Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle makes devastating discovery about wife Moira Barton’s secret death plan
CAIN Dingle has made a heartbreaking discovery about wife Moira Barton in Emmerdale.
The village hardman – who is played by actor Jeff Hordley in the ITV soap – has a lot on his plate with the grief for his late dad Zak, his sister Belle’s abuse hell and wife Moira’s brain tumour battle.
And in today’s episode he overheard Moira make a devastating decision when all she wanted was to spare him from the pain of it.
Moira invited pal Vanessa over to discuss her will – and her living will – for in case the operation doesn’t go as planned and she’s left in a coma.
And she had a bombshell, adding: “Things could get worse – there are risks.
“This is brain surgery. It’s not just live or die, there’s other stuff that could go wrong. I might never be me again.
“I don’t want to worry Cain. I need peace of mind and that’s why I’ve talked to my doctors about an advanced decision, a living will.
“Worst case scenario – total brain damage, a machine breathing for me. The living dead, I’d hate that for me. I’m doing this to spare Cain from that decision.”
Vanessa tried to get her to talk to Cain but she just wanted certainty – and neither of the woman realised that Cain had entered the farmhouse and was listening to them speak.
“The doctors would have to be 100 per cent sure before withdrawing any of my treatment or switching me off,” she said.
“I’m terrified of dying and leaving Cain and my boys,” Moira added.
“But what if something really terrible happens? I don’t want to be lying in a bed for years, a burden on them.
“I don’t want them clinging onto hope for years either, willing me on to make a recovery that’s not going to happen.”
Vanessa told her to tell Cain what she was thinking but Moira was insistent on keeping him in the dark unless something bad happened to her.
Instead she asked Vanessa to keep hold of her living will and a letter and asked her: “Just in case something bad happens, can you give this to Can and explain it all to him, worst case scenario?”
Vanessa agreed as Cain left, deciding not to tell Moira what he overheard.
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
Instead he waited until later to ignore what he heard and asked Moira about her day and he let her lie about what she’d done.
“I’m doing fine so you don’t have to worry,” she told him as Cain looked devastated by her real plan.