Cain and Charity for a rift?
Emmerdale's Emma Atkins reckons Charity Tate and Cain Dingle could be in for some time apart.
The couple have long had a fiery relationship, but are currently living together in some semblance of domestic bliss.
But actress Emma thinks soap bosses are preparing to shake up their union.
She said: "From the way they're hinting, I'm getting the feeling that, as much as they love Cain and Charity they're sending us in slightly different directions for the time being."
Emma went on: "As much as Jeff [Hordley, who plays Cain] and I love working together we appreciate that maybe the audience want to see something else now. Maybe that will create the spark again between them.
"Once you put a couple back together again it can often be the case that domesticity sets in and people say 'We want the Cain and Charity we know best' and that's generally when they're off doing their scams and things."
She also suggested that things could get personal between Charity and businessman Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), for whom she is doing some work.
"Whether that leads to anything on a more personal level, I'm not sure. But I would say watch this space. The way they're playing it's there's certainly going to be conflict between Cain and Jai, I would imagine, which would be really exciting to play.
"I think Cain and Charity are at their best when they're jealous because there's always something to play for. That thing of 'You're on my territory, you're on my patch' - I think that's the best storyline to play really."
Cain Dingle - Jeff Hordley Interview in the Sun
ACTOR Jeff Hordley might play violent womaniser Cain Dingle on TV soap Emmerdale but at home he's just a pussycat.
So much so that when he tried out a few of his character's screen tricks on his family, they put him firmly in his place.
Jeff jokes: "I tried Cain's menacing stare with the children once and they just laughed.
"I think my daughter and son will have the better of me for the rest of their lives. I have little love hearts in my eyes when I see them."
Jeff reckons he's definitely bottom of the pecking order at home, behind his actress wife Zoe Henry — who plays vet Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale — his children, Violet, seven, and Stanley, three, and even the dog, Rita.
He says: "Cain might rule the roost in Emmerdale but not in my house. I'd certainly never dare take home any of his bad temper or irritability — Zoe wouldn't allow it.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/a...2_1415519a.jpg Fury ... Debbie stops Cain going for Cameron
"There is a good balance between the two of us but Zoe has got the edge. Blokes like to think they're in charge but Zoe is really the boss.
"She has said once or twice that I'm probably too nice sometimes and I should have more of an edge to me. But when I'm with my friends I like to keep the equilibrium and the peace. I'm definitely someone who likes a quiet life.
"I'm nothing like Cain when it comes to women either. I've been with my wife for 17 years and we're extremely happy. We were students together and very young when we met — I was 24 and she was 21 — but I knew pretty quickly she was the one."
Similarly, while Cain gets his kicks causing trouble, Jeff's own pastimes are much more sedate.
The family live in a small West Yorkshire village and away from work he's involved with an online radio station, Radiorepublic.net, with fellow actor Graeme Hawley, who played John Stape in Corrie.
He spends his spare time walking Rita and tending his allotment.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/a...2_1415518a.jpg Attack ... Cain confronts Amy in the street
He says: "Nothing beats going over there on a summer's evening after the children have gone to bed.
"I love it. It's the new rock and roll."
Jeff joined Emmerdale in 2000 and Zoe followed him two years ago. Over recent months viewers have seen Cain's already vile behaviour escalate out of control.
He has punched his father, Zak, seduced three women, including 16-year-old Amy, and married Moira, spilt the beans to her husband John so wrecking her marriage and generally made life as miserable as possible for anyone he encounters.
Now he is finally about to get his comeuppance when he is battered senseless and left for dead by a mystery assailant in two dramatic Emmerdale episodes entitled Judgement Day — on ITV1 on December 8 at 7pm and 8pm. No fewer than six characters are in the frame for the attack.
Jeff says: "He's the most hated man in soap at the moment and that's great fun to play. In this country we are generally all so polite and Cain isn't. He just speaks his mind.
"I'm in the character's shoes and I staunchly defend why he is like he is. I can see why he is gunning for Amy.
She told him she was 19 when they slept together and she was actually 16.
His ex, Charity, is marrying Jai so he is annoyed with them and I can see why he is angry with his dad, because he won't leave him alone.
"I've got mates who have had fisticuffs with their dads. I've never done it but it's not uncommon for fathers and sons to be at loggerheads."
Despite his nasty streak, Cain has proved hugely popular with viewers — girls fancy him and men want to be him. Yet Jeff seems genuinely baffled at his sex symbol appeal.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/a...2_1415520a.jpg Hated man ... Cain Dingle is badly beaten
He says: "I have no idea why. He's scruffy and unkind — you just wouldn't. If I was a woman I definitely wouldn't.
"But perhaps some women are drawn to the danger. He's a bad boy and they want to tame him. But there's no way on earth I'd let my daughter go out with someone like Cain. If she turned up with someone like that — oh dear."
Jeff, who grew up in Oldham, Lancs, was 23 when he decided he would like to be on the stage. He enrolled to study acting at Manchester Metropolitan University and after graduating in 1997 his first audition was at Emmerdale.
He says: "I got the job of a paramedic who tried to save Dave Glover who died in a fire. But a week before we were meant to film they pulled the part. I still got my fee but I didn't do the job. Then four years later I joined the show for real."
Meanwhile his TV debut was in Coronation Street. He recalls: "I was in it twice — as a nightclub owner with Mike Baldwin, then as a really camp theatre director called Wayne. It was a terrible part. It was with Hayley and Roy and the director told me to camp it up. I never want to see it again."
Jeff took a break from Emmerdale from 2006 to 2009 to spend more time with his young family and pursue more theatre roles.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/a...2_1415516a.jpg Happy ... Jeff Hordley with his wife Zoe Henry
But he says: "I expressly asked the producer at the time not to kill me off, because I always knew I would want to return one day.
"I love the character and the people who work here. Now I'm back I've no plans to go anywhere."
Despite Jeff's own calm personality, he admits he occasionally can't help playing on Cain's hardman reputation, recently winding up Mark Charnock, who played Zoe's previous on-screen partner Marlon Dingle.
Jeff recalls: "He was always on set, going, 'Zoe, Zoe,' and putting his arms around her and then saying, 'Sorry Jeff.' But I got my own back.
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"There was a scene in the Woolpack and I was at the bar and Marlon and Rhona were together.
"In the rehearsal Mark walked off and kissed Zoe. I said, 'Whoah, what are you doing?' Zoe kind of cowered a little bit and Mark went beetroot red."
Gentle Jeff and crazed Cain may be chalk and cheese but it seems being known as the nastiest man in soap does have its uses occasionally.
Emmerdale: Jeff Hordley reveals Cain, Belle court plea drama
Emmerdale's Cain Dingle takes drastic action on the day of Belle's big court hearing next week.
With Belle still adamant that she is going to plead guilty over Gemma's death, Cain makes one last-ditch attempt to convince her to change her mind.
Here, Jeff Hordley - who plays Cain - reveals his character's plan to save Belle from a stretch behind bars.
How concerned is Cain about Belle's plans to plead guilty?
"Cain thinks that Belle is throwing her life away. He is also extremely concerned because his dad is showing signs of having a breakdown again. Of all the Dingle children, Belle has always been the bright one - the one that's not like the rest of them. Now she's fallen into Dingle mode and is going to plead guilty for something that was an accident.
"Cain is really scared and doesn't want her to do that. He knows it would break the family apart, because Zak's going to have another breakdown if Belle goes to prison."
What are the signs that Zak is taking a turn for the worse again?
"At one point, Cain goes into the barn and sees that Zak has really lost the plot. Zak is holding onto a blanket and he isn't making any sense, just like he was when he was on top of the cliff. Cain is quite shocked, and that's the catalyst to make him realise that he really needs to do something to change Belle's mind."
What happens when Cain confronts Belle?
"On the morning of the court hearing, Cain finds Belle in the café and tells her that Zak isn't taking her to the court any more because he's not well. Cain tells Belle that she's got a choice - he can either drive her to court and she can be a martyr, or he'll take her to see what's happening to her dad. Obviously Belle is concerned about her dad, so she chooses the second option.
"Cain drives Belle up to the edge of a cliff and basically shows her the place where Zak was going to jump off last year. He says, 'If you carry on trying to be a hero, then this is where you're going to find your dad'. Cain says it'll be because of her.
"Cain knows how that feels, because he's been in the same situation himself. The reason why Zak had the breakdown in the first place was because of his attack on Cain. Cain says, 'You don't want to be in the same position that I was in, which is feeling terrible that you were the reason he had a breakdown'."
Will those words make an impact on Belle?
"I think Cain feels it's the last roll of the dice. It's quite a desperate measure and he's not particularly forceful with her, but he's so genuine that there's a little bit of desperation in the way he's acting. Hopefully that will change Belle's mind, but whether it does, we'll have to wait and see."
When Belle later arrives at court, it's only with seconds to spare. What's the mood like?
"Everybody is panicked because they think that Belle is not going to turn up. Cain just gives Belle a little word before she goes in and says, 'Right, now it's down to you, sis'. Then we'll see what happens in the court…"
We don't often see Cain and Belle scenes. What has it been like to work with Eden?
"This particular story for Eden has shown that she's no longer a young child actor any more - she's one of the mature adult actors. She's been on the show for so long now, but this really is the maturing of Eden in terms of an actress. She's fantastic and has been great to work with.
"What I love about these scenes is that I don't think many people remember that Cain and Belle are brother and sister. Belle is Cain's little sister and he does care about her. He doesn't want her to be like the rest of the Dingles, because she's the one bright hope of the family.
"Cain has got a lot of time for Belle and it's great to see them in scenes together. I just hope they write more for us further down the line."
Do the Dingles have a hard road ahead regardless of Belle's plea?
"I think regardless of whether Belle pleads guilty or not guilty, she's not necessarily going to get off with it. The charge is manslaughter so even if Belle says not guilty, it doesn't mean to say that she's going to walk free. There's a long road ahead. Belle will carry the guilt of what happened to Gemma and potentially what could happen to her dad."
While all of this is going on, there are increased tensions between Moira and James. Is Cain aware of that?
"Cain isn't really aware of it, as he's got so much going on with Belle's situation. Moira makes Cain aware that there has been some tension, but Cain points out that they've been in this position for a while and she'll just have to put up with it for the sake of the business. That's how Cain deals with it. In a way, he's pleased that the penny has dropped for Moira when it comes to James!"
Is Cain now convinced that James's feelings for Chas are genuine?
"I think Cain is buying that the two of them have become an item. I also don't think Cain sees James as a threat when it comes to Moira any more. Now that he and Moira are engaged, Cain is convinced that their relationship is strong and they can deal with James and the other cuckoos living in their nest."
The week of the court hearing also sees Chas tell Cain that she is organising a secret wedding for him and Moira. How does he react?
"Cain is initially really naffed off at Chas for doing that. He said to Moira previously that the reason they can't plan a wedding just yet is that the whole family are dealing with the Belle situation and nobody will be in the mood for partying. When Chas puts him on the spot he says, 'Okay, let's do it, I suppose everybody does need to smile now'. Cain changes his mind and says they can go through with it, as long as Chas runs everything past him with no games.
"I think Cain realises that if somebody else is willing to do it, and his sister has got a nice little idea, it'll be a great surprise for Moira."
Is Cain still convinced that Moira is the right woman for him?
"Yes, most definitely. He's 100% certain that Moira is the one for him now. They've been through so much together and she's created an honest man of him."
