BBC Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 Who's leaving EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns There are some big name departures and returns to Walford this year! Features Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 EastEnders saw the departures of Walford legends Martin Fowler, Bianca Jackson and Sonia Fowler last year, before finishing with the shocking murder of Anthony Trueman. And there’ll be a lot more to come – so who’s leaving EastEnders in 2026? But never fear – for everyone who’s leaving, there’s also a host of old faces and newcomers who will appear on the soap in their stead. Here’s our round-up of who’s leaving, returning and joining the cast of EastEnders this year. Who’s left and who’s leaving EastEnders in 2026? Actress and comedian Ronni Ancona plays Bea (Credit: BBC) Bea Pollard – leaving soon In early January 2026, comedian, impressionist and actress Ronni Ancona joined the soap as a new character named Bea. Bea, her early scenes revealed, is an old schoolmate of Linda’s, and the pair don’t exactly have the fondest memories of each other. Of her new role, Ronni 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.” Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Since she arrived in Walford, Bea has wormed her way into Honey’s family. She’s also taken out a credit card in her name, landed Honey in hospital after tampering with a ladder and is now sabotaging Honey’s marriage. It was announced in June 2026 that Ronni would be leaving the soap in the coming months. Our EastEnders insider has revealed that she was only ever contracted for a short stint, which was extended but is now coming to an end. And our source has hinted that things are about to become even darker as Bea’s behaviour becomes increasingly unhinged.Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your EastEnders newsIt's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news & schedules to share with our community of loyal readers. Click here and tick TVGuide.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. “It’s a question of how low will she go,” teased our insider. “She’s definitely a Marmite character, but she’s not meant to be liked. She’s becoming more sinister.” So how will Bea leave Walford? We’re not sure, but we’ve been told there are ‘dramatic scenes’ on the way, and we’re already looking forward to them! Ravi has left Walford to get his head together (Credit: BBC) Ravi Gulati – left after a breakdown Ravi recently finished time in a mental health unit following a severe breakdown caused by past trauma. He returned to Walford, giving girlfriend Priya hope they could reignite their relationship. However, Ravi revealed he was only back to pack, and was leaving Albert Square so that he could continue to focus on rebuilding his mental health. However, has Ravi really gone? And where does this leave his family? There has been no official announcement that Aaron Thiara is leaving the role permanently, so it is likely Ravi will be back. Watch this space! Patrick has gone to see family (Credit: BBC) Patrick Trueman – gone to visit family Patrick might have left Walford again, but fear not, he will be back! The legendary character has gone to visit Anthony’s children for a few weeks, but he is set to return shortly. He is set for a shock when he returns from seeing his grandchildren, however. Not only has Jordan had a life-threatening accident since he left, but Denise has also been diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. Not quite the welcome home he will be expecting. Sam’s been back since last year (Credit: BBC) Sam Mitchell – went to Portugal Sam Mitchell returned to EastEnders last Christmas – where she revealed she’d found a lump, which she feared was cancer. Since she returned, Sam bravely battled breast cancer and has recently been given the all-clear by doctors. Kim, who plays Sam, said: “It’s such a joy to be asked to come back to EastEnders. I love the character of Sam. She always causes drama wherever she goes, but she also has that vulnerable side, which is great to play. It’s also lovely being back on set with the fantastic cast and to see old friends and new faces.” Sadly, Sam’s return wasn’t a permanent one, despite fans calling for her to stay forever! Sam left the soap back in May after deciding to move to Portugal with Grant. However, the character has a habit of returning on a fairly regular basis, and with her son Ricky still in Walford, she always has a good reason to come back. Grant was back to support Nigel (Credit: BBC) Grant Mitchell – returned to Portugal Ross Kemp reprised his iconic role as Grant Mitchell for a short stint, having briefly returned to Walford last year for the show’s 40th anniversary. Grant returned to cover two huge storylines. One saw him reunited with his estranged son, Mark Fowler Jr. The other saw him support his family and friends as Nigel lost his battle with dementia. “I’m truly delighted to be stepping back into Grant Mitchell’s shoes and returning to EastEnders later this year,” said Ross. Executive producer Ben Wadey added, “The Mitchells remain one of EastEnders’ defining dynasties, and we can’t wait to see them reunited again. As always when Grant is around, drama inevitably follows him…” Sadly, Grant’s return was only brief, and he has now returned to Portugal. The character made a swift exit after taking the blame for crimes committed by his son, Mark. With the police now on his case, it doesn’t look like Grant will be returning any time soon, but never say never. Eddie is back for a brief stint (Credit: BBC) Eddie Knight – dead Eddie returned earlier this year to cause more drama for George by manipulating Nicola into letting him live with them for his final days. Despite pretending to be sorry for everything he has done, Eddie hasn’t changed a bit and is just trying to avoid dying in prison. The Night That Changes Everything week saw George and Eddie take centre stage. George had finally had enough of his dad’s manipulation, and after a bitter showdown between the pair, Eddie started choking on his painkillers. But instead of offering his dad the water he was reaching for, George coolly drank it himself, and Eddie died. Fans had already predicted that someone in Walford might bump Eddie before he died from cancer, but the fact that George finally got revenge on his evil dad left viewers thrilled. Nigel is suffering from dementia (Credit: BBC) Nigel Bates – died Soap icon Nigel Bates sadly lost his battle with dementia, leaving his wife Julie and his best friend Phil devastated. Nigel first arrived in Walford in the 90s and returned to the soap last year after a 26-year absence. Nigel revealed that he was suffering from dementia and had run out on his family so as not to be a burden. He then moved in with Phil, who took on carer duties for his old friend, along with Nigel’s wife Julie. Sadly, Nigel’s dementia got progressively worse until he passed away in a heartbreaking standalone episode in April. Suffice to say, there wasn’t a dry eye in Walford when Nigel took his last breath, and Albert Square won’t be the same without him. Will Julie head back to Scotland soon? (Credit: BBC) Julie Bates – returned to Edinburgh With Nigel no longer around, Julie decided to move back to Scotland, a place that holds happy memories of her life with her late husband. It was revealed after Nigel’s funeral that Julie wouldn’t be staying in Walford. News that left Phil Mitchell and EastEnders fans devastated. During a heartfelt moment, Phil told Julie that she was ‘one of them now’ and hoped that she would stay in Albert Square. But Julie had other plans and decided it was time to move on with her life. After Nigel left her some money from a pension, Julie decided to take the trip to India that she and her late husband had always dreamed of. This latest stint on the soap was the second time Julie has put down roots in Walford. So you never know, we might see her again one day. Who’s leaving EastEnders? Sandra Goodwin – moved to Southend Sandra’s time in Walford has been brief (Credit: BBC) Sandra arrived in Walford with her son Josh, who is also Zoe Slater’s biological son and Jasmine Fisher’s twin. The pair caused chaos for the Slater and Trueman families when they arrived. Mainly because Sandra was keeping a secret about their past. It was eventually revealed that she blamed Jasmine for the death of her husband, Keith. As a result, Sandra officially adopted Josh, but Jasmine went to live with a new family. Sandra has since moved to Southend to care for her elderly mother. She has left Josh to live with the Truemans… but some fans aren’t convinced this is the last we have seen of her. Speaking of joining the soap, Dawn Steele said: “I was thrilled to be asked to play the role of Sandra who arrives and throws a spanner or two into the Square! It was so great to go back to Elstree after the end of Holby City. Lots of the same crew (and a few cast!) are still there, so it was joyful to see them all again. Everyone was so welcoming and I really enjoyed learning new ways of filming. It really is a well-oiled machine, and everyone works so hard.” Since she left, Sandra has been seen on screen once, when she made a cameo for Josh’s birthday in a video call to her adoptive son. Scheming Chrissie returned this Christmas (Credit: BBC) Chrissie Watts – moved away Chrissie returned on Christmas Eve for a short spell when she was revealed to be Jasmine’s mystery boss, who had been tormenting Zoe for sins past. She revealed herself (and Jasmine) during a dramatic showdown on Christmas Day, where she shared how she’d been responsible for all Zoe’s recent misfortunes. It emerged that Jasmine had killed Anthony, although Kat and Zoe are convinced that Chrissie was behind his death. Chrissie was lured back to Walford in February by Jake, her estranged boyfriend. Despite everyone thinking she had Anthony’s blood on her hands, it turned out she was innocent for once. After exposing Jasmine as the true killer, Jake and Chrissie reunited, finally leaving the soap once again in February 2026 Jake Moon is back for answers (Credit: BBC) Jake Moon – moved away Jake Moon returned to EastEnders in February for a short stint, looking for answers about what happened at Christmas. After initially thinking Chrissie killed Anthony, he soon realised he was barking up the wrong tree. Chrissie might be guilty of many crimes, but killing Dr Trueman isn’t one of them! After it was revealed that Jasmine was the one who killed Anthony, Chrissie and Jake got engaged. However, they believed that Kat and Jasmine had framed Chrissie for the murder and when the police arrived, they quickly drove off into the sunset so she couldn’t be arrested. Jasmine killed Anthony on Christmas night (Credit: BBC) Anthony Trueman – dead! Doctor Anthony Trueman became the latest character to suffer a Christmas death in EastEnders last year. Anthony’s demise came as he lashed out at Zoe, knocking her unconscious during a dramatic confrontation. When she regained consciousness, Anthony was dead. Of his surprise death, actor Nicholas Bailey said: “I was sad things were coming to an end, but I wanted to lean into the excitement of this story being a launch pad for some incredible stuff heading into 2026. I love EastEnders and I love seeing the show thrive. “So, while I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Anthony, I’m happy it means my friends are going to have some incredible stuff to play following his death.” Jay has exited the soap off-screen (Credit: BBC) Jay Brown – off-screen exit Last year, media outlets reported that Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown, had been axed following his recent suspension. The star, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing last year, was suspended after footage emerged of him using a slur against disabled people during a live show. Jamie was initially set to return to the soap after three months’ suspension, although this is no longer the case. A spokesperson for the BBC told The Sun: “We can confirm that Jamie Borthwick will not be returning to EastEnders. We do not comment on individual matters.” On screen, Jay is off visiting his grandfather, who has been taken ill. The soap revealed that he’s found a new girlfriend up north. They are now getting married and having a child. Sorry, Lexi. Teddy joined the soap last year (Credit: BBC) Teddy Mitchell – in prison! The soap has said farewell to star Roland Manookian after only 18 months. The actor, who plays Teddy Mitchell, will leave after taking the blame for killing drug dealer Okie… a crime his son actually committed. After pleading guilty, a judge sentenced Teddy to life in prison – meaning he probably won’t be back anytime soon. A spokesperson for The BBC told The Sun: “We can confirm Roland will be leaving EastEnders this year, and we wish him all the best for the future.” Who’s returning or returned to EastEnders in 2026? Gray is returning for a short stint (Credit: BBC) Gray Atkins – in prison Serial killer, Gray Atkins, is returning to EastEnders, four years after he was last seen on our screens. Fans will remember that Gray arrived in Walford back in 2019 as the charming and successful husband of Chantelle Atkins. However, Gray’s true colours were soon revealed, and he subjected Chantelle to horrific abuse before she tragically died as she tried to escape him in 2020. But Gray’s evil ways didn’t end there. He went on to murder Tina Carter after she worked out what really happened the night Chantelle died. Gray’s third victim was lovely Kush Kazemi. EastEnders fans were left stunned when Gray pushed Kush in front of a speeding tube train as he tried to flee Walford with Whitney Dean – someone Gray was obsessed with. His crimes were finally uncovered in 2022, when he was thrown behind bars, never to be seen again. Until now. According to The Sun, the character, played by Toby-Alexander Smith, is back for a brief return. His comeback is thought to involve his second wife, Chelsea Fox and their son, Jordan. But what does Gray want from Chelsea? And how will she feel about being contacted by her killer ex? It’s only a matter of time before Sharon returns to Walford (Credit: BBC) Sharon Watts – currently in America Sharon recently returned for Vicki and Ross’s wedding after taking a break from Walford since last October. Sharon returned last year and came face-to-face with Zoe Slater… one of the women involved in the demise of Sharon’s dad, Den. Following a showdown with Zoe after she claimed that Dennis was the father of her then-missing twins, Sharon fled the Square once again. She has been living with Mark’s mum, Michelle, in America and recently returned there after the wedding. However, while she was back in Albert Square, she hinted to Phil that she missed her old home and would be back in a month. So watch this space. Toxic teenager Joel attacked Vicki in harrowing scenes (Credit: BBC) Joel Marshall – soon to be released from prison Joel Marshall was arrested following his horrific attack on Vicki Fowler in October last year. And in January 2026, we saw his court case play out. In a shock twist, Joel finally took responsibility for what he’d done and decided to plead guilty to attacking Vicki and recording (and sharing) a video of him sleeping with Avani. He is now serving 6 months behind bars for his crimes. Sadly, this storyline meant we lost actor Max Murray after less than a year. However, it has been reported that Joel is coming back to the soap and is already back filming. As his six months in prison aren’t up yet, we’re not sure if the teen tearaway will be seen in jail, or if he’ll return to Walford. Watch this space! Clare has returned for dad Nigel (Credit: BBC) Clare Bates – returned for Nigel’s funeral As Nigel Bates’ time on the soap came to a close, his step-daughter Clare came back to see him before he passed away. Clare and Nigel were estranged and lost touch in recent years. But when Clare found out about Nigel’s dementia, she returned to Albert Square to see her former step-dad. Clare was shocked when she arrived and was confronted by the reality of how frail Nigel had become. Clare is played by Gemma Bissix, who played the role as a youngster. Clare’s mum, Debbie, married Nigel in the 1990s and the three lived as a family until Debbie’s tragic death. Clare also returned for Nigel’s funeral as she joined Julie to say farewell to the Albert Square icon. Speaking of her second return of the year, Gemma said, “When I returned earlier this year, we always knew Clare had to come back for Nigel’s funeral. He meant so much to her, and it felt right to be there for the conclusion of his story, as everyone came together to say their final goodbyes.” Clare, Josh and Julie (Credit: BBC) Josh Saunders – returned for Nigel’s funeral Jon Lee reprised his role as Julie’s son, Josh Saunders, as everyone gathered to say goodbye to Nigel. S Club’s Jon Lee first appeared in EastEnders as Josh Saunders from 1997 until 1998. Speaking of his return to EastEnders after all these years, Jon Lee said: “It was quite surreal stepping back on to Albert Square after so many years as it’s so familiar to so many of us. It was lovely to see my onscreen family again”. Libby’s coming back to EastEnders! (Credit: BBC) Libby Fox – back after 10 years Max Branning’s New Year flashforward was full of surprises for fans of the soap. This included the surprise return of Libby Fox, who appeared in scenes as Max’s mystery bride prepared for her wedding. This implied that Max might be marrying a Branning woman – Chelsea, perhaps? But is all as it seems? We now know that Denise is currently battling for her life after being diagnosed with cancer, and Libby has returned to support her mum. As well as being there for Denise, Libby will also help Chelsea navigate her way through Jordan’s recovery after he was hit by Ian’s car and also Gray’s imminent return. Fans are thrilled to have Libby back on their screens again, with actress Belinda Owusu reprising her role for the first time in almost ten years. Max is returning for his family (Credit: BBC) Max Branning Walford lothario Max Branning returned to the soap in a shocking twist to Zoe Slater’s own tale. In a flashback, the soap revealed that she had struck up a relationship with Max, who’d loaned her the money to pay a Private Detective in order to find her children. He returned again in October for Lauren and Peter’s wedding, sending the Square into chaos by pursuing Stacey. He left again soon after that (as did Stacey), only to turn up in the wake of a devastating (although your mileage might vary) fire at Peter and Lauren’s place. Max has since taken centre stage in an exciting flashforward on New Year’s Day. Suffice to say that it changed everything for the Branning family. Mark returned in January (Credit: BBC) Mark Fowler Jr Mark Fowler returned to Walford in January 2026 after a decade away. But, before he made his grand entrance on Albert Square, he secretly appeared in Max’s New Year’s Day flashforward episode. Although we didn’t know it at the time, Mark was present in the scene where Max was arrested. He was credited at the end of the episode as ‘Man’. Stephen Aaron-Sipple replaces actor Ned Porteus, who previously played the character. Speaking of joining the soap, Stephen said: “Having grown up in East London, EastEnders has been in my life since childhood. I’m excited to be joining not one, but two iconic Albert Square families! I’m looking forward to seeing what Walford has in store for him.” After settling into Walford life, Mark has proved himself to be trouble, but with a side helping of charm… just like his dad, Grant! Who’s joining or has joined EastEnders in 2026? Gray’s nan, Sheila, meets with Chelsea (Credit: BBC) Gray Atkins’ grandmother, Sheila Actress Sheila Ruskin is heading to Walford as Grey Atkins’ grandmother, Sheila. As Chelsea struggles financially after Jordan’s accident, she admitted to Libby that Sheila has been sending cheques for Jordan, but that she has never cashed them. Libby took matters into her own hands and contacted Sheila, convinced she could be the answer to her sister’s prayers. Chelsea later agreed to meet Sheila, but will they regret welcoming killer Gray’s grandmother into their lives? Actress Sheila has been in EastEnders before, playing a judge in three episodes that aired in 2001. Sheila has countless TV credits to her name, including roles in Casualty, Doctors, The Bill and Holby City. Josh has settled into life with the Truemans (Credit: BBC) Josh Goodwin Zoe Slater was in for a shock when her long-lost son and Jasmine’s twin brother, Josh (Joshua Vaughan), arrived in Walford, having followed his adopted mother Sandra Goodwin (Dawn Steele) to Albert Square. Sandra turned up seeking answers about Jasmine, unveiling new details from her past and insight into Sandra’s version of events. Meanwhile, and unbeknownst to Sandra, Josh had followed her to Walford, not knowing his birth family were closer than he realised. On joining the cast, Joshua Vaughan said: “It has been incredibly humbling to join the cast of EastEnders and find myself at the intersection of the iconic Trueman and Slater families. Getting to work alongside such legacy actors is a masterclass, and I’ve learned so much from them. Josh is a big ball of love. I’m so excited for the audience to see the drama unfold as he arrives on the Square.” Josh is now well and truly settled into life in Walford. He is living with the Truemans and currently involved in a love triangle with his sister, Jasmine and her boyfriend, Oscar. Say hello to newcomer Jasmine (Credit: BBC) Jasmine Fisher The mysterious Jasmine Fisher arrived in Walford in early October last year, wrangling herself a job at The Albert. It soon became clear that not all was as it seemed with Jasmine, though. As it turned out, Jasmine was working with Chrissie Watts to torment her long-lost mother, Zoe Slater! Fast forward a few months and Jasmine has made quite the impact. Mostly by killing her long-lost dad, Anthony Trueman! Jasmine has since reunited with her twin, Josh. However, a love triangle between the twins and Oscar has kicked off, so there’s plenty more drama to come. Read more: What time is EastEnders on tonight? Get up-to-date schedules and changes here Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Joel Harley 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 By Claire Crick 17 Jun 2026, 08:06 Previous Story Next Story
