Emmerdale: Jeff Hordley praises ‘turbulent’ Steph reunion with Lucy Pargeter and Chris Chittell

‘HARD TO WATCH’

Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley has revealed that his character, Cain Dingle, was ‘very reluctant’ to reunite with Steph as he opened up on what fans can expect from the upcoming scenes. Steph, played by Lucy Pargeter, returned to the village last week and was shocked to discover that her ex-husband Cain had rekindled his romance with Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb). Cain is also the father of Steph’s son Isaac Bairstow, however, the former couple’s relationship has been fraught with drama in the past.

Speaking about the reunion, Jeff admitted that it wasn’t an easy meeting for Cain. ‘He’s very reluctant to welcome Steph back into his life to start with because he knows what she’s capable of, and he knows the trouble she brings,’ Jeff told Inside Soap.

‘Actually, it’s quite a hard watch, because you can see the love – but at the same time you can see the danger.’

‘CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE’

Viewers will also see Cain’s son Isaac torn between his loyalties to his mother and father as the animosity between both parents continues to brew.

‘Of course, Isaac is a young man trying to find his way in the world, and he’s caught in the middle of his parents, who love him very much but seem to be incapable of putting him first,’ Jeff added.

The actor also heaped praise on his co-stars, Lucy and Chris Chittell, who plays Steph’s father, Eric Pollard.

‘Lucy’s fantastic – she knows Steph inside out, and she understands how she works and how broken she is,’ he said.

‘And Chris is just a wonderful actor. They’ve got a lovely relationship on screen as father and daughter, which I think is really heartwarming.’

‘COMING TO TERMS’

Cain himself is currently dealing with his own issues, as he comes to terms with the fact that he has a brain tumour. However, Jeff hinted that Cain’s diagnosis could bring the Dingle family closer together.

‘We’re going to see Cain start to really open up about his illness to his family,’ he revealed.

‘We’re going to see a different Cain, and it’s a lovely thing to play, because he can’t hide behind his usual bravado.’