Manpreet Jutla (Rebecca Sarker) and her daughter, Aiesha Richards (Shila Iqbal) arrive in July.
Ellis Chapman (Asan N'Jie and Aaron Anthony) and Obadiah Dingle (Paul Copley) arrived during September.
She is introduced following the decision to promote her father Liam (Jonny McPherson) to a regular character, where producers explored his family life.
[1] She feuds with stepmother Maya Stepney (Louisa Clein), as well as his later partners Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles) and Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi).
She develops an on-off relationship with Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant), as well as making a frenemy out of Bernice's daughter Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham).
Actress Slinger stated that the "proudest moment" of her life was the day that her mother called her to inform her that she had landed the role of Leanna.
[2] In an interview with Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy, Slinger described Leanna as a troublemaker, and that she loves the attention that comes from being that way.
[2] Slinger explained to Alexander that Leanna has a "hard exterior" due to events in her backstory, which causes her to be too harsh to people and not regard their feelings.
Maya attends a dinner hosted by David and his wife Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh), along with her husband Dr Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and stepdaughter Leanna (Mimi Slinger).
She becomes close to his son, Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) and begins to groom him, later sleeping with him in February 2019, after his sixteenth birthday.
Their love affair is exposed to Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele) when she walks in on Jacob and Maya having sex.
[9] Misty's pairing with Rodney was nominated for "Most Bizarre Soap Storyline" at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; it came in eighth place with 6% of the total votes.
Misty explains that Jimmy initially thought that she was going to give him a massage, but she got him to relax and embrace his spirit animal.
[12] The character was introduced as part of Ross Barton's (Michael Parr) revenge storyline against Simon McManus (Liam Ainsworth), who threw acid in his face.
[12] Following her first appearance, a writer for Inside Soap noted in the 5–11 May 2018 issue of the magazine, "Emmerdale fans thought they spotted a spark between Dawn and Ross when he took pity on the drug user's plight and helped her out last week.
[16] Casey is one of a few actors to have made appearances in the three British soap operas Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders.
The police arrest a Terry Roberts, but Doug and Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) learn that he is not the conman, as his identity was stolen.
Lachlan finds the conman, whose real name is revealed to be Paul Tozer, at another funeral, and follows him in his car, killing him off-screen through unknown means and burying the corpse in the woods.
"[18] Acting series producer Kate Brooks described Ryan as being "feisty, funny and reckless, and with an unquenchable zest for life.
[18] For his portrayal of Ryan, Moore was nominated for Best Soap Newcomer at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; he came in second place with 15.7% of the total votes.
Ryan saves Ross's life after he almost dies from a heart attack, while playing football with his and Charity's son Moses Dingle (Arthur Cockroft).
They talk about their families, and keen to impress Manpreet, Rishi arranges for her daughter Aiesha Richards (Shila Iqbal) to go on a date with his son, Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson).
Manpreet fled her and Charles' wedding, as she would have been committing bigamy if she had gone ahead with the ceremony, and allowed the Andersons to believe she was dead.
On working with actress Sandhu, she stated that the pair got on from the first screen test, and that her arrival has helped to expand their "lovely little family unit".
[23] After the "bombshell" about her connection to the Anderson family, Sarker hoped that "the viewers will empathise with her", and stated that there is an explanation for her behaviour without excusing it.
She is introduced as the daughter of Manpreet Jutla (Rebecca Sarker) and potential love interest for Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson).
[30] Isobel Hodgins and Matthew Wolfenden, Anthony's co-stars, were accused of mocking the accent of a mixed race actress, as well as making an "inappropriate comment".
[33] Charity tracks down her father, as she attempts to "rebuild her life" following the imprisonment of her rapist Mark Bails (Rocky Marshall).
Upon realising this, Leyla has second thoughts about betraying Frank and leaving Emmerdale, and ultimately tricks Clive into getting out of the car and drives back to the village without him.
[36] The character was mentioned by his on-screen family several times before his debut, while Kontzle's casting was announced shortly after his first episode aired.