EastEnders has seen significant cast changes in 2026, with several returns, exits, and new arrivals already confirmed or underway. As of July 2026, viewers have witnessed the returns of Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), Jake Moon (Joel Beckett), and Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), as well as the arrival of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). New characters include Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona), an old school friend of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), and Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), the twin brother of Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and son of Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). Heartbreaking goodbyes have been bid to Nigel (Paul Bradley) and his wife Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn).
Upcoming Cast Changes
Future developments include the re-emergence of twisted incel Joel Marshall (Max Murray), the arrival of Matthew James-Bailey's new character Craig, and the exit of Michelle Ryan's Zoe Slater. The cast is constantly fluctuating in Walford, and here is what is currently known about who is returning, leaving, and arriving.
Returns
Sharon Watts
Sharon is back on screen after being away from Walford since the end of 2025. Prior to her full-time comeback, she briefly appeared for Vicki Fowler's (Alice Haig) wedding, telling Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) she would return properly in about a month after tying up loose ends in America. Sharon returned in July 2026.
Gray Atkins
Gray, the abusive husband who killed Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White), and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami), was last seen being sent to prison. He is back as part of a storyline involving Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) meeting Gray's gran Sheila. Gray returned in June 2026.
Joel Marshall
Joel left Albert Square after a six-month custodial sentence for attacking Vicki and his crimes against Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James). His return in July 2026 will cause problems, with spoilers indicating he will be subjected to an attack.
Stacey Slater
Stacey left for Brazil to escape the ghost of ex-husband Martin Fowler (James Bye). Actress Lacey Turner reassured viewers she would return, saying in a behind-the-scenes video: 'I am coming back, I won’t be long.' The date of Stacey's return is currently unknown.
New Arrivals
Craig Ingram
Former Hollyoaks star Matthew James-Bailey has joined EastEnders as DC Craig Ingram, a younger colleague of Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) who takes over his workload. Craig arrives over the summer of 2026.
Departures
Kat Slater
Jessie Wallace will depart the BBC One soap as she has been cast as Captain Hook in the New Wimbledon Theatre's panto production of Peter Pan. The departure date is currently unknown.
Alfie Moon
Shane Richie, who plays Kat's husband Alfie Moon, is also leaving for panto, joining the cast of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Cliffs Pavilion theatre in Southend-on-Sea. The departure date is unknown.
Zoe Slater
Michelle Ryan is leaving her role as Zoe Slater, and the character is expected to be killed off. The exit date is currently unknown.
Current EastEnders Cast (2026)
The regular cast includes 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, Thomas Law as Peter Beale, Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell, Jessie Wallace as Kat Slater, Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater, Laila Morse as Mo Slater, Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman, Shane Richie 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, Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning, Scott Maslen as Jack Branning, 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, Sonny Kendall as Tommy Moon, Kellie Bright as Linda Carter, Charlie Suff as Johnny Carter, Harriet Thorpe as Elaine Peacock, Stephen Aaron-Sipple as Mark Fowler Jr, Tony Clay as Callum Highway, Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar, Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar, James Farrar as Zack Hudson, Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe, Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes, Heather Peace as Eve 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, Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness as Jasmine Fisher, and Joshua Vaughan as Josh Goodwin. Recurring cast includes Grace as Janet Mitchell, Freddie Phillips as Will Mitchell, Frankie Day as Ricky Branning, Isabella Brown as Lexi Pierce, Elliot and Cody Briffett as Bert and Ernie Moon, Arayah Harris-Buckle as Pearl Fox, Jake McNally as Louie Beale, Harry Farr as Ollie Carter, Rocco Brenner as Arthur Fowler, Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Dawkins, Isabelle Smith as Hope Fowler, Maylo Miller as Mica Fox, Arthur Gentleman as Albie Watts, Jane Slaughter as Tracey, Ulric Browne as Winston, Liz Sweet as Marie Evans, Ben Champniss as Shrimpy, and Ronni Ancona as Bea Pollard.
