Emmerdale real-life couple Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry pose for sweet snap

Emmerdale fans were treated to a rare sighting of one of the soap’s real-life couples at the British Soap Awards on Saturday night. The annual event, held at London’s Hackney Empire, was attended by some of the biggest names in the soap world.

Among them were Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry, who have been married since 2003 and share two children – Violet and Stan. Jeff, 55, has portrayed Cain Dingle since 2000, while Zoe, 51, has played Rhona Goskirk since 2001.

The couple, who keep their private life relatively low-key, posed for rare photographs together at the event, much to the delight of soap fans.

Zoe looked stunning in a metallic gold ruffled dress, her brunette hair styled in loose waves, while Jeff looked sharp in a blue suit, crisp white shirt and patterned tie.

This comes as Jeff’s character, Cain, is set to be embroiled in an intense storyline next week. Viewers will remember that both Tracy Metcalfe and Cain have been worried about Nate Robinson due to his unusual absence.

Despite believing he had relocated to Shetland for a new job, Nate’s loved ones have heard little from him, with ex Tracy receiving neither payments for their daughter Frankie nor any contact beyond a single message upon his ‘arrival in Shetland’, reports Leicestershire Live.

It was soon unveiled that the malevolent newcomer, John Sugden, had murdered Nate in an attempt to play the hero during last year’s barn fire, disposing of his body in the nearby lake. As of now, no one is aware of Nate’s murder or the fact that he was killed by John.

In forthcoming scenes, a body is discovered in the lake with the identity yet to be determined. Initially, the Dingle and Miligan families are terrified that the body in the lake could be Anthony Fox, causing panic to ensue.

However, it isn’t long before the body in the lake is identified as Nate’s, and the police arrive to deliver the devastating news to Tracy, who recounts her late husband’s final days in the village.

Simultaneously, Cain and Moira Dingle are caught off guard when DC Cole discloses the news and adds that the body is so decomposed that he cannot even visit his son.

In a shocking turn of events, Cain is left seething when he is subjected to police questioning upon learning he’s a suspect due to his altercation with his son on the day he died.

Even Cain’s own sister, Chas, begins to worry there’s more to this as the family starts to question Cain’s motives.

Later, an emotional Cain offers Tracy his support, but she’s sceptical about his behaviour and begins to suspect he might be involved, sharing her suspicions with her sister Vanessa Woodfield.

The situation takes another dramatic turn when DC Cole arrives, informing Cain there’s been a development in Nate’s case…

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV and ITV X at 7.30pm with an hour-long episode on Thursdays and is available to stream from 7am on ITV X.