All the Emmerdale cast returns, exits and new arrivals in 2026
The departures and returns are continuing in Emmerdale as 2026 races by.
It’s been quite the start to the year for the ITV soap, as three of the village’s most evil residents; John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) all faced their ends via horrific murders.
We also said temporary goodbyes to Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh), with both actors heading off on maternity leave.
While the departure of Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) is imminent, also are the returns of bonkers baddie, Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) and femme fatale Sadie King (Patsy Kensit).
With plenty of changes afoot, here’s the lowdown on who is returning, leaving, and arriving in the ITV soap…
Emmerdale cast returns
Sadie King
Former queen bee of home farm and a character who’d easily give Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) and Kim Tate (Claire King) a run for their money in the ‘baddest bitch of the Yorkshire Dales’ stakes, Sadie King will be returning to the village she previously ran roughshod over.
While we’re unsure how or why Sadie is coming back, producer L
aura Shaw has confirmed that much drama will follow: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Patsy Kensit back to the cast and crucially to see the iconic Sadie King storm back into the village.
‘Her return will be explosive and guaranteed to shock.’
When is Sadie King returning to Emmerdale? Currently unknown.