Hollyoaks – why Leah Barnes was recast after two years away
Back with a bang!
Hollyoaks spoilers follow.
Hollyoaks injected a fresh burst of energy into the village this week as Imran Maalik and Leah Barnes both returned – shocking everyone with the news that they’re now a couple!
The two characters will be central to some of the biggest summer plots hitting our screens over the next few weeks, but before we get to those, some fans may still be scratching their heads over Leah looking so different.
While Imran is once again played by Ijaz Rana, the role of Leah has been recast – with Charlotte Riley taking over as Ste Hay’s daughter. If you missed all the news when it was announced, read on for our quick lowdown on the changeover…
When was Leah last seen in the village?
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Leah bowed out of Hollyoaks in autumn 2024, as part of a string of cast changes implemented when the Channel 4 soap reduced its weekly episode count from five to three.
While Ste’s daughter did briefly appear after the one-year time jump introduced in September 2024, her final episodes focused on an exit story.
Leah was shown to have fallen pregnant during the one-year jump. Shortly after giving birth – and the big reveal that Dillon Ray was the baby’s father – Leah left the village to study in the US, leaving her newborn son James behind.
Why was Leah recast?
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Ela-May Demircan had played Leah since 2011, when she was just four years old, and grew up in the role in the years that followed. She remained in the part until Leah was written out in 2024.
When Hollyoaks announced Leah’s return in March this year, it was confirmed that she’d now be played by Charlotte Riley.
Shortly after the press release went out, Ela-May confirmed that it was Hollyoaks‘ choice to pursue a different direction with Leah this time around.
“Hi everyone! I wanted to come on here and thank you all for your support these last 14 years, bringing Leah to life for so many years was an honour and she will always be a part of me,” Ela-May posted on social media.
“While I would have loved to have returned to the show, Hannah [Cheers, executive producer] saw Leah’s character going in a different direction – but I will always be incredibly grateful to Bryan Kirkwood for casting me as Leah in the first place.”
We’re sure there’s a bright future ahead for Ela-May after her impressive performances over the years. Meanwhile, Charlotte was also praised for her role as a young Lou Michaelis in Coronation Street‘s special Kit Green flashback episode last year, so the part of Leah is sure to be in safe hands…
What’s next for Leah?
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With Imran now a tech millionaire and Leah more than happy to splash his cash, the young couple will clearly make a big impact on the Hollyoaks village. They’ll soon be moving into the new houseboat set – replacing the Love Boat, which was blown up in Hollyoaks‘ 30th anniversary episodes.
“What is so beautiful about their return is that they’ve grown up – it’s been two years since we’ve seen Leah, and longer since we’ve seen Imran,” Hollyoaks‘ executive producer Hannah Cheers said recently.
“They’ve been away living in the sunny States, and they come back in a blaze of LA sunshine, dripping in wealth and glamour and ready to set the cat among the pigeons.
“Absolutely everybody is stunned to realise that Imran is now a tech millionaire, and Leah is there proudly on his arm, looking a million dollars, happy to spend his money!”
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She continued: “Leah has her own aspirations and pursuits – we know she’s a very headstrong young woman – and is absolutely obsessed and fascinated by people in relationships.
“And in a very modern story that we’ll be playing over the summer, she stirs up a lot of trouble within our new peer group, which will comprise Caleb and Frankie, Vicky and Prince, and Leah and Imran.
“The six of them will be in this big, brilliant story that’s all about traitors, secrets and lies. It’s going to be a really fun ride.”
Meanwhile, Charlotte has recently spoken about the pressure of the recast and Leah’s new direction.
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“There’s obviously that pressure you get because it’s like when you watch your favourite TV show – people are going to say what they’re going to say and I would do the same,” she told Inside Soap.
“It’s like you’re watching your favourite show and it gets changed to someone else. You think: ‘Why have they changed it?’ But I think Leah’s found herself in a different way while she’s gone to America and come back as her new self.
“She’s learning about herself as she grows up like everyone else, as we’re always growing and learning about ourselves. She’s just a normal person like everyone else.”
Charlotte added: “She’s obviously been gone for two years, been in America, she’s had American influences and her style’s changed. She’s this cool new 2026 girl, who’s going to come back to the village. So there’s a big space to fill, and I’m pretty sure this new energy is going to make everyone happy with the new style.”
