Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley: A real-life romance with his co-star, DJ and healthy living advocate

Jeff Hordley has played Emmerdale Cain Dingle for nearly 24 years. Cain arrived in the village back in 2000 and his wicked ways made an instant impression with fans.

The moody mechanic has a weakness for beautiful women – in particular ones that are already taken.

He’s currently happily married to farmer Moira, but the list of his past conquests is extensive.

Cain’s character means he makes enemies easily. His past foes include his sister Chas’s late lover, Al Chapman and even his own family members.

But what about actor Jeff Hordley? What’s his life like away from the village? And which Emmerdale co-star does he get to go home to every night?

Who is Jeff Hordley?

Jeff Hordley is a British actor best known for playing Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle. He’s been acting since he was a teenager and has also appeared in well known dramas such as Heartbeat.

Jeff joined the cast of Emmerdale at the start of the millennium and has gone on to become one of the soap’s best-loved characters.

How old is Jeff Hordley?

Jeff Hordley was born on March 7, 1970, which means he’s 53-years-old. A proud Mancunian, Jeff grew up in Oldham and is still to this day a passionate Manchester City football fan.

He attended North Chadderton Comprehensive before graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre with a BA (Hons) degree in Theatre Acting.

Who does Jeff Hordley play in Emmerdale?

Jeff plays the one and only Cain Dingle – Emmerdale’s resident bad boy, mechanic and all round soap legend.

Cain was introduced as the black sheep of the Dingle family, and the illegitimate son of Zak Dingle and his sister-in-law, Faith.

Arriving in 2000, Cain’s early years were spent shocking viewers with his illegal antics and also bedding a string of married women.

There’s been two loves of Cain’s life.

First up his cousin Charity, with whom he’s had a tumultuous on/off love affair (currently off).

Then there’s Moira. What started out as a steamy fling resulted in Cain finding his soulmate and their marriage has certainly been the making of him.

Cain’s had several brushes with death, including being attacked in a gripping whodunit storyline.

He’s a dad of four to Debbie Dingle, Nate Robinson, Kyle Winchester and Isaac Dingle.

Cain would do anything for his brood and even went as far as taking blame for Al Chapman’s murder to protect son Kyle, who was the real killer.

Jeff is a DJ on the side

Jeff isn’t just a talented actor, he’s also a pro at spinning the decks. His side career of DJ-ing has seen him play at venues across the country.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Jeff described his playlist as being a mix of “soul, funk, reggae, old 60s stuff and lots of great beats.”

He added: “That (DJ-ing) has been my out-of-work acting job, you always need something else. And DJ-ing was always mine. Still might be…”

What else has Jeff Hordley been in?

Jeff’s first TV appearance was in an episode of the kids’ hospital drama Children’s Ward.

And interestingly, Emmerdale wasn’t his first rodeo in Soapland.

Jeff starred in two episodes of Coronation Street – first as a nightclub manager in 1997, then as a character called Wayne the year after.

Jeff Hordley leaves Emmerdale

Fans were shocked in 2006 when Jeff announced he was quitting Emmerdale to pursue other acting projects.

He then swapped television for treading the boards and appeared in a string of theatre productions – including playing Napoleon in Animal Farm.

But after three years out, Jeff decided to step back into Cain’s shoes and has remained ever since.

He’s married to his Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry

Jeff’s romantic history certainly couldn’t be more different to his on-screen alter ego.

In real life, the actor is happily married to his Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry, who plays vet Rhona Goskirk. The famous pair have been colleagues for 22 years, and a couple for 30!

They met in 1994 when they were students at drama school and smitten Jeff said he knew straight away Zoe was the one.

Jeff proposed on the day Zoe won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Manchester Evening News’s theatre awards and they then got hitched in 2003.

Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley’s children

Jeff is a dad-of-two.

He and wife Zoe Henry welcomed their daughter Violet Percy into the world in 2005. Three years later, in April 2008, their son Stan Percy arrived, completing their family.

Jeff and Zoe are also parents to two beloved fur babies – their pet dogs!

He rehauled his life after major surgery

Jeff was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 26. Tragically he lost his own mum to the same disease in 1979 after she suffered post-surgery complications.

After undergoing an operation to have part of his bowel removed, Jeff then rehauled his lifestyle by quitting cigarettes and adopting a home-grown diet.

He and wife Zoe have their own allotment, where they grow a huge range of fresh produce.

Speaking on CBBC’s Lockdown Learning series Celebrity Supply Teacher in 2020, Jeff said: “We find that getting our hands in the earth and growing our own fruit and vegetables is a great way to connect with nature.”

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.