Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley discusses soap hiatus as Cain Dingle

Emmerdale actor Jeff Hordley has opened up about his three-year hiatus as Cain Dingle.

After six years of "scowling around corners" as the character, Hordley expanded his horizons in 2006 and went off to experience the buzz of London, as Cain fled the village with a bag of stolen cash in the meantime.

Joining Mik Artistik's Ego Podcast, the 51-year-old explained what inspired this temporary diversion from the soap.

ITV

"I think I just got to a point where I wanted a [change] because I'd only been four years out of drama school, so I kind of thought I had not quite ticked all the boxes I wanted to.

"I wanted to work in London and things like that and I left wanting to fulfil those things. During those three years out of it, I kind of managed to do that," he told the host.

When the moment eventually arrived for Cain's big return, the late producer Gavin Blyth was keen to make him "more accessible" within the village.

"I think the three years out was the best thing that ever happened to the character because it created more layers; he nicked loads of money and then he went to Spain.

jeff hordley as cain dingle in emmerdale

ITV

"And I think the producer at the time thought, 'I want to integrate him into the village' because before that he was kind of this lone maverick who lived above the Dingles and grunted at people, and didn't speak to anybody apart from his family," recalled Hordley.

13 years on, he's secured legendary Emmerdale status.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.