The introduction of Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) in Emmerdale marks a welcome expansion of one of the soap's most iconic dynasties. However, while this development strengthens the Sugden name, it raises a concern: a number of other residents are now at risk of being pushed further into the background.
The Balance Between Major Families and Other Residents
The Sugdens, Dingles, and Tates are all hugely vital to the show. Emmerdale focused on the Sugdens when the soap first began, the Dingles provide continuity across generations, and the Tates contrast perfectly with wealth and power. Every soap needs to spend time evolving major families, but it shouldn't be at the expense of characters who do not have familiar surnames.
Serena's arrival will give the Sugden clan the boost it's needed for ages. The conversation she shared with Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) in an episode last week created a positive first impression, and she was also warm and kind-hearted when she helped Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins). There's no doubt she will be hiding a few secrets though, because a newcomer usually always is.
Away from strengthening the Sugden numbers, Serena brings potential to create new connections and conflicts in the community. It would be lovely to see a genuine friendship form between this newcomer and Sarah, and I am intrigued to see Robert Sugden's (Ryan Hawley) reaction to Serena being in town. She may have arrived in the Dales in a Mini Cooper, a notoriously small car, but she brings a great deal with her.
The Risk of Overlooking Non-Foundational Characters
The concern for me isn't that Serena has arrived. It's that, as Emmerdale continues to invest in its most recognisable families, there's a chance they could also overlook a number of characters who are already there. I was incredibly surprised to discover that the majority of the longest running and most heavily promoted storylines in 2026 so far have centred on big dynasties, but several other residents have spent the year facilitating other people's narratives rather than leading their own.
To name but a few, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) was diagnosed with cancer, Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) spent time behind bars, Charity gave birth to Leyla after spending most of 2025 lying to everyone about the baby's parentage, Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) – though technically a Dingle through marriage – attempted to deal with the fallout of his dad killing a drug dealer, Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) blackmailed near enough everyone he made eye contact with, while Robert said goodbye to his sister and dealt with Joe being his new boss.
There's nothing inherently wrong with any of these plots. The issue is that they've overwhelmingly been entrusted to those who the audience already know inside out. Although the show continues to deepen some of its most long-running faces, many of the newer and less-connected residents are still waiting for the same opportunity.
Kammy Hadiq's Brief Spotlight
One storyline that aired this year with a character who doesn't belong to a foundational family was Kammy Hadiq's (Shebz Miah). Introduced in 2025, it took over a year for us to learn more about who this young man is. While there were a few days of intrigue surrounding Kammy and speculation that he might be hiding something bad, the revelation that he was unhoused came and went very quickly. In fact, his plight was revealed to us on May 26 and by May 28, he had moved in with the Dingles.
Kammy's focus lasting just over a week did not allow the viewers to really feel the emotional impact that would've been created if the spotlight was on him for longer. His link to the Dingles has strengthened his position, but Kammy's now in danger of being prevented from really establishing his identity.
Liam Cavanagh and Manpreet Sharma: Underused Potential
This also applies to a number of the show's other established residents. There's Liam Cavanagh: The local doctor, best friends with Cain and currently in a relationship with Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter). In 2021, Liam's world fell apart when his daughter Leanna was murdered by Meena Jutla. I found this plot incredibly powerful but since then, Liam has lacked independent direction. He doesn't have any blood relatives in the village now, giving him a sense that he's become defined by his connections to families such as the Dingles, rather than through his own narrative drive. I have certainly wondered why we haven't met any other Cavanagh relatives, as it would assist in giving Liam a stronger anchor within the community. At the moment, it's clear Liam functions as a supporting presence within other storylines, as opposed to being a central figure.
Manpreet Sharma, another example: The sibling dynamic that featured during Meena's reign of terror proved that Emmerdale is able to deliver powerful stories without relying on well-known last names. Despite this, Manpreet has now settled into a role that frequently sees her within the orbit of other characters' stories rather than driving her own. She remains key in the Dales, but her potential feels underused.
Charles Anderson and Older Characters
Don't forget Charles Anderson: The local vicar, played by Kevin Mathurin, has often been used as a sounding board for other residents' problems as opposed to the driving force behind major plots. Cain's prostate cancer story is a recent example. While the narrative has worked well for Cain, it's also felt like the kind of issue-led narrative that could've helped bring Charles into a sharper focus. In doing so, the show could've added another layer to an already important story by highlighting that 1 in 4 Black men will get prostate cancer, which is double the risk of other men.
There's also Mary Goskirk and Claudette Anderson: At a time when television is often criticised for overlooking older women, Mary Goskirk (Louise Jameson) and Claudette Anderson (Flo Wilson) could easily lead their own narratives. They – for quite a while now – have existed as extensions to other people's stories. If Emmerdale is focused on investing in the Sugdens, and reminding us of the show's roots, they should consider investing time in the new Betty and Ednas.
Other Residents Waiting for Their Turn
This isn't even all of them. Why haven't I seen what Billy Fletcher's (Jay Kontzle) life looks like now that he isn't married to Dawn? Why do I only ever see Ryan Stocks (James Moore) when Charity is going through something? In soap, characters move in and out of the spotlight all the time. Not everyone can be at the centre of a story at once, but unless something changes, it will begin to feel less like these residents are waiting their turn, and more like they've been forgotten about altogether.
Those who aren't part of the show's foundational families assist in creating a diverse community. Ignore them, and the already small village suddenly feels as though it's shrinking. Handing all of the big narratives to residents who have been in the show for years means there's now a possibility the likes of Mary, Kammy and Charles won't ever be properly developed. I care about Moira Dingle's arc, but I also care about what Liam Cavanagh does when he isn't playing peacekeeper in the middle of another Dingle drama.
I don't want Kammy to appear only when Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) is in a scene or Cain is up to something. I don't want Billy to show up solely to argue with Joe before disappearing again. And I especially don't want Mary to become someone whose role is limited to commenting on whatever is happening in the pub.
Conclusion: Serena's Arrival Tips the Scales
The introduction of Serena is a hugely positive move for the show, but it also tips the scales even more. Without meaningful investment and arcs of their own, the individuals sitting on the other end of the scales will fade into the background and become residents who are familiar to viewers, but not necessarily important to them. A famous surname may open the door to a big storyline, but it shouldn't be the only way to earn one.
Serena's arrival proves that the ITV soap understands the importance of its history, now they need to show the same faith in the characters who could shape Emmerdale's future.
