Dales actor praises show's new outlook

Emmerdale returnee Jeff Hordley has revealed that there is currently a "great buzz" on set as the show continues its period of rejuvenation.

The 39-year-old, who returns to screens next week as bad boy Cain Dingle, was the first former character to be drafted back into the soap as part of its major overhaul.

Speaking to DS, Hordley said: "With Emmerdale in the hands of Steve Frost again and, of course, Gavin Blyth, they both care about the show massively and know it inside out. It's hopefully going to be a return to form and the good old days."

He added: It's a very big, positive thing and there's a great buzz and atmosphere around here at the moment."

Since taking over from former leading producer Anita Turner at the beginning of the year, Emmerdale's new boss Gavin Blyth has cast Kim Thomson as the mysterious Faye Lamb, UK soap's first blind actress Kitty McGeever (Lizzie Lakely) and former Hollyoaks actor James Sutton (Ryan Lamb).

Most recently, it was announced that Blyth had secured the return of Emma Atkins as Charity Tate, the first in a wave of "stunning" new signings for the ITV soap.

An Emmerdale source today told DS: "It's the start of a new era for the show. There are loads of new faces planned for the summer and everyone's really excited about what they've heard about them."