Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley and his wife Zoe Henry have become gardening influencers, sharing videos of their allotment and family life, the actor revealed exclusively to Manchester Evening News. The couple, who appeared on Gardeners' World, have been considering sharing their gardening exploits for years, but it has only recently turned into something much bigger.
From Soap Award to Social Media
Jeff, who plays Cain Dingle, spoke as he and co-star Katie Hill accepted the award for Best Soap Family at the 2026 Inside Soap Awards, hosted in Manchester for the first time. "I know! Isn't it brilliant?" Jeff laughed when the subject of their new-found status as influencers came up. "It's been a joy to do."
"It's something we've done for years. We've talked about the idea of doing it for years," Jeff explained. "And yet, it's going really well." So well, in fact, that Jeff and Zoe found themselves appearing on Gardeners' World. "We got on Gardeners' World on Friday night," he said, clearly thrilled by the unexpected turn their hobby has taken.
Sharing a Passion
For Jeff, the appeal seems to be that there is nothing particularly manufactured about it. Gardening is something he and Zoe already love, and social media has simply given them a way to share it. "We're sharing something that we've been doing for years," he said. "We feel comfortable sharing that."
It is a revealing glimpse of the man behind Cain Dingle and a world away from the turmoil currently facing his Emmerdale alter ego. Jeff has been at the centre of the soap's prostate cancer storyline, describing the experience of tackling the issue on screen as "a massive learning curve" and "a real honour".
Exploring Cain's Vulnerable Side
The storyline has also allowed viewers to see a much more vulnerable side of Cain, traditionally a man who keeps his feelings firmly to himself. "He's a man of few words," Jeff said. "He doesn't normally open up, so it was a chance to explore something that we've not seen with him."
But it isn't only Cain's relationships that have been providing Jeff with some of his favourite material. He is equally enthusiastic when discussing the relationship between Sarah Sugden and Charity Dingle, praising the performances of his co-stars and the evolution of Sarah's character. "I was just really blown away at how amazing Katie has been," he said of Katie Hill, who plays Sarah. "She's just come a long way, and she just always knocks it out the park."
Jeff even reveals that his praise for Katie has come from fellow cast members, recalling Will Ash telling him about an episode in which Sarah was "getting it from everyone". "He said you were amazing," Jeff recalled. "And that's praise coming from young Will - well, I say young, Will Ash. So, yeah, we're all in awe and feel lucky to be working next to her."
Sarah's Own Path
For Jeff, there is also something particularly satisfying about seeing the relationship between Sarah and Charity develop. "We have such a good dynamic on screen," he said. There may be echoes of the legendary Dingle relationships of the past, but Jeff is keen to stress that Sarah is her own character. "There's shades of Debbie and Charity, but it's very different, because you're not Debbie," he said. "Sarah's got a softer side to her, she sees more of the positive."
He was also convinced that Sarah being the first person Cain confided in about his cancer was exactly right for the character. "When I read the cancer stuff, and it was going to be Sarah that he first told, I just believed it," he said. "I was like, do you know what, this is so right for the path that Katie would take."
While Cain Dingle might be facing some of the biggest challenges of his life, Jeff Hordley appears to have found his own rather more peaceful corner of the internet.
