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Soap characters with longest absence between appearances

James from London

International Treasure
Dennis Tanner probs, or Jed Stone, Minnie Caldwell's lodger from the 60s who showed up decades later as a homeless.
 

emm1978

Telly Talk Active Member
The longest between appearances in Emmerdale I can think of is Terence Turner, absent from 1985 - 2006, 21 years.
 

emm1978

Telly Talk Active Member
On EastEnders, I think current villain Willmott-Brown might hold the record for that show, with 25 years between appearances.
Colin Russell, played by Michael Cashman, reappeared in Eastenders last year for the first time since 1989, so that's 27 years.
 
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J. R.'s Piece

Telly Talk Star
The longest between appearances in Emmerdale I can think of is Terence Turner, absent from 1985 - 2006, 21 years.
Apart from the recast, didn’t they make his birth date 13 or 14 years earlier than previously stated?

Dennis Tanner probs, or Jed Stone, Minnie Caldwell's lodger from the 60s who showed up decades later as a homeless.
With Kenneth Cope, it was a 42-year gap. With Philip Lowrie, it was 43 years.
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Englishboy

Telly Talk Addict
Paul Robinson in Neighbours, played by Stefan Dennis, reappeared in the Australian soap in 2004 having enjoyed an 11 year absence from Erinsborough (i.e. Last appearing in 1993).

Supermarket manager, Reg Holdsworth reappeared in a spin off Corrie DVD in 2010 having last appeared in the tv version of the soap in 1995 (i.e. a 15 yr gap in between appearances).
 

Angela Channing

Telly Talk Veteran
Amy Turtle left Crossroads in 1976 only to return 11 years later. No where near as long as Dennis Tanner's record.
 
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