Emmerdale causes confusion as THIS character returns to the village looking UNRECOGNISABLE

Emmerdale
(Image credit: ITV)

April returned to Emmerdale looking so different that fans thought she had been recast...

Emmerdale fans were left speechless after seeing April Windsor back on their screens this week following months away from the village.

Amelia Flanagan, who has played the role of April since 2014, returned to filming recently and has been seen on screen for the first time since the pandemic hit last year.

April visits Marlon in prison in Emmerdale

April was last seen on screen last year before filming was shut down by the pandemic (Picture: ITV)

Emmerdale, along with other soaps, has been keeping the younger cast members safely at home while social distancing restrictions were introduced.

More: Home and Away EXCLUSIVE: Summer Bay favourite Dan Ewing reveals all on his long-awaited return 

However, April is now back, and fans couldn't be happier.

But there was a bit of confusion amongst Emmerdale viewers, with some thinking the role had been recast because April looked so grown up.

April Windsor in Emmerdale

April is back - and she's all grown up! (Picture: ITV)

April appeared at the doorway while Ellis and his brother Billy argued about Al Chapman.

It was only after the siblings had finished their row that Ellis saw April standing there, having overheard everything.

Ellis in Emmerdale

Ellis took his bad mood out on April (Picture: ITV)

Soon April found herself on the receiving end of Ellis's anger, but it seems she gained a bit of sass over lockdown, because she gave as good as she got until dad Marlon turned up.

Fans loved seeing April back on their screens and commented on how grown up they thought she looked...

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Ellis lashes out 

But while fans were thrilled to see April again, they weren't happy with Ellis's outburst at his stepsister.

Ellis was left fuming after discovering Al was leaving the village following his two timing games being exposed by Debbie and Priya.

April Windsor in Emmerdale

April gave as good as she got when Ellis verbally lashed out at her (Picture: ITV)

Billy took the brunt of Ellis's anger over Al during their argument, but poor April was next in line, leaving fans fuming.

But Al's cheating isn't the only thing that has changed in the village since we last saw April on screen.

April's dad Marlon has also reunited with former flame Rhona, meaning April has a new mother-figure in her life for the first time since Jessie up and left last year.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays - see our TV Guide for full listings.

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.