The Coronation Street cast changes are continuing in 2026.
The first half of 2026 has seen fans bid goodbye to a number of characters, with Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) dying in an inferno, Becky Swain (Amy Cudden) getting sent to prison for her numerous crimes and Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) being murdered as his reign of terror came to a bloody end.
We also welcomed some new faces: sinister sister from hell, Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown) and the charismatic Idris Nazir (Junade Khan), while Ross Wilkes, the father of Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) will be arriving imminently.
With arrivals come departures, and we’ll be bidding adieu to evil paedophile Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon), tragic Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) and fan favourite alternative Queen, Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) in the coming months.
Here’s the lowdown on who’s leaving and returning…
Coronation Street cast arrivals
Ross Wilkes
Tyrone’s world is about to be turned upside down, and his mum, Cassie, is about to meet a demon from her past when Tyrone’s dad, Ross Wilkes, played by soap veteran Ian Burfield, arrives on the cobbles.
‘Tyrone’s dad makes an appearance in the show. Needless to say, he comes with quite a bit of drama, and it’s going to cause quite a lot of friction within that family, obviously with Cassie’s history,’ Corrie producer Kate Brooks revealed.
‘As you know, Cassie’s leaving us, and so it will contribute to her exit, which is going to be massive and quite explosive. It’ll be full of all the twists and turns that you can come to expect from an exit.’
When will Ross Wilkes arrive in Coronation Street? Next week.
Coronation Street cast departures
Debbie Webster
Fans were heartbroken when beloved Debbie Webster was diagnosed with young-onset dementia.
Iconic Corrie writer, Jonathan Harvey previously confirmed that Debbie’s dementia will progress over ‘the next few years’.
Actress Sue Devaney also revealed to Lorraine that the story will continue ‘well into 2027’, though the diagnosis will certainly lead to her eventual exit.
When is Debbie leaving Coronation Street? Currently unknown.
Megan Walsh
Megan’s story will come to a climax this week as she stands trial for abusing Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) and – whatever the outcome – we’ll have seen the last of the predatory paedophile as Beth Nixon bows out of the show.
‘Obviously, there are soap Gods, and as in soap God’s law, there’ll be some kind of retribution for Megan. She cannot get off of this scot-free,’ Kate Brooks said of Megan’s story.
‘We will go down the proper channels. Whether it goes on to plan or not, I cannot say, but it goes down quite a very big path.’
When will Megan Walsh leave Coronation Street? This week.
Cassie Plummer
Cassie will be leaving Weatherfield as actress Claire Sweeney undertakes a new role, playing Miss Hannigan in the UK tour of Annie, and it’ll tie in directly to the arrival of son Tyrone’s dad, Ross.
‘She knows what he’s about. He’s dangerous, but people don’t see it, because he’s very good at covering it up,’ Claire said.
‘She’s in love with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and Ross is opening a can of worms that she doesn’t want Steve, Tyrone or anyone on the cobbles knowing about. She’s started to be liked and to be accepted, so it’s really sad. But it’s the most fantastic exit storyline, I couldn’t have wished for more.’
When will Cassie Plummer leave Coronation Street? Later this year.
Nina Lucas
Similar to Claire Sweeney, Mollie Gallagher will be swapping the cobbles for the theatre.
Mollie is leaving the show to play the role of Clarice Starling in the stage production of Silence of The Lambs.
