All the comings and goings in the lively village.
With twists, turns and surprises always round the corner on the soaps it can be hard to keep track of all the comings and goings in the cast.
RadioTimes.com is here with a handy update on which characters are leaving, joining and returning to Emmerdale in the coming months.
So who’s in? Who’s out? And which rumours are true? Read on for all latest details on cast changes.
LEAVING
Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller)
!["emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/11/06_12_emm_aaron_liv_01-1a43b82.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349" "\"06_12_emm_aaron_liv_01\"")
Fan favourite Miller confirmed he had quit Emmerdale just days before he entered the castle to take part in 2021’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Grieving for murdered boyfriend Ben, tormented Aaron left the village after little sister Liv was accused of the crime. Multi-award winner Miller first played Aaron in 2008 and had a break between 2012-2014. The actor, who recently became a first-time dad, is looking forward to spreading his wings beyond Emmerdale and pursuing new projects.
Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh)
!["emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/08/27_08_emm_tracy-d9b8191.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349" "\"27_08_emm_tracy\"")
Cheated on by partner Nate, it’s no surprise new mum Tracy will soon have cause to vacate the village – though it’s unlikely to be permanent as the character’s exit is being worked around Walsh’s real-life maternity leave. The actress is expecting a baby with fellow soap star Toby-Alexander Smith (EastEnders killer Gray Atkins) and is expected to be on screen until early 2022. Considering naughty Nate’s antics, will Tracy have a relationship to come back to?
Ben Tucker (Simon Lennon)
!["emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/11/16_11_emm_ben_aaron_03-e671b13.jpg?quality=90&crop=229px%2C0px%2C2992px%2C1993px&resize=620%2C413" "\"16_11_emm_ben_aaron_03\"")
Former Our Girl star Lennon bowed out after just over a year in Emmerdale as Aaron’s doomed boyfriend when he became the latest victim of serial killer Meena Jutla. Ben got too close to the truth when he found chilling video footage of Meena trying to murder Victoria Sugden, then got the nasty nurse to admit to her other crimes.
RETURNING
Kim Tate (Claire King)
!["emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/05/26_05_emm_will_kim_01-d189a70.jpg?quality=90&crop=463px%2C0px%2C2992px%2C1993px&resize=620%2C413" "\"26_05_emm_will_kim_01\"")
The mean queen of Home Farm left bereft when granddaughter Millie went to live with her other nanny after the supposed death of Kim’s son Jamie. Viewers know Jamie is still alive, but it remains to be seen if Mrs Tate will ever discover the truth. Kim’s – and King’s – departure was only temporary and she’s back on screen in December for a big festive plot as she proposes to on/off lover Will Taylor on Christmas Day. Has Kim finally found love again? And is she still planning to fight Gabby for custody of baby Tom, newborn heir to the Tate dynasty?
Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick)
!["Emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/02/emmerdale-vanessa-6d5de15.jpg?quality=90&crop=5px%2C3px%2C610px%2C406px&resize=610%2C406" "\"Emmerdale")
Vanity fans are still mourning the end of the fan favourite couple now Charity has moved on with Mack, though with Vanessa back soon could there be hope for a reunion? Vanessa last appeared in July 2020 when she left to stay with her mum while recovering from cancer, though there has been a brief cameo on a video call in the interim. Hardwick and wife Kate Brooks, Emmerdale’s producer, welcomed a son, Teddy, in October 2020.
Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb)
!["emmerdale]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2020/12/11_01_emm_debbie_charles_01-f3d391a.jpg?quality=90&crop=274px%2C0px%2C2992px%2C1993px&resize=620%2C413" "\"11_01_emm_debbie_charles_01\"")
Deb hasn’t been a regular resident since August 2019 when she moved to Scotland to allow for Webb’s third maternity leave. She made a surprise comeback on Christmas Day 2020 when she was revealed as the secret lover of Al Chapman, then teamed up with his fiancée Priya Kotecha to get revenge on two-timing them both. Once that messy business was over she left again and hasn’t been seen since February 2021. The door is definitely open but there is no firm date for Debbie to come home just yet.
JOINING
Gavin (Ben Richards)
!["Ben]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/12/ben-richards-82bae06.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"ben-richards\"")
Ex-Footballers’ Wives, Hollyoaks, The Bill and Holby City star Ben has been drip-fed into his new role as baddie Gavin who fans glimpsed a few times before his proper introduction. He was revealed as the puppet master behind Al Chapman’s secret scheme to steal the Woolpack from the Dingles and turn it into flats, but with landlady Chas standing firm the plan has been scuppered and gruesome Gav is not happy… Richards is currently in for a short stint but confessed to RadioTimes.com he’s loving playing the villain and would be up for a permanent role if Gavin is a hit with fans.
Chloe’s dad, Damon Harris…?
!["Chloe]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/11/Emmerdale-2-56b1980.jpg?quality=90&resize=458%2C305" "\"Emmerdale")
An air of mystery surrounds Damon, the as-yet-unseen father of tragic teen Chloe Harris. We know he’s a baddie who’s involved with people trafficking, and is currently behind bars. He kept a creepy watch on his daughter’s every move via webcams installed in the family mansion and a gang of goons employed to follow Chloe around, and struck fear into the heart of his offspring and ex-housekeeper Kerry Wyatt. Now he’s seemingly set Chloe free, but we don’t buy it – surely Emmerdale are laying the foundations and preparing to introduce their next big baddie?