Photos of the 18 best character recastings in soap history!
The fifth Ben Mitchell has joined EastEnders in the form of newcomer Harry Reid - replacing Joshua Pascoe, who replaced little Charlie Jones. Here we look back at some other brilliant recastings.
Cheeky youngster Danny Webb was replaced by Emmerdale dreamboat Danny Miller in 2008, who won Best Actor at the 2011 British Soap Awards
When Madeline Duggan appeared in Albert Square playing Lauren in 2006, the character was a moody, spoilt teenager. But when she was replaced by Jacqueline Jossa in 2010 she was a moody, spoilt adult.
The most trouble Belle Dingle got up to when played by Emily Mather was spilling baked beans down her bibs. It's Eden Taylor-Draper that has brought the character to life in Emmerdale...
Recognise the name Devon Anderson? Well, the very same actor that originally played Hollyoaks heart-throb Sonny Valentine also starred in Eastenders as Billie Jackson.
EastEnders' scheming Janine has been played by three actresses, including original Rebecca Michael on the left here. But Charlie Brooks became the clear queen when she joined in 1999...
In a transformation that nobody will forget, little Nicky Tilsley (played by Warren Jackson) reappeared one year on with long blonde hair and rock hard abs; yep - pop heart-throb Adam...
Teen rebel Lucy has in fact been played by four different actresses - young Casey Anne Rothery was replaced by Melissa Suffield and then Hetti Bywater in 2012
Little Peter Barlow on the left here is actually the real-life son of William Roache (Ken Barlow) - the actor Linus Roache! Must've been dead easy to play father and son.
We’ve lost count of the amount of actors that have played Ian’s son (we haven’t, it’s six) since his first appearance in 1993. Here's little Joseph Shade, Thomas Law and current actor Ben Hardy.
From Danniella Westbrook to Kim Medcalf and back again! The feisty and manipulative Mitchell sister had her fair share of drama, almost as much as Danniella herself.
It's quite obvious to everyone that Home and Away didn't even TRY to find someone who looked like Martin Dingle-Wall when he left Summer Bay in 2002. Instead they cast Joel McIlroy,...
Oh Rosie Webster, how we miss you mincing down the cobbles and attending low rent photo shoots. Helen Flanagan, who played the character perfectly, replaced little Emma Collinge
Apple of Vera and Jack's eye, this one. Tiny Tommy Duckworth was played by Joseph Aston for a short spell before Chris Fountain soap-hopped from Hollyoaks…
Did you know that Victoria Sugden (in her different guises) is actually the longest serving female character on the show? Cutie Hannah Midgley played Victoria brilliantly for 10 years,...
Holly Chamarette played Tracy Barlow - followed by Dawn Acton's version, who only ever seemed to go upstairs and play her tapes. It was down to Kate Ford in 2002 to transform the character...
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In probably the weirdest soap recast ever, Kym Valentine was forced to take sick leave for a month in 2010, and instead of writing her out, Neighbours decided to replace the actress...
