EastEnders cast: Who is joining, leaving and returning to the soap?
All the changes to life in Albert Square you need to keep up with.
As we arrive in summer in Albert Square, there will be a host of new arrivals, returns and departures on EastEnders.
As we deal with the return of both 'dead' and alive characters in the new episodes will also bring new characters as well as see us wave goodbye to old ones.
RadioTimes.com 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.
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EastEnders cast 2023
The full present regular cast for EastEnders can be found below.
- Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Cotton
- Letitia Dean as Sharon Watts
- Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale
- James Bye as Martin Fowler
- Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale
- Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell
- Kim Medcalf as Sam Mitchell
- Natalie Cassidy as Sonia Fowler
- Thomas Law as Peter Beale
- Max Bowden as Ben Mitchell
- Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell
- Lucy Benjamin as Lisa Fowler
- Jessie Wallace as Kat Slater
- Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman
- Shane Ritchie as Alfie Moon
- Clay Milner Russell as Bobby Beale
- Bobby Brazier as Freddie Slater
- Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater
- Gillian Wright as Jean Slater
- Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell
- Zaraah Abrahams as Chelsea Fox
- Diane Parish as Denise Fox
- Grace as Janet Mitchell
- Linda Henry as Shirley Carter
- Jamie Borthwick as Jay Brown
- Scott Maslen as Jack Branning
- Freddie Phillips as Will Mitchell
- Shona McGarty as Whitney Dean
- Ellie Dadd as Amy Mitchell
- Tameka Empson as Kim Fox
- Lillia Turner as Lily Slater
- Frankie Day as Ricky Mitchell
- Sonny Kendall as Tommy Moon
- Isabella Brown as Lexi Pearce
- Kellie Bright as Linda 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
- Rocco Brenner as Arthur Fowler
- Michael Jose Pomares Calixte as Raymond Dawkins
- Lorraine Stanley as Karen Taylor
- Danny Walters as Keanu Taylor
- Clair Norris as Bernadette Taylor
- Isabelle Smith as Hope Fowler
- Tony Clay as Callum Highway
- Roger Griffiths as Mitch Baker
- Kara-Leah Fernandes as Bailey Baker
- Mahalia Malcolm as Mia Atkins
- Isaac Lemonius as Mackenzie Atkins
- Shiv Jalota as Vinny Panesar
- Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar
- James Farrar as Zack Hudson
- Brian Conley as Tom "Rocky" Cotton
- Ross Boatman as Harvey Monroe
- Delroy Atkinson as Howie Danes
- Heather Peace as Eve Unwin
- Aaron Thiara as Ravi Gulati
- Matthew Morrison as Felix Baker/Tara Misu
- Jaden Ladega as Denzel Danes
- Juhaim Rasul Choudhury as Davinder "Nugget" Gulati
- Navin Chowdhry as Nish Panesar
- Jonny Freeman as Reiss Colwell
- Vicki Michelle as Jo Cotton
- William Ellis as Theo Hawthorne
- Colin Salmon as George Knight
- Francesca Henry as Gina Knight
- Molly Rainford as Anna Knight
And here are the changes to the cast coming soon...
DEPARTING
Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley)
When is Karen Taylor leaving? Late 2023.
Actress Lorraine Stanley is to be written out of her role as Karen Taylor later this year.
The BBC One soap will write out the character after executive producer Chris Clenshaw and others decided it was the end of the road for the character.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: "It’s always a tough call for bosses when deciding which characters will leave the soap, but it has to be done to keep storylines fresh and create new arcs for characters.
"Lorraine had a great run on the soap and was a real scene stealer with her comic timing and she has certainly made her mark with fans."
RadioTimes.com understands that it was the decision of the production team to write out Karen and her final scenes will air later this year.
Karen first arrived in Walford in 2017 alongside the rest of the Taylor family.
Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty)
When is Whitney Dean leaving? Early 2024.
Actress Shona McGarty has quit her role as Whitney Dean in EastEnders after 15 years.
The BBC One soap will lose the long-running character early next year as Whitney waves goodbye to Walford - but how will she go?
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, McGarty commented: "I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show.
"I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships — and family — which will endure."
A source told the paper that Shona "is hoping the door will be left open for her character to return one day, but nothing is guaranteed and it is all in the hands of the scriptwriters."
The character made her debut in EastEnders in 2008 as she joined the show as the step-daughter of returning fan-favourite Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) alongside the latter's children, Liam, Tiffany, and Morgan.
RETURNING
Graham Foster (Alex McSweeney)
When is Graham Foster returning? 2nd August 2023.
EastEnders villain Graham Foster - the man who raped Little Mo Slater and is the father of her son Freddie - is returning to the soap this summer.
On returning to EastEnders, actor Alex McSweeney said: "I was grateful to be asked back to EastEnders to reprise the role of Graham Foster as I thought it was important for Freddie Slater to be given some answers about his dad.
"It was great to be back in Elstree and I thoroughly enjoyed working with the talented Bobby Brazier on these scenes."
Meanwhile, executive producer Chris Clenshaw also discussed brining back Graham Foster for the storyline.
Clenshaw added: "It’s great to welcome Alex back to the role of Graham Foster for a short stint. Although we haven’t seen Graham for almost two decades, his character has been heavily linked to the show in the past year with the reintroduction of his son Freddie Slater, played by Bobby Brazier.
"We felt that it was important for Freddie to find out about the circumstances relating to his conception so he can understand and process the identity of his dad."
EastEnders has also been working alongside Rape Crisis to portray the storyline as sensitively and accurately as possible.
Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter)
When is Yolande Trueman returning? 7th August 2023.
Angela Wynter will be reprising her role as Patrick's ex-wife Yolande Trueman later this summer.
Patrick left Walford earlier this year in a bid to reunite with his old love who he split from in 2008.
On returning to EastEnders, Wynter said: "Yolande is back in the Square! I have been really looking forward to playing her again and have had a beautiful time on set so far. I can’t thank the cast and crew enough for the warm welcome back!"
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw added: "I’m thrilled to welcome the immensely talented Angela back to the role of Yolande Trueman.
"Although we haven’t seen Yolande for some years, her departure from the Square and the breakdown of her marriage to Walford’s living legend, Patrick, left some unfinished business between the pair.
"We, therefore, thought it was important to explore a reunion between the two. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have her back!"
Yolande was a regular character in Walford from 2003 until her exit in 2008 when the character left for a job in Birmingham. However, Wynter reprised the role for guest appearances in 2017.
Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit)
When is Emma Harding returning? Summer 2023.
Patsy Kensit will be reprising her role as Emma Harding in EastEnders later this year.
The actress made her debut as the late Lola Pearce-Brown's mother earlier this year as Emma reunited with her daughter while Lola battled a terminal brain tumour.
Sadly, Emma could not stand the stress of the situation and abandoned Lola. The character made a small appearance as Lola's funeral in July but this will not be the last we have seen of her.
RadioTimes.com understands that Patsy Kensit will not be returning to EastEnders as Emma Harding in a regular capacity.
The BBC declined to comment on the social media rumours when approached by RadioTimes.com, however, Kensit herself confirmed a comeback in an Instagram post of the show's title card, captioned: "Someone has just been in Walford."
The news was first reported in the press by The Mirror, with an insider telling the publication: "Patsy has been back in Albert Square filming on multiple occasions this month – so it seems fans have not seen the last of Emma. Patsy has really impressed the bosses and is a big hit with the rest of the cast. She loves the show too, so she was thrilled to be asked to return as Emma."
Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf)
When is Sam Mitchell returning? Summer 2023.
Actress Kim Medcalf made a temporary exit from EastEnders earlier this year as Sam Mitchell left Walford for a lucrative job opportunity running a hotel in Spain.
After an emotional goodbye to her son Ricky Mitchell, Sam left in the back of a black cab, but she will be making her way back to Walford soon.
As Ricky is expecting the arrival of his daughter with Lily Slater this summer, surely this will be the time for Sam to make her return?
Fans last heard of Sam as spending time with her niece Louise Mitchell in Spain.
Shirley Carter (Linda Henry)
When is Shirley Carter returning to EastEnders? TBC.
EastEnders fan-favourite Shirley Carter made a surprise departure from Walford just after Christmas last year following the apparent death of her son Mick Carter.
Deciding there was nothing left for her in Walford, Shirley walked out of the Square with Lady Di the dog to stay with daughter Carly Wicks and her family.
The last we heard of Shirley was in February when we learned that she had also reunited with her previously estranged son Dean Wicks, the man who had raped Mick's true love, Linda Carter.
Actress Linda Henry is taking an extended break from the show and has been off our screens for more than six months now.
However, the BBC confirmed to RadioTimes.com that Shirley has not left the soap for good and will be back.
What will Shirley make of the new family in the Queen Vic, the Knights?
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2023?
The following characters have departed EastEnders in 2023.
- DCI Samantha Keeble (Guest)
- Ricky Butcher (Guest)
- Scarlett Butcher
- Edward "Jed" Chadwick (Guest)
- Ryan Malloy (Guest)
- Dr Ash Kaur
- Vi Highway
- Shifty Shiv (Guest)
- Roxy Mitchell (Guest)
- Duncan Boyd (Guest)
- Lola Pearce-Brown
- Lauren Branning (Guest)
- Louie Beale (Guest)
- Finlay Baker
- Peggy Taylor (Guest)
- Lisa Fowler (Guest)
Which characters departed EastEnders in 2022?
The following characters departed EastEnders in 2022.
- Iqra Ahmed
- Mila Marwa
- Kioni Marwa
- Gray Atkins
- Keegan Baker
- Tiffany Butcher
- Isaac Baptiste
- Aaron Monroe
- Nancy Carter
- Peter Beale
- Avery Baker
- Rainie Highway
- Roland Highway
- Stuart Highway
- Dana Monroe
- Frankie Lewis
- Dr Nina Gupta
- Kheerat Panesar
- Lofty Holloway (Guest)
- Mary Smith (Guest)
- Disa O'Brien (Guest)
- Ian Beale (Guest)
- Colin Russell (Guest)
- Barry Clark (Guest)
- Dotty Cotton
- Jada Lennox
- Alyssa Lennox
- Mick Carter
- Janine Carter
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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