Most of this year's significant soapland arrivals were family members of existing regulars, with Coronation Street's Carla Connor, EastEnders' Cora Cross, Emmerdale's Amy Wyatt and many more characters being visited by faces from the past.
Corrie bosses welcomed a big name to the cobbles as Sue Johnston signed up as Stella Price's mum Gloria, while on Hollyoaks, new villains Doctor Browning and Simon Walker were at the centre of some of the year's most memorable storylines.
Here, Digital Spy takes an in-pictures look at a selection of 2012's soap newcomers.
Carla Connor's brother Rob made his Coronation Street debut in July and walked straight into a row with Peter Barlow at the factory.
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Copyright: ITV
