Cain Dingle is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Jeff Hordley. Cain made his first appearance on 30 March 2000, and in 2006, he was written out of the series when Hordley left the soap; however, the option for a return was confirmed, which occurred when Hordley returned to the cast in February 2009. Cain's main storylines have focused on discovering his "uncle" Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) is his father; his relationship with his cousin Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins); discovering he is Debbie Dingle's (Charley Webb) father; his affair and subsequent relationship with Moira Barton (Natalie J. Robb); being attacked in a whodunit storyline where his assailant was eventually revealed to be his father; being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm; supporting his nephew Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) after discovering Aaron was sexually abused by his father Gordon Livesy (Gary Mavers) as a child; reuniting with his and Chas' mother Faith Dingle (Sally Dexter); his relationship with local vicar Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton); building up a relationship with his children; being blackmailed by DI Malone (Mark Womack) to do drug runs for him; his feud with Al Chapman (Michael Wildman) and taking blame for Al's murder to protect his younger son Kyle who was responsible for killing Al.
Creation and casting In 2000, series producer Kieran Roberts introduced three new members of the Dingle family. The new characters made their first appearance at the funeral of Butch Dingle (Paul Loughran). Among them were Cain (Jeff Hordley), son of Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) and Faith Dingle (Gillian Jephcott). Cain's cousin/one-time lover is Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), and Zak's brother is Shadrach (Andy Devine). In April 2006, it was announced that Jeff Hordley had quit, however, the door was left open for a possible return in the future. In January 2009, it was announced that the character would be brought back in April that year after a three-year break. Speaking to Digital Spy about his return, Hordley said "I am really looking forward to returning to Emmerdale. The storylines that led to Cain's return are in keeping with his character and a perfect way to bring him back to the heart of the Dingle clan where he belongs". Hordley later said that he initially turned down a return but when he was approached on the matter he approved of the storyline and felt like "the time was right for me". Lucy Pargeter, who plays Cain's sister Chas Dingle, commented on Hordley's return, saying, "I really hope that they get us together and give us a storyline which highlights the strength between them" before adding that Hordley is "amazing and everyone's so excited that he's coming back". James Prentice briefly portrayed Cain in a special flashback episode that showed Cain's childhood, which was originally broadcast on 17 November 2017.
Development Characterisation
The character was labelled a "ruthless hard man", a "bad boy" and a "villain" by Digital Spy. Itv.com also described Cain as the "village pariah" and commented that he likes "being in charge" but dislikes "being made a fool of". What's on TV described him saying "a villain through and through, Cain Dingle will even cross his own family if it's worth his while!" Cain has also been described as the "village's unmistakable bad boy". When casting a new family for the serial, one character specification described Cain as: "ruthless, unscrupulous, and extremely promiscuous". Hordley said Debbie is Cain's Achilles' heel who he would "move mountains for" while "women are his other Achilles heel, but he won't move mountains for them".
Relationship with Charity Dingle Upon Cain's return to the village, he and Charity reunite. Charity proposes on Christmas Day to which Cain accepts, even though they're family. Hordley explained that the couple can't see they are made for each other as they are "so busy competing and getting one up on each other" which means that they fail to see that they are "the same". Atkins said Charity asked Cain to marry her to "prove a point". On a storyline in which Cain and Charity plan to carry out a scam Atkins said it would make the audience question "will they/won't they pull it off" before adding that it is a "Bonnie and Clyde storyline but without the deaths!" Hordley said he and Atkins "spark off and bounce off" each other which Hordley added made it "easier for me to act with her". Atkins added that she felt "having a good rapport in that way both on and off screen is vital". Digital Spy described the relationship as "volatile".
Reintroduction Hordley said Cain's return is his way of "coming back unannounced", and added, "Cain's style is to surprise people, but there has been involvement in the storyline as he was the one to get Debbie released from prison". Hordley felt that upon Cain's return "everyone's moved on". He added that Cain "looks down on" Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller), and that Aaron is "like a little puppy looking up to Cain, thinking that his uncle's the bee's knees". He also stated, "There's a great relationship going to build there. Aaron stands for everything Cain was – he's a younger version of him and Cain recognises that. There's definitely lots of undiscovered territory there". On Cain and Chas's relationship Hordley also felt that it "hasn't really been explored"; even though they have been in the serial a long time together the relationship is still "non-existent". This left "so much scope" and "with Aaron being involved, too. There certainly should be more involvement and I'm hopeful there will be". On Cain's relationship with Debbie, Hordley said the relationship was "true to the character's roots". He added that Cain will "do whatever it takes to look after that girl. If there's one Achilles heel of Cain, it's his daughter. It's his weakness and he'll move mountains for her". Hordley also felt that Cain's relationship with Charity was "going to be a big thing" and that he expected there would be "a lot of stuff between Charity, Debbie and Cain".
Who attacked Cain? In 2011, it was announced that Cain would become part of a "major" storyline where he is attacked by a "mystery" assailant in a "whodunit"-style storyline. The storyline developed after Cain had made several enemies throughout the year and forced one of his enemies to "take the ultimate revenge". Producers stylised the plot as a "whodunit storyline" which would keep viewers guessing as to whom the attacker was. The potential suspects were revealed to be John Barton (James Thornton), Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb), Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), Amy Wyatt (Chelsea Halfpenny), Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) and Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins). A spokesperson for the serial stated that the characters had become "sworn enemies" of Cain, all "pushed to the limit after months of manipulation and destruction". Emmerdales executive producer Stuart Blackburn said that the climax of Cain's actions "will be one of our most dramatic episodes this year" as viewers decide who took "matters into their own hands". The attacker was revealed to be Zak Dingle, Cain's father.
Storylines 2000–2006 Cain Dingle first arrived in Emmerdale to attend the funeral of his late cousin Butch (Paul Loughran). Afterwards, Cain became sworn enemies with local businessman Chris Tate (Peter Amory) as the latter is blamed by the Dingles for his company's involvement in Butch's death – up to the point where Cain punches Chris in front of everyone at a press statement at one stage. Cain also harbors a grudge against policewoman Angie Reynolds (Freya Copeland) over the circumstances behind Butch's death and seeks revenge against her. He does this by seducing Angie's daughter, Ollie (Vicky Binns), and manipulating her into believing that he cares, despite sleeping with her mother. When Angie dumps Cain, he has her fired, has a steamy session with Ollie, and critically injures their family patriarch Len Reynolds (Peter Martin) after shoving him down a flight of stairs. Determined to get her own revenge, Angie goes along with Cain's plan to rob a Tate Haulage truck but she sets him up and is fatally injured in a car crash. He begs her to tell him she loves him but she tells him how much she loves her children.
It soon transpires that Cain had an incestuous fling with his cousin Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) back when they were teenagers. He is later outraged when Charity begins dating Chris and attacks her for this, but she marries Chris regardless. Cain's resolve to complicate things in their marriage comes out of coincidence when local residents Paddy (Dominic Brunt) and Emily Kirk (Kate McGregor) foster a preteen schoolgirl, Debbie Jones (Charley Webb), in the village and the trio closely befriend the Dingles. When Cain sees a picture of Debbie's biological mother, he realises that Debbie is his and Charity's daughter. He blackmails Charity, threatening to tell Chris, so Charity tells him and spends time with Cain – eventually rekindling their affair and Chris catches them. Cain and Debbie leave the village but return so he can clear his name and admit his love for Charity; she ends the relationship when she realises she cannot live with him while on bail, due to pregnancy. She moves on to Tom King (Ken Farrington), and they plan to marry. Sadie King (Patsy Kensit), Tom's daughter-in-law, hires Cain to make Tom think Charity has been unfaithful but Charity clears her name and leaves the village. Sadie and Cain end up in bed; when she rejects him, he kills her dog.
Cain and Debbie move into Butler's Farm with local farmer Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher). At somepoint Debbie dates Andy and they have sex on a brief occasion, which soon results in a daughter Sarah. Unlike Debbie, who lets Emily adopt Sarah, Cain bonds with her. Cain attempts to hurt Debbie by having a brief relationship with her friend/girlfriend Jasmine Thomas (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and ensuring that Debbie sees them together. Debbie and Sadie help Jasmine terminate her pregnancy, knowing that Cain wanted to be a father.
Cain and Sadie damage the King's River Show Home; when Sadie rejects him, he tells Jimmy that she paid him to vandalise the house and they are together. When Sadie confronts him, Cain threatens to tell Matthew as well so Sadie tells Ashley that Cain got Jasmine pregnant. The Dingles throw him out and allow Debbie to return. Cain leaves the village, unaware that he has damaged the show home's gas pipe. Despite Jimmy's temporary repair, the house explodes and kills Dawn Woods (Julia Mallam), Noreen Bell (Jenny Tomasin) and David Brown (Peter Alexander). Cain tells the police that he killed Alice so Samson will not lose both parents and his family forgive him (including Debbie), and Sadie bails him out. They plan revenge on Tom and Matthew King (Matt Healy) by plotting to kidnap Tom. Debbie tells Cain that Sadie paid for Jasmine's abortion; after a violent confrontation, Cain follows Sadie and kidnaps her and Tom. Chas (Lucy Pargeter) confronts him but he denies any knowledge of Tom and Sadie's disappearance. With the police closing in, Cain takes them to an abandoned factory and switches cars. They follow him to a quarry, where Cain sends his car over a cliff (with Tom and Sadie supposedly inside). While the police search the lake, Cain disguises himself as an officer. After shooting Sadie, Cain forces Tom to get Chas to deliver the ransom. Debbie begs Cain to let her go with him and they part in tears. Cain gives some of the ransom money to an old woman, asking her to post it to Debbie. Surprised by the woman's honesty, Cain realises he wants to change. At the airport, he gets on a plane and leaves Sadie behind, telling her that he does not want to continue as he was. He leaves Debbie a message that he has left Sadie, asking her to ignore what others say and telling her that he loves her more than he shows. On her 18th birthday, Cain sends her a silver watch.