Who is Faith Dingle and what happened to her? Past storyline revisited amid surprise return
Faith Dingle was the matriarch of the iconic family until her sad d.e.a.t.h back in October 2022, when her character d.i.e.d following a terminal breast cancer diagnosis
Faith was an iconic matriarch of Emmerdale
Faith Dingle was an iconic matriarch of Emmerdale – leading the Dingle family. The iconic character – played by Sally Dexter – d.i.e.d in 2022 in heartbreaking scenes that left fans devastated.
She d.i.e.d following a terminal breast cancer diagnosis, deciding she wanted to bid farewell to the world amid her poor health. She sadly d.i.e.d by her son Cain Dingle’s side in scenes that left everyone in tears.
Tonight, she made a surprise return as she visited Robert in prison, with some big news about Aaron. In shocking scenes, Faith spoke to Robert about his time in prison and how he needed Robert on the outside.
Faith d.i.e.d with her family by her side(Image: ITV)
But what happened to Faith and why did she d.i.e? Faith d.i.e.d following a breast cancer diagnosis, with her son Cain Dingle by her side. It sparked off a new storyline about Faith’s romance with Frank Tate, and the arrival of Caleb Miligan.
Speaking about the big final storyline and working with Sally, Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley said back in 2022: “Sally brings such warmth to Faith and we are losing a really big ray of light from the show.
“She is a big fan favourite and none of us wanted her to leave, myself included. Her last scene was so beautifully written it was easy to connect with the emotion and lose yourself in that moment. The director, Mike Lacey, did it all as one continuous tracking shot, rather than break it up for close-ups, which helped with the flow. That was a very brave decision, fortunately we managed to get it in one take. There were only a few of us on set which made it feel a bit like a pressure cooker – but a nice warm one!”
At the time, Sally admitted she was “devastated” to be leaving the show and her co-stars.
“Some of the script reflects how I feel – she’s hurtling towards her end and I’m hurtling towards the end of my time in Emmerdale. Even though I think it’s the right thing, it’s quite devastating because I’m going to leave behind people I really care about, like Jeff [Hordley], Lucy [Pargeter] and Natalie [J Robb]. It’s extraordinary to be working with them,” she said.
“I don’t just mean their acting abilities, but them as human beings. I think [the exit storyline] is excellent. I haven’t read the scripts for her d.e.a.t.h, but I’m hoping it’s as positive as it can be.”
She added: “This isn’t just a story about a cancer; it’s a wider story about family. That great thing about d.e.a.t.h is the thing that happens before it, that thing called life, and all the love that goes with it. I’d love it if everyone watching had a little bottle of gin, to toast her!”
