So, we are now nearing the end of EastEnders’ 40th year in 2025, and look ahead to 2026.

Last year saw some huge changes for EastEnders, including the departure of Whitney Dean after 15 years in the summer and the arrival of new matriarch Nicola Mitchell in November.

 

 

This year, meanwhile, has seen some major exits, including the deaths of Nish Panesar and Martin Fowler, along with the departure of Stacey Slater.

RadioTimes.com is here with a handy update on which characters are leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders in the coming months.

 

 

The full present regular cast for EastEnders can be found below in order of the character’s first appearance.

Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale
Letitia Dean as Sharon Watts
Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale
Alice Haig as Vicki Fowler

 

Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale
Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell
Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell
Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates
Thomas Law as Peter Beale
Karen Henthorn as Julie Bates
Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell
Laila Morse as Mo Harris

 

Jessie Wallace as Kat Moon
Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater
Nicholas Bailey as Dr Anthony Trueman
Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman
Shane Ritchie as Alfie Moon
Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman
Gillian Wright as Jean Slater
Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell
Zaraah Abrahams as Chelsea Fox
Diane Parish as Denise Fox
Grace as Janet Mitchell
Jake Wood as Max Branning
Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Beale
Scott Maslen as Jack Branning
Freddie Phillips as Will Mitchell
Pierre Counihan-Moullier as Oscar Branning
Kitty Castledine as Penny Branning
Ellie Dadd as Amy Mitchell
Tameka Empson as Kim Fox
Lillia Turner as Lily Slater
Frankie Day as Ricky Branning
Sonny Kendall as Tommy Moon
Isabella Brown as Lexi Pearce
Kellie Bright as Linda Carter
Charlie Suff as Johnny Carter
Harriet Thorpe as Elaine Peacock
Elliot Briffett as Bert Moon
Cody Briffett as Ernie Moon
Arayah Harris-Buckles as Pearl Fox
Harry Farr as Ollie Carter
Jake McNally as Louie Beale
Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Fox
Tony Clay as Callum Highway
Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar
Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar-Unwin
James Farrar as Zack Hudson
Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe
Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes
Heather Peace as Eve Panesar-Unwin
Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati
Jaden Ladega as Denzel Danes
Juhaim Rasul Choudhury as Davinder “Nugget” Gulati
Colin Salmon as George Knight
Francesca Henry as Gina Knight
Sophie Khan Levy as Priya Nandra-Hart
Aaliyah James as Avani Nandra-Hart
Elijah Holloway as Harry Mitchell
Lewis Bridgeman as Barney Mitchell
Dayo Koleosho as Kojo Asare
Laura Doddington as Nicola Mitchell
Alex Walkinshaw as Ross Marshall
Max Murray as Joel Marshall
Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness as Jasmine Fisher
And here are the changes to the cast coming soon…

JOINING
Bea (Ronni Ancona)
Ronni Ancona as Bea in EastEnders, wearing a beige fur-trimmed coat and leopard-print top stands outside Walford East Station, staring ahead with a shocked, tense expression.

British comedy legend Ronni Ancona – no stranger to an EastEnders impersonation – is joining the soap in 2026 as the mysterious Bea.

The new arrival is a blast from the past for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) when she attends her high school reunion, with Linda and Bea each remembering their past rather differently.

On joining the cast of EastEnders, Ancona said: “I am honoured to have been invited to join the iconic institution that is EastEnders, and to go on this whirlwind of a journey with such an unpredictable, nuanced and complex character as Bea. I hope audiences have as much fun watching her as I have had bringing her to life.”

EastEnders’ executive producer Ben Wadey added: “I’m delighted to welcome the immensely talented Ronni Ancona to EastEnders playing the character of Bea. Bea’s character is mysterious, and we’re thrilled to have an esteemed actress and comedian like Ronni playing her.”

Ancona has already started filming on EastEnders, with her first scenes as Bea set to air in the New Year.

Will Bea be a hindrance or a help to Linda?

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