Recasting a beloved soap character is never easy, but sometimes there are issues staring you right in the face.
Sometimes changing cast members is unavoidable in EastEnders, Corrie, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - but it can be quite jarring when the new actor is drastically different to the preceding one.
Some soap favourites have been played by up to eight different actors, so it's hard to keep up, and a switch in actor usually comes with major personality changes to the character.
It's a pretty daunting task for a new actor to take on a much-loved role, especially when there might not be good reason for the change.
But there have been some characters over the years who have changed beyond all recognition and could very well be someone else entirely.
Here is a look at some of the strangest soap recastings over the years.
Peter Beale - EastEnders
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EastEnders fans had a rather large issue when the new Peter Beale was introduced last year.
Seven actors have played the role of Peter since he was first seen on our screens in December 1993.
Francis Brittin-Snell was first to be cast in the role as a baby and was on the soap until 1996, then he was followed briefly by Alex Stevens from 97 to 98, before Joseph Shade took over until 2004.
Thomas Law played Peter during his teenage years from 2006 until 2010 before Ben Hardy took over in 2013 then left to become a Hollywood actor.
In February last year, current actor Dayle Hudson appeared on screen for the first time as Peter - with many viewers notice the drastic size difference from his previous incarnation.
Newcomer Dayle, who stand at 6ft 3in, towers over 5ft 8in Ben, so some fans questioned what Peter had been eating in New Zealand to make him grow so tall.
It was made even more obvious when Ian went to hug his son and could barely fit his arms around him.
Holly Cunningham - Hollyoaks
In one of the strangest recastings ever, Holly Cunningham turned from a little girl into an adult woman almost overnight.
Lydia Walters joined the cast in 2008 as a stroppy 11-year-old Holly and was written out of the soap two years later.
There was controversy in 2012 when Lydia was replaced by 18-year-old actress Wallis Day, who at the time was four years older than the 14-year-old character.
Hollyoaks viewers blasted the move, claiming Wallis didn't look young enough to play the teenage girl.
This sparked a lot of debate on Twitter and Stephanie Waring, who plays Holly's mum Cindy, defended the decision by stating: "For everyone commenting on the new Holly so what if she looks older than 15! A lot of 15 yr olds look like adults these days!
"If they wanted someone that looked like the old Holly they would have cast the old Holly!"
In another interview, she joked she wasn't happy about "having an an 18-year-old daughter" because she "doesn't look old enough", then pointed out she was in a similar scenario at 18 playing 15-year-old Cindy.
After a year Wallis left and the role was taken over by Amanda Clapham, who made it her own and stayed for six years.
Lauren Branning - EastEnders
Usually when a character leaves a soap there is a bit of a gap before they are recast, but this wasn't the case for Lauren Branning.
Max and Tanya's eldest daughter was originally played by Madeline Duggan when she first rocked up on the Square in July 2006.
After four years in the role she left in June 2010, but was surprisingly recast just three months later.
Then EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said: "Maddie Duggan did a great job of playing the young Lauren Branning, and we wish her the very best of luck for the future.
"I'm delighted to welcome Jacqueline Jossa to Albert Square. Jacqueline's portrayal of Lauren has all the classic Branning qualities of toughness, cynicism and sensitivity. Jacqueline is set to be at the heart of Walford drama for some time to come."
Jacqueline was an instant hit with Enders fans and has been incredible in big storyline such as the death of best pal Lucy Beale, relationship with cousin Joey Banning and dealing with nightmare dad Max.
She won Best Actress at the 2013 Inside Soap Awards and Sexiest Female at the ceremony in 2014 and 2015.
Jacqueline left the show in February 2018, but the door has been left open for the actress to return as Lauren is in New Zealand with son Louis.
Nick Tilsley - Coronation Street
Gail Platt's eldest son was played by the same actor for 15 years, but then came back as a hunky heartthrob.
Warren Jackson was just 14-days-old when he got the role in 1981, then in 1996 he decided to leave Corrie to focus on his GCSEs.
It was assumed he would return after finishing his exams the following year but he was axed completely, then a year later skinny teen Nick came back with floppy hair and bulging biceps.
Adam Rickitt stayed for four years, leaving the soap for good in 2004 and later admitting he was "completely miserable" at the time but had not spoken out as he wanted to please others.
When bosses failed to convince Adam to come back, they decided to recast the role and gave it to Footballers' Wives star Ben Price.
"I'm not playing Adam Rickitt—I'm playing Nick and Nick's moved on," explainedBen in 2009. "It's been five years and you move a lot over that time.
"I'm sure people will think he's not like 'the other Nick', but hopefully they'll think I'm bringing something better, nicer or a bit different to the show. If I'm good enough, they'll go with it, but I can't worry about it too much."
Peggy Mitchell - EastEnders
Only the most die hard EastEnders fans will remember the original Peggy Mitchell, who looked completely different to the legendary Barbara Windsor.
Babs is synonymous with her iconic role, but Peggy was actually first played by Jo Warne in April 1991 for 10 episodes.
When Peggy was brought back in 1994 the role was given to Dame Barbara, who became one of the most-loved EastEnders stars of all time.
Her catchphrase "Get outta my pub" is one of the most recognisable in soap history.
The Mitchell matriarch appeared regularly until 2010 when Barbara left, but she returned for guest appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The nation weeped in May 2016 when Peggy was killed off, at the request of Babs who didn't want the temptation of coming back anymore, while she was also secretly battling dementia.
Barbara has had many iconic roles, but the nation's sweetheart will be remembered by most for her incredible performances as Peggy.
Aaron Dingle - Emmerdale
Danny Miller set foot in The Dales in 2008, but another actor played Aaron Dingle originally.
Danny Webb was Chas' son from 2003 until 2006 when Aaron was living with nasty father Gordon Livesy.
Two years later he made a full return to Yorkshire with a new face as Miller took over the role.
Miller actually confessed he would have quit acting if he had not got the part, but thankfully for Emmerdale viewers he did.
Producers gave Aaron a proper back story and much bigger storylines as he struggled with his sexuality
Danny had a brief break for two years but returned in 2014 and has been wowing audiences ever since.
The actor has had incredible success, winning Best Actor at the Inside Soap Awards in 2010, 2011 and 2017.
He also won best Actor at the British Soap Awards in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2016, so the recasting was definitely justified.
Derek Branning - EastEnders
One of the nastiest EastEnders villains to ever grace our screens, Jim's eldest son Derek was played by Jamie Foreman.
He appeared very briefly in 1996 for sister April's wedding, played by Terence Beesley, but returned in full hideous form in 2011 with Jamie in the role.
Not only had his face changed, but he was a bit shorter and his receding hairline had completely gone.
During his full year on the Square, cruel Derek terrorised many Walford residents, had an affair with Kat Slater and was cast out by his siblings and kids before dying from a heart attack in the street.
Last year, Jamie revealed he he nearly died after suffering "massive" heart attack several years ago - just like his character.
Max Turner - Coronation Street
Since Max arrived on the cobbles in August 2010 he has been played by child actor Harry McDermott, who was only four-years-old when he joined the cast of the ITV soap.
Corrie fans have watched Harry grow up on our screens over the past 11 years, but this month it was confirmed the young actor is departing the role which made him a star.
The reason behind the recasting appears to be due to the explosive nature of upcoming storylines as the writers take Max in a new darker direction.
Soap bosses have decided to recast Max with a brand new actor ahead of a new plot which will see him come into conflict with David and another Street resident.
"We have all watched Harry grow up alongside Max Turner for the past 11 years and we want to thank him for everything he has brought to the character," said a Corrie spokesperson.
"It is always a difficult decision to recast a role and we look forward to following Harry's career as he continues with his acting studies and explores other opportunities We wish him every success for the future."
Some viewers thought Max may have had a massive growth spurt, but it's actually because new actor Paddy Bever has taken on the role.
Ben Mitchell - EastEnders
The ever-changing face of Ben Mitchell is a saga that has made EastEnders a bit of a laughing stock over the years.
Six different actors have been in the role over 15 years and the changes have been marred by controversy, with a couple of the actors hitting out at the decision for them to be axed.
EastEnders fans have also been heavily critical of drastic changes to Ben's personality and physicality that have occurred alongside the actor changes.
Baby Ben Mitchell first arrived on our screens in 1996 and was originally played by Matthew Silver and then Morgan Whittle until 2001.
When Ben returned in 2006 it was baby-faced Charlie Jones in the role, but he was axed after four years and eight months later a far more thuggish-looking Ben appeared in the form of actor Joshua Pascoe.
Once a sweet and innocent little boy who loved dancing to Lady Gaga, Ben turned into a killer and hardened gangster.
Pascoe's time with the soap ended in controversy after he was dumped following an arrest for an alleged sexual assault in 2012. No charges were brought.
Next up in 2014 was Harry Reid, playing a Ben fresh from prison , but his stint ended after four years when newly-installed EastEnders boss Kate Oates wanted to "take the character in a new direction".
Currently in the role is Max Bowden, whose Ben doesn't wear glasses and has a hearing aid which is barely visible, so he looks nothing like the kid we used to know.
Peter Barlow - Coronation Street
It seems no one is safe from being recast - even if you are related to a Corrie legend.
Bill Roache's actual son, Linus, played the role of his on-screen boy Peter Barlow between 1973 and 1975.
But the cute fair haired lad has undergone some major changes and is now dark and brooding with Chris Gascoyne currently at the helm.
With such an huge Corrie character it's almost impossible to think that Peter has been played by anyone other than Chris, but a staggering seven actors have all been Ken Barlow's son.
John Heannau was the first to be cast as the character in 1965 and appeared in the soap until 1970.
Christopher Dormer took over the role the following year, swiftly followed by Mark Duncan in 1971 and then Linus as previously mentioned.
He was followed by Joseph McKenner in 1977, then David Lonsdale was cast briefly nine years later in 1986, before the character vanished for many years.
Chris Gascoyne has appeared on and off in the role from 2000, with his first appearance during the 40th anniversary live episode, finally bringing and end to the Peter Barlow merry-go-round.
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