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Craig Jones

First look at Emmerdale actor replacing Jeff Hordley in special one-off episode

Take a first look at a young Cain Dingle with soap icon Jeff Hordley being replaced for a special episode of Emmerdale.

Jeff Hordley, 52, first started playing Cain Dingle in Emmerdale back in 2000. This Christmas, fans will see Cain, still behind bars accused of killing Al Chapman, reunited with estranged brother Caleb Milligan - played by Will Ash.

Emmerdale executive producer Jane Hudson gave fans a hint of what to expect over the festive period with yet more drama for the Dingle clan. Jane explained: “Poor Cain is still in prison. He will get a visit from his brother on Christmas Day called Caleb - played by Will Ash.

Read more: Emmerdale boss promises 'explosive' 2023 for soap family

“I last worked with Will about 14-years-ago when I produced Waterloo Road so when our casting director suggested Will for Caleb I was absolutely transfixed. He’s absolutely brilliant and I think the viewers will fall in love with him.

“When Caleb visits Cain in prison we will discover Cain knew Caleb exists and he’s known about him for 30 years and on Boxing Day we will rewind to 1992 and we will discover how Cain and Caleb first met. Why Cain then rejected him from his life and what was going on with Chas at that point.

“We have three fantastic actors playing our young Cain, Caleb and Chas. Adien, the actor who played Cain, he actually studied lots of footage of Jeff and his positions, poses and how he speaks and it is incredible when you watch it. There’s one pose, in particular, when he leans against a wall and you are left feeling ‘that’s Jeff’. It is so bizarre, it is a brilliant rewind episode that will explain a lot about their family history.”

A sneak peek image has offered fans a teaser of the younger Cain Dingle and the resemblance is uncanny. Aiden Kane, who will play the youthful version of the Emmerdale icon, has taken to Twitter to share the photo from set.

You can see it below

Jeff Hordley has been full of praise for the three acting talents who fans will see playing young Dingles. Jeff explained: “We were lucky enough to get to meet them (the young stars playing the younger versions of the Dingle clan).

"We watched them do a scene and we watched them do a scene. They asked us questions.

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“The young actors were absolutely brilliant. I was speaking to Jane (Hudson) before and she was saying ‘the guy who plays Cain has got all your mannerisms’. He’d really studied what I do as Cain.”

As ever, we'll continue to bring you the big Emmerdale news about what is happening in the village. You can visit our Emmerdale homepage to find the latest gossip about the soap and its stars.

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