Even a near-death experience and a face full of bruises can’t dim the sheer animal magnetism of Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) – if the reaction of his sister-in-law Ruby Fox-Milligan (Beth Cordingly) is anything to go by.
At the start of Monday (January 29)’s episode Cain was slipping in and out of consciousness after taking a severe beating in a fight with his nephew, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).
Moira (Natalie J. Robb) was hugely relieved when he finally woke up. The doctor came in to give the good news that he’s suffered no permanent damage but had bruising on his brain so would need to rest.
Cain doesn’t do ‘rest,’ and it wasn’t long before he was discharging himself and insisting that Moira take him to the Woolpack. Without even a stop at home for a shower and a change of pants, apparently.
Liam (Jonny McPherson) couldn’t believe his friend was contemplating alcohol and ordered him to go back home, but Cain ignored him.
Ruby doesn’t take orders, either. She’d been told to keep a low profile by Caleb (William Ash) but had ignored him and gone for a walk instead. She marched up to Cain and told him she agreed with Liam.
‘Who’s this?’ Cain asked Caleb, who was trotting behind his wife.
‘This is Ruby,’ said Ruby. ‘And if you’re the infamous Cain Dingle that means I’m your sister in law.’
Caleb mumbled something about Ruby just being there to see Nicky (Lewis Cope) and sort out some stuff about the divorce. Cain said that Ruby was not what he expected.
‘Neither are you,’ said Ruby, giving Cain what we could describe as a flirtatious look. ‘Caleb said you were a fighter. I didn’t think he meant literally.’
She added that Caleb never stops talking about Cain.
‘It’s funny that,’ Cain replied. ‘Because he’s never mentioned you. Not ever.’
Cain’s unique brand of ‘charm’ only made Ruby smile more broadly, and when Cain and Caleb went into the pub it wasn’t long before Ruby was heading in after them, unwilling to miss a second of the Dingle drama she guessed was about to unfold after Moira had filled her in on the beef between Cain and Aaron.
On her arrival in the Dales former EastEnders and The Bill star Beth Cordingly predicted that Ruby would ruffle feathers in the village.
‘Ruby is a dream role. She’s a firecracker and a troublemaker and I think people will love her or hate her,’ she teased.
If she really has her eye on Cain Dingle, that prediction could come true in a massive way, possibly leading to a clash between Caleb and Cain – not to mention how Moira might react.
Things could get very interesting indeed.
