There have been plenty of comings and goings in Emmerdale recently, with several more cast changes ahead.

This year, we’ve bid 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.

In the coming months, more changes are afoot… so here’s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap…

Nineteen-year-old Gabrielle Dowling has also left the soap – but she will be back.

 

 

Recent storylines have included Cathy 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.

 

 

Who is in the Emmerdale 2025 cast?
The present regular cast of Emmerdale is made up of:

 

 

Ryan Hawley as Robert Sugden
Chris Chittell as Eric Pollard
Claire King as Kim Tate
Isabel Hodgins as Victoria Sugden
James Hooton as Sam Dingle
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 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
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
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
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
Noah Ryan Aspinall as Lucas Taylor
Bella James as Eve Dingle
Lawrence Robb as Mackenzie Boyd
Kevin Mathurin as Charles Anderson
Louise Jameson as Mary Goskirk
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
Michael Parr as Ross Barton
Ned Porteous as Joe Tate
Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq
Bradley Riches as Lewis Barton
Jaye Griffiths as Celia Daniels
Fred Kettle as Dylan Penders
Joe Absolom as Ray Walters

John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) evaded justice earlier this year when he fled the eponymous village after his crimes were exposed.

The last we saw of John, he was deleting the scheduled email (which detailed the ins and outs of Anthony’s murder) and giving Caleb Miligan (William Ash) the location of where Anthony’s body is buried.

Given that he’s currently on the run, it’s possible that he will return to our screens – and with a wanted poster of the medic spotted in Coronation Street, fans are convinced that he could pop up in Weatherfield in time for the big crossover.

Is John Sugden returning to Emmerdale, and if so, when? Currently unknown.

Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) has proven a truly vile character since rocking up in the village.

The newbie was revealed to be behind a heinous, large-scale criminal operation, trafficking both drugs and humans, and a modern-day human slavery racket.

But given that she is very much a villain, Celia’s time on the show will come to an end.

‘I knew it was finite, which I am very sad about, because I would like to stay forever, but it’s such a strong arc,’ Jaye told Metro. Commenting further on being a part of the Emmerdale team, she described it as: ‘heaven!’

Jaye added: ‘It’s one of the nicest places I’ve ever worked, and I’ve done a little bit of work before! It is gentle and kind and professional and funny, and people care that it’s good. People care that we tell the story properly. It’s a joy to come to work. I’m gushing now, aren’t I?’

When is Celia leaving Emmerdale? Currently unknown.

Mandy Dingle star Lisa Riley will make a temporary exit to facilitate her taking part in the upcoming series of I’m A Celebrity.

On the subject of how she’ll be written out, a source told The Sun: ‘Lisa filmed her scenes last week, Mandy goes to visit friends and will be back before you know it.’

‘She’ll be back filming full throttle once she’s back from her trip down under too. Fans won’t have long to wait for her return once the scenes air next year.’

When is Mandy leaving Emmerdale? In the coming weeks, with the scenes reportedly already filmed.

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.