Faith Dingle and her tragic journey in Emmerdale – and what Sally Dexter is doing now

Cain, Caleb and Chas' mum and Sarah's beloved Granny

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By Carena Crawford

Jul 10 2025

By Carena Crawford

Jul 10 2025

As Sarah Sugden struggles with her baby trauma in Emmerdale, there is one person who she could really do with right now: her granny Faith Dingle.

Faith and Sarah had a very special bond – one that was only broken by Faith’s death.

So as Sarah remembers her great-gran and all that she promised her, let’s take a look at Faith’s life in the Dales – and where actress Sally Dexter is now.

Who was Faith Dingle in Emmerdale?

Faith was the ex-wife of Shadrach Dingle and the mother of Cain Dingle, Caleb Miligan and Chas Dingle.

At 16, Faith was in a relationship with Shadrach, but had a fling with his brother Zak and fell pregnant with Cain. They thought the baby was Shadrach’s though, so she married him and they lived unhappily together.

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Faith ended up in prison in 1975 and was pregnant with another child – Caleb – whose father was Frank Tate. He was put into foster care when he was born in 1976 and she went back to Shadrach, having her third child, Chas in 1978.

Faith left her family in 1986 and Chas took her place looking after everyone. Though Cain took the beatings of his father.

She was seen on and off over the years in Emmerdale – firstly to tell Zak he was Cain’s real dad and then to celebrate the Dingles 10 years in Emmerdale.

Off-screen she married a man named Brian, but he died, and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy.

Faith Dingle and Sarah Sugden’s close bond

When Sarah was in need of proton beam therapy in 2017, Faith donated £20k to the fundraising page. However she then turned up a month later skint and homeless.

Living in secret in a barn at Wishing Well Cottage, Sarah found her and brought her food and medicine. After Sarah stole a donation tin to give Faith money for the B&B, Faith collapsed and the family found out she was in town. Moira invited Faith to stay with them after they learned she had been the one to donate the money.

At this point, Sarah needed to go to Prague for the treatment and Debbie was on bail so couldn’t go. Faith went instead and it was then that she and Sarah struck up their deep bond.

Relationship with daughter Chas

Things were not so happy with Chas, who could not forgive her mum for leaving her with Shadrach. Debbie managed to get the pair talking though.

Faith admitted her mistakes and that she shouldn’t have left her kids like that. Chas decided to move on and form a relationship with her mum. However when she went to hug her, Faith pulled away and Chas felt rejected again.

It was actually because of the mastectomy as she didn’t want Chas to know. But Moira told Chas everything and the pair finally started to move forward.

Faith Dingle pushes Kim Tate and leaves Emmerdale

Their relationship was put on rocky footing once again when it was revealed Faith had been the one who pushed Kim Tate off a balcony on her return.

Kim wanted revenge on Faith, but she fled the village before she could get it!

Faith returns and so does her breast cancer

In 2021, Faith made a comeback to the village. However it was to have a tragic end when she was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2022.

Her relationship with Cain was incredibly strained by this point and he refused to be there for his mother. The news hit him hard though and he lashed out at all those around him as he struggled to deal with it.

He eventually agreed to support Faith, but was stunned by her decision not to continue treatment. He felt she was giving up.

But finally Faith and Cain were able to make peace and he pledged to be there for her until the end. And that he was.

As the cancer spread to her brain, she attacked Cain with a frying pan, thinking he was Shadrach. It was the fear he witnessed during those moments that made him finally understand why she left them.

After Cain and the family give Faith the perfect day – a makeshift seaside in Emmerdale – Cain danced with his mother, warming her heart. But he still couldn’t tell her he loved her.

When did Faith Dingle die in Emmerdale?

In October 2022, Cain discovered Faith in her bedroom at The Woolpack. She had taken an overdose to end her life.

Cain tried to call an ambulance, but seeing Faith wanted this, he stopped. He sat by her side talking to her and finally told her he loved her.

Faith died in his arms and he sat sobbing over her body.

Faith’s final appearance was in a video played at her funeral.

Who played Faith in Emmerdale and where is actress Sally Dexter now?

Faith was initially played by Gillian Jephcott, but Sally Dexter took over the role in 2017. Fleur Keith played a young Faith in a flashback episode.

Sally has had a wide-ranging career across stage and screen. Prior to Emmerdale she had starred in A Touch of Frost, Poldark and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, among other huge hits. She is also a big name in the West End having appeared in Oliver!, Sister Act and Billy Elliot The Musical among others.

Following her initial departure from Emmerdale Sally went on to have roles in TV series Snatch, Father Brown, Genuis and film Attack of the Adult Babies.

Since her second Emmerdale exit, Sally has appeared as Sofia in film The Groomsmen Last Dance in 2024.

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns