Emmerdale icon makes ‘heartbreaking’ cancer announcement

One Emmerdale favourite was diagnosed with cancer, leaving fans distraught.

Emmerdale’s Sarah Sugden star opened up about the new storyline (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale star Katie Hill has opened up on the “heartbreaking” cancer storyline plaguing one of the ITV soap’s most beloved characters – Cain Dingle. The Sarah Sugden actress, who plays Cain’s granddaughter in Soapland, admitted that viewers are in for a “difficult watch” as Cain receives his official diagnosis.

The Dingle patriarch reacts by lashing out at Sarah and his doctor friend Liam, before stalking off to his late dad Zak’s grave. Soap spoilers have confirmed Cain, played by Jeff Hordley, is battling prostate cancer, after a mass was found during a scan that took place after he was shot in the special Corriedale episode.

Katie told Inside Soap: “It’s going to be a heartbreaking and a difficult watch at times. But because cancer is so prevalent in so many people’s lives, it’s an important story to tell.

“And as we know, Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain, is such an incredible actor, and getting to see him play out the story, it’ll be heartbreaking, but I know that it’s going to be an incredible performance.”

She added: “Sarah would be a good person for him to confide in, after everything she’s been through with cancer herself. She would definitely find it really hard to hear because he’s such an important person to her.”

Cain is set to be the subject of a special episode focusing on Cain’s inner thoughts and telling the story from his perspective.

Jeff Hordley’s character Cain is diagnosed with prostate cancer (Image: Getty)

Jeff said: “I feel really honoured to be given this storyline and I am excited for the challenges it is already throwing at me.

“This is the first proper illness my character, Cain, has been given and I want to play my part in making sure the audience can relate to the journey so many families unfortunately have to navigate.”

The soap is working with Prostate Cancer UK to make the story as authentic as possible.