Emmerdale favourite Sally Dexter has been missing from the dales for over a year, but 2021 will see her make a scandalous return to the Yorkshire village.
Unfortunately, Faith Dingle’s motive in returning is a sad one, having suffered terrible heartache since she left her family behind.
Following a spectacular falling-out with son Cain Dingle, the Emmerdale matriarch struck up an “affair” with an undertaker named Kenny, initiating herself in the funeral business.
While Faith has fallen hard for Kenny, the relationship is left in tatters after a fight in a car park – leaving her “heartbroken”.
Ahead of her character’s comeback, actress Sally, 60, who has starred on the soap since 2017, discussed the morose story behind her return.
Emmerdale’s Sally Dingle is set to make a welcome return to the soap next week (Image: ITV)
Speaking to Daily Star and assorted press, Sally said: “She did her best to make ends meet and then she hooked up with this funeral director and had a bit of an affair with him and joined the company.
“She’s kind of been there ever since I think.”
A chance encounter with Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) in a local car park exposes her doomed romance, as Faith rows with Kenny before a crowd.
Sally continued: “It all happens in the car park.
Moira comes across Faith after her fight with her partner, undertaker Kenny
“Moira’s on the phone to Cain because they’re trying to rearrange their hotel visit, they were trying to have a romantic time at the hotel, but that didn’t happen.
“Whilst Moira’s on the phone to Cain, there’s this altercation going on with, at that time, an unknown woman, and this funeral director called Kenny.”
Describing the aftermath of the brawl, Sally went on: “They finish. The man storms off, the woman storms off as well and storms off past Moira and they kind of bump into each other.
“And I say, ‘Oh excuse me, life or death’. Moira just catches the voice and thinks, ‘oh I know that’. She stops me and makes me turn around.”
Faith reveals her affair with the undertaker leaves her with a broken heart
Moira confronts her, and while Faith initially “jumps into the hearse, revs it up and roars out of the car park,” she later appears at the farm, seeking forgiveness.
Sally explained Faith’s heart had been shattered by her latest liaison, saying: “It comes out there’s been an awful situation going on with her and the undertaker and she’s heartbroken once again.
“Her big generous heart has been broken again.”
Moira eventually takes pity on her, but Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) refuses to give in to Faith’s charms, stubbornly giving his mother the cold shoulder.
However, Sally has hinted that Faith plans to push her heartache to one side and focus on winning her son back, saying: “She’s a very determined woman.”
Will Faith successfully earn her son’s forgiveness – or will she return to her sordid romance with Kenny?
Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7pm on ITV, with an extra helping on Thursdays at 8pm.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
