Cain's main storylines have focused on discovering his "uncle" Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) is his father; his relationship with his cousin Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins); discovering he is Debbie Dingle's (Charley Webb) father; his affair and subsequent relationship with Moira Barton (Natalie J. Robb); being attacked in a whodunit storyline where his assailant was eventually revealed to be his father; being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm; supporting his nephew Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) after discovering Aaron was sexually abused by his father Gordon Livesy (Gary Mavers) as a child; reuniting with his and Chas' mother Faith Dingle (Sally Dexter); his relationship with local vicar Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton); building up a relationship with his children; being blackmailed by DI Malone (Mark Womack) to do drug runs for him; his feud with Al Chapman (Michael Wildman) and taking blame for Al's murder to protect his younger son Kyle who was responsible for killing Al. Cain Dingle first arrived in Emmerdale to attend the funeral of his late cousin Butch (Paul Loughran).

Cain also harbors a grudge against policewoman Angie Reynolds (Freya Copeland) over the circumstances behind Butch's death and seeks revenge against her.

When Angie dumps Cain, he has her fired, has a steamy session with Ollie, and critically injures their family patriarch Len Reynolds (Peter Martin) after shoving him down a flight of stairs.

Determined to get her own revenge, Angie goes along with Cain's plan to rob a Tate Haulage truck but she sets him up and is fatally injured in a car crash.

Cain's resolve to complicate things in their marriage comes out of coincidence when local residents Paddy (Dominic Brunt) and Emily Kirk (Kate McGregor) foster a preteen schoolgirl, Debbie Jones (Charley Webb), in the village and the trio closely befriend the Dingles.

Cain and Debbie leave the village but return so he can clear his name and admit his love for Charity; she ends the relationship when she realises she cannot live with him while on bail, due to pregnancy.

Despite Jimmy's temporary repair, the house explodes and kills Dawn Woods (Julia Mallam), Noreen Bell (Jenny Tomasin) and David Brown (Peter Alexander).

Cain tells the police that he killed Alice so Samson will not lose both parents and his family forgive him (including Debbie), and Sadie bails him out.

In February 2009, Cain returns to support his daughter Debbie as she is on remand for murdering Shane Doyle (Paul McEwan).

Cain supports his daughter Debbie in her successful custody battle and tempts Maisie Wylde (Alice Coulthard), despite her parents' disapproval.

In April 2011, Charity ends her relationship with Cain again after he has a one-night stand with Faye and sleeps with Amy Wyatt (Chelsea Halfpenny).

Amy gives birth to Cain's son, Kyle, in a cemetery; thinking he is dead, she panics and leaves him in a phonebox.

In October 2013, Cain rushes back from holiday when he learns that Cameron has laid siege to The Woolpack and is holding Debbie and Chas hostage.

Cain resumes his romance with Moira, but later that month the man who terrorized Laurel Thomas arrives at the Bartons, injured.

The man is revealed to be Ross Barton (Michael Parr), Moira's nephew, who assisted Cain in a crime he committed during his absence.

However, Cain and Moira's life is intruded on furthermore when Ross's father, James (Bill Ward), follows him to Emmerdale accompanied by his other sons, Pete (Anthony Quinlan) and Finn (Joe Gill).

Cain and Pete carry Debbie out of the Village Hall, as she is discovered under some debris and therefore begins to fight for her life, due to serious injuries following the crash.

In February 2016, Cain was the third person to learn that Aaron was raped by his father, Gordon Livesy (Gary Mavers) when he was a child.

Despite Cain's newfound role as protector of the Dingle name, due to Zak's excommunication, Chas criticizes him, citing that he hasn't bothered even glancing at Aaron since finding out he was abused and is ashamed of him.

Cain tells her that this is utter rubbish and that he still loves Aaron, the problem being that whenever he looks at him, it reminds him "of what a sick, perverted man Gordon is".

Alongside this newfound fatherly duty, Cain also tries to protect Debbie from long term lover (and Moria's nephew) Ross after she leaves the village and he will stop at no lengths to get in contact with her.

Cain punches Joe in the face causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock which seemingly kills him.

The storylines that led to Cain's return are in keeping with his character and a perfect way to bring him back to the heart of the Dingle clan where he belongs".

[2] Hordley later said that he initially turned down a return but when he was approached on the matter he approved of the storyline and felt like "the time was right for me".

Despite his difficult relationship with his daughter Debbie, he would do anything for her.The character was labelled a "ruthless hard man", a "bad boy" and a "villain" by Digital Spy.

The potential suspects were revealed to be John Barton (James Thornton), Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb), Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), Amy Wyatt (Chelsea Halfpenny), Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) and Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins).

[11] A spokesperson for the serial stated that the characters had become "sworn enemies" of Cain, all "pushed to the limit after months of manipulation and destruction".

Emmerdale's executive producer Stuart Blackburn said that the climax of Cain's actions "will be one of our most dramatic episodes this year" as viewers decide who took "matters into their own hands".

[6] Tom Lister who plays Carl King said Cain is a "great character" adding that it was a "coup to get Jeff back".

[23] In 2022, a 2001 episode of Emmerdale aired on ITV3, and viewer branded Cain a 'pedophile' after he sleeps with 15 year old Ollie Reynolds (Vicky Binns) to get revenge on her mother Angie (Freya Copeland).