The actor portrayed Heath Hope on the ITV soap for 17 years before exiting the show in January 2024, with the character tragically passing away following a car collision involving twin sister Cathy and Angelica King.

Over a year on from his departure, Dowling took to Instagram on Thursday (7 August) to unveil his new hairstyle and physique as he shared three photos from the gym, writing: “Have you missed me.”

Previously known for his long blonde hair, Dowling has trimmed down the length considerably while also hitting the weights for some larger biceps, leading one follower to amusingly remark: “holy crap, mans become hulk! looking great bro.”

“Now this is what a ‘glow up’ looks like,” wrote one other follower in the comment section, with another adding: “Wow guy. All grown up and looking great. Still miss you on the show. Let us know what you up to now ”

“Good luck whatever you do next in your career. Your character’s death on Emmerdale came as a surprise ,” added one other soap fan, with another commenting: “Wow you look awesome there Seb. Nice one there Mate! ”

Dowling previously spoke about his exit from the soap with a post on his social media, sharing several behind-the-scenes videos as he wrote: “Thanks to everyone @emmerdale for such a fun time filming over the 17 years.”

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While the actor may have left the series last year, the soap is still going strong with a healthy supply of dramatic storylines, none more so than the arc involving villainous doctor John Sugden.

In a reported update, it has been revealed that the character’s crimes could soon be discovered, with the villain having to take matters into his hands as he seeks to evade justice. The report states that a beloved character could be killed off, but who could it be?