Emmerdale's Faith Dingle set for devastating secondary breast cancer storyline

Emmerdale is set to begin a devastating new storyline this week when Faith Dingle is told that her breast cancer has returned.

Much-loved Dingle family matriarch Faith, played by Sally Dexter, has always been nervous of her cancer returning, so the news is heartbreaking for her - but viewers of the ITV soap will watch her struggle to share her diagnosis with her loved ones.

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Faith's relationship with children Chas (Lucy Pargeter) and Cain (Jeff Hordley) is still rocky, leaving her unable to confide in them about her secondary breast cancer and what it means for her.

Instead, she will lean on Moira (Natalie J Robb) who urges her to tell the rest of the family, but Faith is adamant that she wants to heal her relationships first.

Dexter, who has been working with charity Breast Cancer Now on the storyline, said: "It's upsetting, but really important as a storyline, because it's more than a storyline for so many people.

"It matters to people who are going through it as well as people who will go through it. I feel a sense of real responsibility, but also a privilege to be doing this storyline."

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Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw added: "Faith's devastating cancer diagnosis will impact not only her life, but all those around her. We know at the very core of the Dingles is a strong sense of family and love, so for them to try and navigate through this heartbreaking time will be incredibly difficult.

"Faith's zest for life with her spicy sense of humour and appetite for fun and adventure means that while there will inevitably be some painful and heart wrenching moments, we will also see life affirming and positive moments of light in the story too.

"Given the calibre of actor Sally is, I know she will approach the story with great honesty and depth and do it justice and this in turn will raise awareness of such an important issue that affects many people on a daily basis."

Emmerdale is due to air the episodes on ITV later this week.

Watch: Former Emmerdale star Malandra Burrows tells how her dog spotted she had breast cancer