Disney's hit show Rivals is packed with romance, rivalries and rekindled love affairs – and Emmerdale's Cain Dingle wants in. It's hard to imagine the deadliest Dingle trading the Dales for the fictional Cotswolds county of Rutshire. Set in a warring world of two television companies where deals are made both in the office and intimately behind closed doors, Cain seems more likely to nut David Tennant's egotistical MD in the face than resort to political powerplay. However, after portraying the angriest man in the Dales since 2000, Jeff Hordley admits that the dramatic British series would be his dream role.
Hordley's dream role
During an interview with Digital Spy, the actor discussed his marriage to co-star Zoë Henry, who plays Rhona Goskirk, his career to date and what the future holds – and why he would love a role on period comedy-drama Rivals. 'There's lots of really good stuff being made out there at the moment. Rivals is great!' said Hordley. 'I would happily do something like that. It seems like the actors are having a really good time, and that's what draws me to it.'
No plans to leave Emmerdale
While fans would love to see Cain punching posh people in Rivals, those in the Dales needn't panic. Cain is very busy in Emmerdale right now. Not only is he fighting his toughest enemy yet while battling a serious cancer diagnosis, but he and his wife Moira (Natalie Barton) are locked in a bitter rivalry with the trust fund baby of Home Farm himself, the insidious Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). Now there's a man who would do well on Rivals. But Jeff Hordley has no plans to depart the beloved ITV soap anytime soon, as he 'loves' the role.
From allotment to on-screen partnership
Hordley's original stint on Emmerdale lasted for six years before his departure in 2006, though he returned just three years later. During his first tenure, he married co-star Zoë Henry. He talked about what first brought them together, and they bonded over something that you wouldn't necessarily think of as romantic – growing vegetables. 'We met years ago at a party, and she said that she liked my shoes,' he recalled. 'We have an allotment together, and we work together on that. When you're working as a team, doing things like that, it gives you good strength.'
Cain's troubled times ahead
Jeff Hordley might be having the time of his life on and off the soap, but Cain, however, is facing troubled times. He has no idea that the culprit behind the farm fires is none other than his own son Kyle Winchester. Well, not until next week, that is when Home Farm's scariest ever butler Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) blows the secret.
