Emmerdale cast: who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?

In fact, some flash-forwards on New Year's Eve even teased some brutal exits to come for our favourite villagers.

So, who currently stars in the Emmerdale cast?

Read on for your essential guide from RadioTimes.com to the latest Emmerdale cast news that you absolutely need to know.

Emmerdale cast: Who is leaving, returning to and joining the cast?

Emmerdale cast 2025

The full present regular cast for Emmerdale can be found below.

• Chris Chittell as Eric Pollard
• Claire King as Kim Tate
• Isabel Hodgins as Victoria Sugden
• Samantha Power as Tina Dingle
• James Hooton as Sam Dingle
• Ned Porteous as Joe Tate
• Lisa Riley as Mandy Dingle
• Mark Charnock as Marlon Dingle
• Dominic Brunt as Paddy Kirk
• Eden Taylor-Draper as Belle King
• Emma Atkins as Charity Dingle
• Jeff Hordley as Cain Dingle
• Tony Audenshaw as Bob Hope
• Patrick Mower as Rodney Blackstock
• Nicola Wheeler as Nicola King
• Zoe Henry as Rhona Goskirk
• Rosie Bentham as Gabby Thomas
• Charlotte Bellamy as Laurel Thomas
• Lucy Pargeter as Chastity "Chas" Dingle
• Danny Miller as Aaron Dingle
• Nick Miles as Jimmy King
• Jack Downham as Noah Dingle
• Katie Hill as Sarah Sugden
• Gabrielle Dowling as Cathy Hope
• Alfie Clarke as Arthur Thomas
• Lesley Dunlop as Brenda Walker
• Roxy Shahidi as Leyla Harding
• Natalie J. Robb as Moira Dingle
• Ash Palmisciano as Matty Barton
• Rebecca Bakes as Angelica King
• Chris Bisson as Jai Sharma
• Joe-Warren Plant as Jacob Gallagher
• Natalie Ann Jamieson as Amy Wyatt
• Luca Hoyle as Elliot Windsor
• Harvey Rogerson as Leo Goskirk
• Huey Quinn as Kyle Winchester
• Kai Assi as Archie Breckle
• Laura Norton as Kerry Wyatt
• Michelle Hardwick as Vanessa Woodfield
• Mike Parr as Ross Barton
• Jonny McPherson as Dr Liam Cavanagh
• Amelia Flanagan as April Windsor
• Amy Walsh as Tracy Robinson
• Charlie Munro Joyce as Carl Holliday
• Arthur Cockroft as Moses Dingle
• Jack Jennings as Johnny Woodfield
• Tilly-Rue Foster as Dotty Thomas
• Karen Blick as Lydia Dingle
• Bobby Dunsmoir as Isaac Dingle
• Olivia Bromley as Dawn Fletcher
• James Moore as Ryan Stocks
• Rebecca Sarker as Dr Manpreet Sharma
• Jay Kontzle as Billy Fletcher
• Bradley Johnson as Vinnie Dingle
• Joshua Richards as Bear Wolf
• Rachael Gill-Davis as Gail Loman
• Noah Ryan Aspinall as Lucas Taylor
• Susan Cookson as Wendy Posner
• Bella James as Eve Dingle
• Lawrence Robb as Mackenzie Boyd
• Kevin Mathurin as Charles Anderson
• Louise Jameson as Mary Goskirk
• Martelle Edinborough as Suzy Merton
• William Ash as Caleb Miligan
• Flo Wilson as Claudette Anderson
• Paula Lane as Ella Forster
• Beth Cordingly as Ruby Fox-Miligan
• Oliver Farnworth as John Sugden
• Georgia Jay as Steph Miligan
• Nicholas Day as Anthony Fox

Here are the following changes ahead to the regular cast.

DEPARTING

Wendy Posner (Susan Cookson)

When is Wendy Posner leaving? Early 2025.

Wendy Posner is set to leave the village after soap bosses reportedly decided to write her out of the ITV soap.

Actress Susan Cookson joined the soap in 2019 as part of a storyline which introduced Wendy as the mother of Lee Posner, the man who raped Victoria Sugden which resulted in the birth of her son Harry.

Wendy ultimately moved to the village and was also reunited with her other son Luke, who lived in the village for a time before leaving the village.

Outside of this, Wendy's storylines included her relationship with Bob Hope and her affair with colleague Dr Liam Cavanagh, as well as her dark past which revealed that she was illegally working as a nurse.

Despite the reports of her being written out, it seems the door will very much be left open for a return.

A source told The Sun: "The door is very much being left open for Susan in future and it’s hoped that one day she could return to se her grandson Harry."

RadioTimes.com reached out to ITV for comment on this report.

Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi)

When is Leyla Harding leaving? Early 2025.

Roxy Shahidi is reportedly leaving her role as Leyla Harding on Emmerdale after 16 years.

While ITV are yet to confirm or deny this news, reports suggest that Shahidi's character will be killed off.

"Roxy has adored her time on the soap and has made so many happy memories since first joining when she was 17," a source told The Sun.

"The cast have become like family to her and she has grown so much as an actress, but now feels like the perfect time to spread her wings and try something new.

"She is really excited about her meaty exit storyline, which will see her character Leyla die on screen. She'd rather go out in a blaze of glory and be remembered."

Shahidi joined Emmerdale back in 2008 before exiting in 2011. She later returned for two episodes in 2013 before reprising her role permanently in January 2014.

A spokesperson for Emmerdale declined to comment when approached by RadioTimes.com.

Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop)

When is Brenda Walker leaving? Early 2025.

After 16 years in the soap, Brenda Walker is reportedly being written out by show bosses in the coming weeks on Emmerdale.

Actress Lesley Dunlop was reported by The Mirror to be one of the actors to be departing the show soon, alongside Roxy Shahidi's Leyla Harding.

The character was first introduced in 2008 as the adopted mother of Genesis Walker and went on to stay long after Gennie was killed off. Brenda later had hard-hitting stories including battling cancer and coping with the death of her adopted son Heath Hope.

Brenda is currently in a relationship with Eric Pollard, played by Dunlop's real-life husband Chris Chittell, but it seems the pair will soon face heartache...

RadioTimes.com has reached out to ITV for comment.

Ella Forster (Paula Lane)

When is Ella Forster leaving? Spring 2025.

Paula Lane looks set to depart her role as troubled Ella Forster in Emmerdale next year.

Ella Forster was introduced as a feisty receptionist and soon became friends with Mandy Dingle (Lisa Reilly) and a love interest for Dr Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).
The character's shocking backstory was later explored when she was revealed to have killed a friend of hers during her childhood and had since struggled to fit back into society without judgment. Lane revealed at the time that she had signed a further contract with the soap too.
Now, it has been revealed on a talent Spotlight page shared by Lane herself on via Instagram bio that she will cease filming with Emmerdale in February 2025.

This suggests that the character will depart the ITV soap on-screen in Spring 2025.

ITV declined to comment when approached by RadioTimes.com.

Who has left Emmerdale in 2024?

The following characters departed in 2024.

• Heath Hope
• Lisa Dingle (guest, voice)
• Damon "Harry" Harris (guest)
• Amit Sharma
• Gus Malcolms
• Ethan Anderson
• Nicky Miligan
• Suni Sharma
• Josh Cope (guest)
• Samson Dingle
• Emma Barton (guest)
• Nate Robinson
• Helen Fox (guest)
• Tom King
• Amelia Spencer
• Will Taylor

Who has left Emmerdale in 2023?

The following characters departed Emmerdale in 2023.

• Priya Sharma
• Amba Metcalfe
• Marcus Dean
• Ally
• Naomi Walters
• Marshall Hamston
• Rishi Sharma
• Georgia Sharma
• Colin Hamston
• Dan Spencer
• Victor Anderson
• Craig Reed
• Bernice Blackstock
• David Metcalfe
• Theo Metcalfe
• Damon "Harry" Harris
• Chloe Harris
• Reuben Harris
• Zak Dingle

Who left Emmerdale in 2022?

The following characters have departed Emmerdale in 2022.

• Gavin
• Ellis Chapman
• DS Rogers
• Carol Butler
• Meena Jutla
• Jason Denshaw
• Alex Moore
• Kit
• Sandra Flaherty
• Faith Dingle
• PC Harriet Finch
• Liv Dingle
• Diane Sugden
• Al Chapman

Who else will be in the village by the end of the year?

Visit our dedicated Emmerdale page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV Guide.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.