We're halfway through 2026 in EastEnders.
2025 saw some major exits, including the deaths of Nish Panesar and Martin Fowler, along with the departure of Stacey Slater.
Elsewhere, we experienced some major comebacks with the returns of Zoe Slater, Anthony Trueman (RIP) and Max Branning.
Radio Times is here with a handy update on which characters are leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders in the coming months.
So who's in? Who's out? And which rumours are true? Read on for all the latest details on cast changes for EastEnders.
EastEnders cast 2026
The full current regular cast for EastEnders can be found below, in order of each 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
- Charlie Brooks as Janine Carter
- Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell
- Thomas Law as Peter Beale
- Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell
- Laila Morse as Mo Harris
- Jessie Wallace as Kat Moon
- 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
- Belinda Owusu as Libby Fox
- Grace as Janet Mitchell
- Jake Wood as Max Branning
- Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Beale
- Rob Kazinsky as Sean Slater
- Scott Maslen as DI 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
- Stephen Aaron-Sipple as Mark Fowler
- Jake McNally as Louie Beale
- Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Fox
- Tony Clay as DC Callum Highway
- Maylo Miller as Mica Fox
- Sakira Vel as Dr Ash Panesar
- Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar
- Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar-Unwin
- Arthur Gentleman as Albie Watts
- James Farrar as Zack Hudson
- Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe
- Lois Hawkins as Annie Carter
- Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes
- Heather Peace as Eve Panesar-Unwin
- Jahsaiah Williams as Jordan Fox
- 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
- 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
- Joshua Vaughn as Josh Goodwin
- Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness as Jasmine Fisher
- Aaria Sharma as Ria Virdi
- Patricia Potter as Gemma Hawkins
- Anna Constable as Jodie Hawkins
- Marian McLoughlin as Rose Hawkins
- Christopher Colquhoun as Darnell Larson Jr.
- Krysstina Frempong as Grace Larson
- Felix Uff as Ryder Hawkins
- Jamie Bamber as Ned Hawkins
- Emma Lau as Jess Fang
And here are the changes to the cast coming soon...
When is Megan joining? Early 2027.
We've met a whole bunch of Nicola Mitchell's family, the Hawkins, but there is another key member set to join: Megan, daughter of Gemma and her husband Ned.
Speaking to Radio Times and other media at a recent press event, Wadey revealed: "Megan is out there, and we will meet her down the line - but not for a little bit."
"She's got her own storyline happening currently off screen, but in time it will very much be on screen.
"As we were constructing this family, there's stories about what gets passed down through generations. It means that we have established a character and done quite a lot of work actually already on what that's going to look like."
He added: "But I don't think [the other actors] even know all the details of it yet. That's an exciting, probably post-Christmas arrival for us."
The character was mentioned upon Gemma's introduction as her mother dealt with an apparently troublesome boyfriend.
Bosses from the BBC One soap have been revealed to be on the hunt for a new leading lady, having put out a casting call for Megan, a character teased as "confident, gorgeous and ready to cause chaos".
The breakdown issued by BBC Studios and shared by Variety describes the character as needing a female actor aged around 30, and confirms she will take on a "senior member of the team behind a bar", strongly hinting at a key job in one of Walford's boozers - perhaps as a barmaid in the Queen Vic or bartending at her relatives' establishment, Harry's Barn.
When is Janine Carter leaving? November 2026.
We know that Janine Carter (Charlie Brooks) is only back for a brief stint as iconic EastEnders villainess Janine Carter (née Butcher).
However, what headaches will she cause for Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) during her short comeback?
We'll have to wait and see...
When is Ravi Gulati reportedly leaving? Late 2026/early 2027.
Actor Aaron Thiara has reportedly quit EastEnders after 4 years as Ravi Gulati and will finish filming with the soap at the end of the year.
According to a source speaking to The Sun: “Aaron has been at the centre of some of the soap's biggest storylines since his arrival as bad-boy Ravi back in 2022.
"He’s an incredibly popular member of the cast and the fans love him.
"He’s decided to focus on new projects, but will stay on set until the end of the year to see out some juicy storylines his character has in store."
The BBC declined to comment when approached by .
How could Ravi be written out of the soap?
When is Johnny leaving? Early 2027.
In addition to his mum Linda, Johnny Carter will be leaving Walford next year as actor Charlie Suff parts ways with the soap.
An EastEnders spokesperson told : "We can confirm Charlie Suff will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish him all the best for the future."
Suff is the third actor to play Johnny, who was initially portrayed by Sam Strike when the family arrived in 2013. After an exit storyline, Ted Reilly stepped into his shoes between 2016 and 2018.
Since Suff's arrival, we've seen Johnny help his mum through her alcoholism, become embroiled in the murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) and fall head over heels for Callum Highway (Tony Clay).
The latter storyline saw their relationship exposed in front of Callum's imprisoned husband Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden).
Does this mean Callum and Johnny's romance will end in heartache?
When is Linda Carter leaving? 2027.
The BBC and Kellie Bright have confirmed her exit as Linda Carter after 13 years in 2027, after the actress revealed plans to quit last year but stayed for a key storyline.
Speaking about her exit, Bright said: "EastEnders has been my home for thirteen years and I have absolutely loved being part of the show, but I have decided that it is now the right time for me to say goodbye.
"I made the tough decision over a year ago, and after discussing this with Kate Oates and Ben Wadey, they asked me to stay on to be part of an exciting storyline they had planned, and I happily agreed to extend my stay. I will miss my friends and colleagues hugely, but I am looking forward to my next chapter and spending more time with my wonderful boys."
How will Linda leave the soap next year?
When is Oscar Branning reportedly leaving? 2027.
The Sun reports that Pierre Counihan-Moullier has quit his role as Oscar Branning, a role he took on in 2025 and was met with huge acclaim upon his arrival.
The publication claims that the actor, whose comedic antics have already made Oscar a firm favourite, is yet to film his final scenes with the BBC One soap, but that the door will remain open for Counihan-Moullier.
What will this mean for the dramas on New Year's Day?
The BBC declined to comment when approached by Radio Times.
When is Nancy returning? TBC
Linda's eldest daughter Nancy has returned for a short stint, with actress Maddy Hill reprising the role.
Nancy was a regular character from 2014 to 2016 before leaving the show with Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel).
However, Nancy made a return in 2021 following the end of her off-screen marriage to Tamwar and made a comeback as a central cast member before departing once again the following year after the end of her romance with Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
Nancy also appeared in the same imagined sequence Lee did when Linda contemplated her untimely demise in 2024.
Speaking about her return, Hill said: "I am SO excited to be returning to Enders for a short stint and stepping back into Nancy’s shoes (or basketball shorts!). I’ve missed her!"
Executive producer Ben Wadey told the BBC: "We are absolutely thrilled to have Maddy and Danny back in Walford, bringing two much-loved pieces of the Carter family back together. And whilst Linda is delighted to have her children all together again, she’s got a lot to catch up on…"
When is Lee leaving? TBC.
Speaking about his return, Hatchard said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be returning to EastEnders as Lee Carter. Albert Square has always felt like a home away from home, so I’m proper buzzing to be back grafting with the Enders family.”
The oldest Carter sibling, Lee, was introduced in 2014 and last seen as a regular character in 2017, when he left after his marriage to Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) crumbled, but has since returned in guest appearances.
Viewers will then undoubtedly remember that Lee was last seen during a funeral dream sequence in 2024 when Linda imagined circumstances surrounding her own untimely demise.
When is Libby Fox leaving? Winter TBC.
We know Libby Fox just left after a short stint as part of Denise's blood cancer story
However, we know Libby will be back again in time for the New Year as she's present for whatever wedding celebrations are going on.
So, Libby's exit was more of a 'goodbye for now' than a full-blown exit!
When is Stacey Slater reportedly returning? Late 2026/early 2027.
Lacey Turner took an extended break from the show recently, with Stacey departing for a new life in Brazil alongside her brother, Sean Slater, with her two youngest children, Arthur and Hope.
However, Turner has affirmed that she will return to the soap in the future, but no firm return date has been set.
Yet, The Sun claims that Lacey will be filming scenes for a short return in October and November.
has approached the BBC for comment on this story.
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2026?
The following characters departed EastEnders in 2026.
- Karen Taylor (Guest, voice cameo)
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2025?
The following character departed EastEnders in 2025.
- Arthur Fowler, Jr.
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2024?
The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2024.
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2023?
The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2023.
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2022?
The following characters departed EastEnders in 2022.
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