Emmerdale’s Sally Dexter has been reflecting on making a brief return to the ITV soap.
Sally portrayed the role of Faith Dingle on and off from 2017 until 2022. The beloved character, who is Chas and Cain Dingle’s (Lucy Pargeter and Jeff Hordley) mum, died in 2022 after being diagnosed with cancer.
In a completely unexpected twist, Sally’s soap alter-ego features in today’s episode of the ITV drama. The instalment, available now on ITVX, focuses on Robert Sugden’s (Ryan Hawley) time at Hotten prison.
As we learnt about Robert’s relationship with cellmate Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill), we eventually witnessed the moment where Robert learnt he could appeal against his sentencing and potentially get released.
Paranoid and possessive Kev stabbed himself in an attempt to distract Robert from the appeal. They then got engaged and because Robert was focused on the wedding and Kev healing from the stab wound, he put the appeal at the back of his mind.
Faith’s visit was completely unexpected for Robert (Picture: ITV)
Everything changed again for Robert when he got an unexpected visitor. To his surprise, Aaron Dingle’s (Danny Miller) gran Faith was sitting at the table.
Faith explained to Robert that Aaron was struggling with his mental health and needed his help. The character was also moments away from being told her cancer was now terminal, and urged Robert to do something because life really is too short.
Robert confronted his feelings for Aaron and told Faith that he would launch the appeal for him. If it wasn’t for Faith, Robert wouldn’t have returned to the village and reunited with his one true love.
Faith is Chas and Cain’s mum (Picture: ITV)
It was simply delightful to see Faith Dingle again and for star Sally Dexter, she absolutely loved being back, albeit for a short period.
‘I thought, how are they going to get me back? Cos I’m dead! I’ve been dead, I think it’s about two years, so I had no idea what was coming. It’s been really enjoyable, it’s lovely coming back’, she said.
‘It’s a bit like, I don’t know, coming back to a school that you went to, or going back to an old house that you used to live in. It feels very homely. They’re just such a lovely bunch of people here, all of them, crew and cast included.
Faith told Robert that Aaron needed his help (Picture: ITV)
Sally added: ‘I’ve always said that my mum was very much the person that I based her [Faith] on and unfortunately, she died last year so actually, coming back and doing her again is lovely. Such a joyous thing to do, I’m very grateful.
Reflecting on Faith’s final storyline, she said: ‘People really seem to plug into it, and I don’t blame them. It was beautifully written and I thought Jeff was particularly spectacular, as he always is!
She laughed: ‘I have been practicing my Australian accent in case they decide that a cousin suddenly appears called Hope. And I’d put in for a blonde wig if they did!
‘It’s very special and to play Faith again is very, very special to me.’
As well as these flashback scenes with Robert, the episode also sees Kev chat to Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) in the present day.
The local GP knows that Kev is lying about being terminally ill, and wonders how he intends to keep up the façade.
The episode reveals how Robert and Kev met (Picture: ITV)
The lie doesn’t seem to be too much of an issue for Kev. He tells Liam that bending the truth is second nature to him, and lies often about not having a child.
As Kev details the one night stand he had years ago, it’s revealed that his secret son is a member of the village.
And it’s quite a twist!
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