Emmerdale fans can’t get over unrecognisable Cain Dingle star in secret soap role

Cain Dingle has been an Emmerdale fixture for years (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale fans have expressed their shock after an unearthed snap of Jeff Hordley starring in Coronation Street was shared on social media. Jeff is famed for portraying Cain Dingle in ITV’s Emmerdale, having first taken on the role in 2000.

However, before he became a village regular, Jeff, 54, appeared in Coronation Street on two difference occasions. In May 1997, he portrayed a night club manager, while in November 1998 he played a character named Wayne.

A photograph of Jeff starring in the soap in 1997 has resurfaced on Reddit, and many Emmerdale fans were taken aback to discover that Jeff had appeared in Corrie.

He can be seen dressed in a grey turtle neck jumper with a grey blazer, while Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) stands behind him in the office of the nightclub.

Writing on Reddit, one fan said: “Well, I didn’t know that! Wasn’t watching either Corrie or Emmerdale then. That’s a very good photo of Jeff Hordley.” Another added: “I was watching Corrie then, but I have no recollection at all that JH was in it.”

“He hasn’t changed,” a third Emmerdale fan remarked, while a fourth said: “Cain Dingle from Emmerdale. I believe this was around in mid or late 1990s before he went to Emmerdale and also he was a music teacher too.”

Jeff joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2000 before exiting in 2006 to pursue other projects. He then returned to the Dales in 2009 and has remained a regular on the soap ever since.

Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Caleb (William Ash) in Emmerdale

Over the years, Cain has found himself at the centre of some huge storylines, especially as the Dingles are always involved in the drama in the village. His storylines include discovering his ‘uncle’ Zak is actually his father, discovering he is Debbie’s father, his relationship with cousin Charity Dingle and being attacked in a whodunnit plot twist.

Currently, Cain’s marriage to Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) has been taking centre stage in the soap, as the couple struggle to get along. Moira has been acting erratic for weeks, leaving Cain worried but also growing frustrated as she hasn’t been to the doctors.

Moira has since learned she has a brain tumour, which has been causing her seizures and her odd behaviour. Doctors revealed it was inside of her skull and near the left temporal lobe, and that she would need surgery to have it removed. She was advised the type of tumour was typically non-malignant, and that it was likely not to be cancerous.