While some had already figured it out, other viewers were floored by the twist when it was revealed that Cain Dingle didn't really shoot Al Chapman in Emmerdale. Fans were initially led to believe that the character, played by Jeff Hordley, had killed his former enemy after discovering his affair with his sister, Chas.
Cain seemingly saw red after he found Chas' secret phone during their mother Faith's wake. Already grief-stricken, Cain used Chas' secret phone to lure Al to a barn where he threatened him with a shotgun. Their former anger towards each other soon came flooding out and the pair broke into fisticuffs.
In a scuffle for the gun, a shot rang out and the next viewers saw was Cain standing over Al's lifeless body when Kerry Wyatt arrived and phoned the police. But it was later revealed that 10-year-old Kyle, played by Huey Quinn, was the one who really shot Al when the panicked youngster caught the pair fighting and feared for his dad.
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In a flashback episode, fans saw Kyle following his angry dad to the barn where he witnessed him scrapping with Al. Spotting the gun, he grabbed it and told Al to leave his dad alone. The pair soon stopped fighting and pleaded with Kyle to put the gun down. But as the scared youngster stood with the weapon still in hand, Al lunged at him and the gun went off.
And there have been secrets and lies ever since as Cain, who has pleaded guilty to murder, had to tell his wife Moria the truth while a traumatised Kyle admitted his crime to his mum, Amy. Moira's brother, Mackenzie, and her son Matty, who is also in a relationship with Amy, have too since found out the truth.
As Emmerdale viewers reeled at the shock twist, it appears Jeff, who has played Cain for the best part of 20 years, was relieved to know that his character hadn't finally snapped and become a murderer. When asked by the Manchester Evening News what he thought, the 59-year-old, from Oldham told us: "When they said, 'You shoot Al,' I'm going 'oh my God. He's finally killed someone'.
"And then when they went, 'But it's Kyle,' I went [pretending to collapse in relief and clasping his hands together]. 'Thank God!" Jeff did say he eventually asked if Kyle was 'alright' but added: "That's the truth!"
This Christmas, Cain's world is set to be rocked once more as his and Chas' long-lost brother, Caleb, arrives looking for answers. Meanwhile, Chas' affair is exposed and she's forced to spend the festive season with her heartbroken husband, Paddy, for the sake of their daughter, Eve.
"As much as Cain wants Caleb to disappear for another 30 years, Caleb’s not going to have that, he wants to meet his sister Chas, he wants to meet the rest of his extended family and could he be the answer to all the Dingle’s prayers in regards to Cain being locked up? You’ll have to wait to find out that one," Jane Hudson, Emmerdale's executive producer, teased when speaking to the Manchester Evening News and other press.
"Of course, we all know that Cain didn’t do this murder, we know Kyle was responsible, and we probably all know that the worst place to keep a secret is in Emmerdale . So we will be waiting to see if that secret comes out and the consequences if that happens."
On what viewers can expect in the New Year, Jane added: "I would say the start of 2023 is explosive for the Dingles. We've got Cain at the heart of what's happening in our village. We've got Paddy and Chas, we've got Charity and Mackenzie so the Dingles are really kicking off 2023 with a bang. It's all going on for them."
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