Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) has received further distressing news about his health in Emmerdale. Back in January, during the crossover event Corriedale, Cain was hospitalized after being shot. While there, he learned that a lump discovered inside him needed to be tested for cancer. As he waited for results, Cain and Moira Dingle's (Natalie J Robb) world was turned upside down when Celia Daniels and Ray Walters (Jaye Griffiths and Joe Absolom) reign over the village ended. The couple has faced relentless drama, so here is everything you need to know about their 2026 journey, including Cain's diagnosis and why Moira was imprisoned.
What has happened to Cain and Moira so far this year?
Following his hospital trip, Cain returned home with Moira and endured an agonizing wait for his cancer test results. Attention then shifted to Moira, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting Celia with her modern slavery operation. Moira protested her innocence, but unable to explain how the ID cards ended up in her house and given her history of working with Celia from a farming perspective, she appeared guilty. Meanwhile, Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) learned about refugee Anya potentially being dead. She found her burial spot and called the police, unaware it was on Moira's farmland. To her horror, Ruby watched the police pull Anya's body and another body from the ground. Moira was immediately arrested for double murder, as the second body was Celia's.
While Moira was behind bars, Cain received his cancer diagnosis. He kept it to himself for some time, believing Moira had enough stress in prison. However, in early March, Cain went to the police station to tell Moira everything. It was an emotional episode as Cain broke down, admitting how terrified he was for the future. Since then, Cain and his sons have moved into Wishing Well with the rest of the Dingles. Moira is now out of prison after new evidence proved her innocence. Adjusting to village life has been difficult for Moira, as she struggles with no longer living at Butler's Farm. Reconnecting with Cain was also challenging, as he quietly worried about how his cancer operation would impact their marriage. Cain had surgery last month and has spent weeks adjusting to side effects, which has been hugely challenging for his pride, especially when suffering incontinence in public.
Is Cain Dingle leaving Emmerdale?
In yesterday's episode, Cain and Moira visited the hospital for a meeting with Ms Rhodes. The consultant revealed that while Cain's surgery was successful, she suspects the cancer has spread, requiring further tests. If confirmed, Cain will need radiotherapy, with possible permanent side effects of impotence and incontinence. This was devastating news for the couple, but there has been no confirmation that Jeff Hordley is leaving his role as Cain Dingle. It offers hope for the future, though anything is possible in soap.
Earlier this year, Jeff told us the prostate cancer storyline was conceived as 'the story of a man who doesn't normally talk about his feelings. It's bad enough having cancer but the possible side effects of this particular illness are really damaging to males and their egos. Having to talk about that and confront it is, I think, where we want to go down.' He insisted the situation is also 'a big love story' between Moira and Cain, underpinning how they deal with adverse challenges like Moira's imprisonment and Cain's illness.
When asked whether their ordeals could break Cain and Moira's marriage or strengthen it, Jeff said he genuinely didn't know. 'I think that's what's good about this story, for Cain and Moira. There's a series of obstacles and hurdles that lay in front of them that I think are really going to challenge them as a couple. As to whether it makes or breaks them, I don't think I even know just yet but it's going to be really interesting to see.'
