After going to hell and back in recent years to build on their relationship as brothers, it’s terribly sad that the brilliant bond between Emmerdale‘s Caleb and Cain has broken down, thanks to Cain’s fling with sister-in-law Ruby.

Historically, the Dingles are a close-knit clan that always come through for one another in the end – but any hope of a reconciliation for this pair seems a long way off.

And it pains stars Jeff Hordley (Cain) and Will Ash (Caleb) to agree, as they joined Inside Soap exclusively when we caught up with them on set recently…

Will: It’s the ultimate betrayal – Caleb’s brother sleeping with his wife. And the only way Caleb can make sense of it is to deduce that Cain took advantage of Ruby in the same way that her father Anthony took advantage of her all those years ago.

That’s how he rationalises it for himself in order to forgive her. Plus, there has been a lot of infidelity from Caleb in the past, so that also helps him to get his head around it.

Jeff: I’m sticking up for Ruby and Cain in that I think it’s true – it was a little moment. Once it was done, they both felt instant regret about it.

Jeff: He was surrounded by his family when the truth was revealed, so there was the added pressure of them all thinking terribly of him as that’s the one thing they talk about: how the Dingles stick together and are loyal – and that’s exactly what Cain’s not done. So, the shame of being head of the family and having done something terrible, he honestly really regrets it.