Emmerdale confirms Cain’s life-changing decision in emotional special episode

Emmerdale has aired a special, intimate episode focused on Cain and Moira Dingle’s relationship as he made a tough decision amid his prostate cancer storyline. Tonight’s scenes saw Moira seek advice from Chas as she struggled to get through to her husband.

Turning up at the Woolpack, Moira told Chas she’d put her foot in her mouth with Cain, making it clear how much sex mattered to her in a relationship. Following her prison stint, it’s only natural that Moira wants to feel close to Cain again, but her words hit hard for him over the prospect of not being able to have sex following his surgery.

Chas reassured Moira she wasn’t being “horribly selfish” and encouraged her to talk to her brother. Meanwhile, Liam sensed Cain might be in need of someone to talk to and went to see him. Cain opened up over his operation reservations.

Cain told the GP he was more worried about the aftermath of the surgery than the operation, adding that his married life with Moira could “crash and burn”.

Resolute to give Moira what he thought she was looking for in their marriage, Cain told Liam he won’t have the operation to avoid risking becoming impotent. Liam made it clear he thought Cain’s decision made “no sense” and Cain threw him out.

Back at the Woolpack, Liam told Moira that Cain was “in a dark place” and was considering refusing the surgery. Moira rushed home to speak with Cain who, despite his wife’s insistences that sex was “only one part” of their relationship, suggested they end their marriage.

“We’re creative, we’ll get through it,” Moira offered, but Cain was adamant she’d soon stray if he couldn’t perform. That’s when their conversation escalated, with both bringing up their past affairs.

“You went with Nate!” Cain told Moira, who immediately hit back: “You slept with Ruby!”

As Cain wanted to cut the conversation short, a hurt Moira threatened that his pride could be the reason they’d eventually call it quits. “Cancer, we can cope with, but your pride and your twisted sense of self? That is the biggest problem we are facing here,” she told him. “And I’m warning you now, that’s what will break us. Nothing else!”

Once they cooled off, Cain and Moira cleared the air, with him apologising for what he’d said. “You’re right. I do push you away,” he admitted. “I’ll stop doing it. Try and deal with things better,” he added. Still, he said he wouldn’t do the operation.

“I don’t want our lives to change,” he told Moira, to which she replied: “Your life, you mean. ‘Cause mine certainly will if you’re dead.”

Their conversation hit a wall, as Cain decided to get some air and got the help of an unexpected character. Sitting by his dad Zak’s grave, Cain had a chat with Eric Pollard, who was pushing the pram with baby Leyla inside.

As Pollard sat next to him, Cain quizzed him about living with Parkinson’s disease.

“Does it scare you?” Cain asked. Pollard replied: “Not knowing what the future holds? Yeah, it’s terrifying.”

Pollard reminded him how much the Dingles “cherish” one another and that Cain would be taking care of baby Leyla for the both of them at some point.

“You’re a lucky man,” Pollard said before he headed off.

Pollard’s words cut through for a teary-eyed Cain, who then muttered to Zak’s grave: “Really? Sending me Eric?”

In the final scenes, Moira caught up with him and was relieved to hear that he would be having his operation — and she was shocked that he’d made up his mind after speaking with Pollard.

“Maybe the old rogue has his uses after all,” Cain said before he and Moira kissed.