Emmerdale explains Cain and Caleb's backstory in flashback scenes

Emmerdale spoilers follow from the show's Boxing Day episode.

Emmerdale has explained the backstory of Cain Dingle and his long-lost brother Caleb.

The ITV1 soap has just brought in former Waterloo Road star Will Ash in the role of Caleb, who is Cain and Chas' secret sibling.

Cain has known about Caleb's existence for years, but has always kept him secret from the rest of the Dingles. Despite fresh warnings to stay away, Caleb has taken matters into his own hands by boldly introducing himself to Chas as Faith's son.

Emmerdale's Boxing Day episode saw Caleb prove his claims by handing Chas his birth certificate, which listed Faith as his mother. His father was not named on the document, but Caleb knows that the mystery man wasn't part of the Dingle family.

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Caleb explained: "I was born in '76. I'm 46. Probably look a lot older!"

This means Caleb was born between Cain and Chas, making him the middle child.

Caleb was born when Faith was in prison and he subsequently grew up in the care system. He crossed paths with Cain for the first time in 1991 when they were both teenagers, but their fateful meeting ultimately led to him staying away for decades afterwards.

Emmerdale accompanied the on-screen explanations with special flashback scenes showing younger versions of Cain, Caleb and Chas. Aiden Kane took on the role of Cain, Riccardo Drayton played Caleb, while Maddy Barker played Chas.

When they met as teenagers, Cain told Caleb that Faith was already dead. He briefly considered letting Caleb into the family fold, but changed his mind when he discovered that Chas was pregnant with Aaron and had enough drama to deal with.

ITV

Feeling rejected, Caleb stole a car from the garage where Cain worked. Cain took the blame for the incident when the police chased them both, on the condition that Caleb stayed away in future.

This decision backfired badly when Cain discovered that his boss at the garage had used the same vehicle for other illegal activities. Everything was unfairly pinned on Cain, who found himself being sent to prison for a long stretch.

Cain now blames Caleb for getting him locked up, which meant that he wasn't around to protect Chas and Aaron from evil Gordon Livesy.

The Boxing Day episode ended with Chas making a call to Cain in prison, making it clear that she knew about Caleb.

ITV

She asked: "Guess who's just had a lovely family reunion?"

When Cain warned Chas not to trust Caleb, she replied: "And who should I trust, Cain? You? The way that you've treated me over the affair while you've hidden my brother from me for the last 30 years? How could you do that to me?"

Can Chas ever forgive Cain for his decades of deception?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.