Emmerdale legend dealt crushing blow as exit 'sealed' after 25 years amid ITV cuts

Emmerdale legend Cain Dingle (played by Jeff Hordley) is at risk of being axed from the show as ITV makes cuts across the board. ITV is slashing £15 million from the budgets of flagship soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale andbosses are said to be preparing major cast cuts, with proposals to axe one in ten actors as part of fresh cost-cutting measures. In the latest odds Cain, who first appeared in the show back in 2000, is being tipped to get the chop as part of the cost-cutting measures.

He faces a 5/1 chance of being written out of the long-running rural drama by the end of 2026. His on screen-cousin Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) also has odds of 5/1 to be canned. Meanwhile, over on the cobbles, Coronation Street's Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott) leads the way in the betting for characters facing the axe with odds of 11/8.

In May, ITV announced cuts to their daytime shows, with This Morning, Loose Women, Lorraine and Good Morning Britain all set to be impacted in the new year.

Last month, The Guardian reported that ITV had implemented a cost-cutting measure after its profits fell by 44 per cent in the first half of the year, with the broadcaster's programming budget reportedly being reduced from £1.25 billion to £1.23 billion.

As a result, ITV is reportedly proposing that both soaps could each cut 10 per cent of their permanent cast, cited as 84 for Corrie and 70 for Emmerdale, and have fewer scenes per episode in order to save money. ITV has since responded to the claims as "complete speculation".

However, BetIdeas.com has compiled a list of the characters likely to get the chop, and alongside Cain and Charity, plenty of fan favourites appear to be in danger.

Betideas.com spokesman Steven McQuillan said: "Cost cuts are never easy, especially in soaps where audiences build deep connections with characters over decades.

"Our traders expect at least 10 per cent of each cast to be trimmed. If budget pressures continue, we could see far more changes."

Several other members of the Dingle clan have made the list, with Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) at 2/1 to go while Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) is at 11/4.

Over on Coronation Street, Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) follows Ryan in the betting at 7/4. Meanwhile, Weatherfield stalwart Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) is at 15/8.