Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley’s chronic health battle for 28 years – ‘Am I going to die?’
Emmerdale actor Jeff Hordley, who has played Cain Dingle on the soap since 2000, has been open about his ongoing struggles with a debilitating illness for 28 years
Earlier this month, Emmerdale’s tough guy Cain Dingle, portrayed by Jeff Hordley, left fans in shock when he discharged himself from hospital after being attacked by his nephew Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller. The attack resulted in a serious head injury for Cain.
In an emotional scene with his partner Moira Barton, played by Natalie J Robb, Cain confessed that he should have reacted differently to the attack and admitted that the “real Cain Dingle is dead”.
Fans are now worried about Cain’s health, fearing a grim diagnosis might be on the horizon.
Off-screen, actor Jeff has his own health struggles, having been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 1996.
The 54 year old has been dealing with symptoms since he was 20 and has had several hospital stays due to his condition, reports the Express.
Jeff, who is married to Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry, received his diagnosis just before completing his degree. He had been experiencing stomach cramps and diarrhoea for six years prior to his diagnosis.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Jeff revealed: “Even though I tried to avoid foods that upset my digestive system, such as coffee and Chinese takeaways, I was still sick and tired and I kept losing weight.”
“I was a drama student in Manchester and sometimes I had to miss lectures because I was too tired. I even had to drop out of my final year plays.”
He also revealed that his mother had died from the same condition in 1979, leading him to fret that he too would pass away, saying: “My reaction was, ‘Am I going to die too? ‘”.
He was just 26 when doctors informed him that his mother’s death was due to surgical complications.
Jeff underwent surgery to remove part of his large bowel and started medication for his chronic condition.
In a dramatic turn of events in 2002, Jeff collapsed at a theatre, suffering from a severe haemorrhage. Fortunately, he made a swift recovery but had to adjust his lifestyle significantly.
Reflecting on that time with The Daily Mail in 2022, he said: “I was weak and I looked terrible. I remember looking in the mirror and thinking grimly that even if I survived, this was not a good look for someone trying to carve out an acting career.”
Now, the actor is passionately involved in raising awareness about Crohn’s Disease and Colitis, as he often touches on his own experiences.
