All the times Emmerdale has recast its characters – from Aaron Dingle to Victoria Sugden

Emmerdale has recast plenty of its main characters in its time. In fact, it’s a pretty regular occurrence in Soapland!

Here’s our round up of all the times Emmerdale has found someone new to play someone old!

Emmerdale recast: Aaron Dingle

Fan fave Aaron was played by Danny Webb for 19 episodes, before Danny Miller took on the role in 2008.

Amy Wyatt

When Amy Wyatt first came to Emmerdale she was played by Chelsea Halfpenny, who went on to play Alicia in Casualty as well as starring on stage. When Amy returned from her years on the run, she was played by Natalie-Ann Jamieson, who still plays the newly wed.

Angelica King

As a baby in 2009, Angelica was played by Sophie Firth. Rebecca Bakes, who still plays the teen jailbird, took on the role the same year.

Carly Hope

Carly was played first by Rebecca Ryan, who went on to appear in Shameless, Casualty and as Lydia Chambers in Coronation Street. From 2015 – 2017 Gemma Atkinson played the role.

Dolly Skilbeck

Katherine Barker played Dolly from 1977, before Jean Rogers took over in 1980.

Dotty Thomas

When she was a baby, in 2016, little Dotty was played by Ellerie Carroll. The same year, Tilly-Rue Foster, who still plays Dotty, took on the role.

Ellis Chapman

Ellis was played by actor Asan N’Jie from 2018 until 2019. When N’Jie was sacked for “unacceptable behaviour”, Ellis went on a trip to Dubai. When he returned he was played Aaron Anthony, who was known for his roles in Midsomer Murders among others. In February 2022, Ellis left again. This time it was reported that Aaron had left due to an alleged racist incident on set.

Elsa Feldmann

Elsa was played by Naomi Lewis twice during the 1990s, and then by Natasha Gray in 1999 and 2001.

Eve Jenson

Edna Birch’s sassy great-niece was played by Raine Davison from 2001-2002, and then briefly again in 2006. In 2010, Hear’Say singer Suzanne Shaw took on the part.

Faith Dingle

Television actress Gillian Jephcott played Faith between 2000 and 2004, before Sally Dexter took on the role in 2017 and made it her own until Faith’s sad death in 2022.

Frankie Smith

Zoe Tate’s lorry-driving ex was played by Gina Aris, then by Madeleine Bowyer.

Gordon Livesy

Aaron’s evil, abusive dad was played by Gerard Fletcher in the early noughties. When Gordon came back into Aaron’s life, in 2015, he was played by Gary Mavers, who was known from Peak Practice.

Jack Sugden

Clive Hornby played Jack Sugden for almost 30 years but when Emmerdale first began, the iconic character was played by Andrew Burt. Andrew appeared in 100 episodes before his alter ego left the village to write a book. Jack returned in 1980.

Jean Hope

Bob’s ex-wife Jean was played by Julie Higginson from 2003-2004. In 2006 she was played by Susan Penhaligon. She’s the real-life partner of Duncan Preston, who played Laurel Thomas’s dad, Doug Potts.

Johnny Woodfield

Little Johnny has been played by Luca Hepworth and Jack Jennings.

Kirin Kotetcha

Johnny’s estranged dad, Kirin, was played by Adam Fielding. In 2020 when Kirin returned to Emmerdale, the role was recast and he was played Rish Shah. He’s since starred in the television series Ms Marvel.

Leo Goskirk

Leo is now played by Harvey Rogerson, who’s had the role since 2014. Harry Whittaker, who shared the role initially with Theo Tasker, before taking it on solo, tragically passed away in 2015. Harry was the nephew of Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker.

Lucas Taylor

Dawn’s son Lucas was played by Dexter Ansell, before Noah Ryan Aspinall took on the role in 2021.

Marian Wilks

Marian, who was the first ever character to be seen on Emmerdale, was played by Gail Harrison and Debbi Blythe.

Matty Barton

Moira’s transgender son Matty is now played by Ash Palmisciano. Before Ash took on the role, Grace Cassidy played Hannah Barton.

Nellie Dingle

Zak Dingle’s ex-wife Nellie was played by Sandra Gough in 1995 – she had played Irma Ogden in Coronation Street in the sixties. When Nellie returned to the village in 2000 she was played by Maggie Tagney.

Pat Sugden

Jack’s first wife, and mum to Robert Sugden, Pat was played by Lynne Dalby in the early days of Emmerdale. When the character returned to the village in 1980, Helen Weir took on the role. Helen married Clive Hornby, who played her on-screen husband and the pair had a son, Thomas.

Priya Kotecha

Priya was played briefly by Effie Woods, before Fiona Wade took over the role from 2011 until she left the village in 2023.

Robert Sugden

One member of the most iconic Emmerdale family, Robert Sugden has been recast twice since Christopher Smith played the role as a youngster. Karl Davies – who has gone on to appear in shows including Happy Valley, Chernobyl and Game of Thrones – played Robert from 2001 until 2009. When Robert came home after time away from the village, he was played by Ryan Hawley, who transformed his character into one half of Robron!

Sarah Sugden

Robert’s adoptive mum Sarah was played by Madeleine Howard until 1994 when Alyson Spiro took on the role.

Sarah Sugden Jr

Named after her adoptive grandmother by dad Andy Sugden, young Sarah was played by Lily-May Bartleby, Lucy Warren, and Amber Child-Cavilli. Sophia Amber Moore took on the part from 2007 until 2016, when Katie Hill took over.

Scott Windsor

Troublemaker Scott was played by Toby Cockerell when he first arrived in the village with his family. But Ben Freeman took over the role in 1996 becoming one of Emmerdale’s most talked-about cast members.

Sebastian White

Baby Seb was played by Lily Westmoreland and Opie Atkinson.

Terence Turner

Abusive, manipulative Terence was played by Stephen Marchant in the 1980s. When his sister Steph Stokes came to the village in the noughties it was revealed Terence had sexually abused her. Terence eventually came to the village too, played by Nick Brimble.

Tom King

Violent, abusive Tom King has been a regular face in the village over the years. He first arrived in the noughties as a small boy, played first by Jack Ferguson, then by Connor Hill.

When Tom – who then called himself Thomas – came back to Emmerdale as a troubled teenager for a longer stint, he was played by Mark Flanagan.

Now James Chase has taken on the part of Tom, turning him from a tormented teen to a fully fledged, evil abuser who’s making poor Belle’s life a misery.

Tom Merrick

Pat Sugden’s violent first husband was played by Jack Carr, Edward Peel and David Hill.

Victoria Sugden

Another member of the Sugden family, Victoria was originally played by Hannah Midgeley. After a 2006 holiday in Spain visiting her grandmother, Victoria returned, now played by Isabel Hodgins.

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.