Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) doesn’t think things can get any worse in Emmerdale but unfortunately, Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) exists, which means there’s always going to be another nightmare around the corner.

The beloved character is currently in prison, with the police assuming she had a part to play in Celia Daniels’ (Jaye Griffiths) drug dealing and slavery operation. Moira is totally innocent, but she’s yet to find a piece of evidence that proves she didn’t bury refugee Anya and Celia on her farm.

While she’s been behind bars, Moira’s husband Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) has been left to run the farm on his own. He’s also running the garage, looking after Kyle and Isaac (Huey Quinn and Bobby Dunsmuir), and secretly dealing with the fact he has prostate cancer.

It’s an awful lot, but there’s more. Circling Butler’s Farm like a bird waiting to strike at its prey is Joe Tate, who believes he can take over Moira’s business.

Cain has been told by Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) to focus on Moira and his health and not fight the Tates, but this is a man full of pride. If he’s going down, it won’t be without a fight.

This week, Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) offers to look after Kyle and Isaac for a couple of days, but Cain rejects her offer. She heads off and Cain is left alone, allowing us to see just how close he is to breaking point.

His day goes from bad to worse when he learns that Joe has arranged a herd inspection due to a suspected TB case. It means nothing can be moved off the farm until they receive an all clear, stopping the team from completing their usual business deals.

After Joe restates his offer to buy the farm, Cain remains silent on the matter.

Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano) wants to keep the farm going for his mum, but there’s a worrying sense the future of Butler’s Farm as it is now, is completely doomed.

Is Cain fighting a losing battle?