aaron Thiara — reported exit
- Linda Carter — Kellie Bright — future departure reported
- Johnny Carter — Charlie Suff — future departure reported
- Oscar Branning — Pierre Counihan-Moullier — future departure reported
Emmerdale
- Vinny Dingle — Bradley Johnson — October 2026
Coronation Street
- Nina Lucas — Mollie Gallagher — departed
🟢 Joining
EastEnders
- Megan Hawkins — expected early 2027
Emmerdale
- New characters continue to be introduced throughout 2026
🔵 Returning
EastEnders
- Sean Slater — Robert Kazinsky
- Lee Carter — Danny Hatchard
- Nancy Carter — Maddy Hill
- Libby Fox — Belinda Owusu
- Stacey Slater — Lacey Turner — reported short return
- Janine Butcher/Carter — Charlie Brooks — reported
Emmerdale
- Tom King — James Chase
- Sadie King — Patsy Kensit
Coronation Street
- Jesse Chadwick — John Thomson
Keep checking TVTeaser for the latest soap cast news
Soap cast lists can change quickly, with characters returning for surprise appearances and new stars being announced throughout the year.
We’ll keep this guide updated whenever EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street or Hollyoaks confirms another major casting change.
Who are you most excited to see return? Let us know in the comments.
Leave a comment