Devoted fans of the long-running ITV soap Emmerdale received a delightful surprise this week when a beloved star was spotted behind the decks at a bustling Manchester bar. The actor, looking decidedly different from his on-screen persona, was seen DJing at The Garden Bar in Chorlton, much to the astonishment of viewers who recognised him.
From Dingle to Decks: A Star's Side Hustle
The man causing the stir was none other than Jeff Hordley, the actor who has masterfully portrayed the iconic bad boy Cain Dingle since the year 2000. Dressed in a stylish jacket and clear perspex glasses, Hordley appeared worlds away from his troubled character, expertly mixing tracks for the crowd. Interestingly, despite his fame, he seemed to go largely unrecognised by most of the bar's patrons.
This foray into DJing is not a new venture for Hordley. The actor is a seasoned talent on the decks and even previously hosted a radio show in his hometown of Oldham. A clip of his Manchester performance, shared by a fan on TikTok, quickly went viral, prompting a flood of comments from concerned viewers.
Fans rushed to social media to express their shock and admiration, with comments ranging from "He's been DJing for years" to "Hope he hasn’t left Emmerdale." The performance led to widespread speculation about whether his musical gig signalled a departure from the Dales, though it appears to be a long-standing passion project.
Soap Shocks: Major Exits Loom in the Village
The off-screen excitement comes as Emmerdale viewers brace for a major on-screen shock. In upcoming episodes, two village icons are set to depart unexpectedly. The storyline involves Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sudgen (Ryan Hawley) deciding to leave after a traumatic hostage situation involving a stolen sword.
The tense scenario was orchestrated by Robert's secret ex-husband, Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill), who discovered the pair had rekindled their relationship. While the sword-wielding incident was designed to intimidate, Aaron ultimately stood up to Kev, leading the ex-husband to finally accept that his relationship with Robert was over.
The ordeal triggered severe panic in Robert, who was haunted by memories of his past imprisonment. For context, Robert was sent to prison in 2019 for murdering his sister's rapist, Lee Posner. His return to the show earlier this year was billed as permanent, suggesting his latest exit may only be temporary.
A Welcome Return: Actor's Real-Life Move
In a real-life parallel to his character's comeback, actor Ryan Hawley revealed he was convinced to return to Emmerdale by his co-star Danny Miller. Hawley had been living in Brazil with his family but decided the time was right to relocate back to the UK for the role.
He stated that after a text conversation with Miller and subsequent talks with producers, he felt ready to return, noting that "enough time has passed." This commitment suggests that while characters may come and go, the actors behind them remain deeply connected to the show that made them household names.
As for Jeff Hordley, his DJing in Manchester serves as a fascinating glimpse into the life of a soap star away from the cameras, proving that even Emmerdale's toughest characters have a softer, more rhythmic side.
