Moira Dingle

Moira Dingle (previously Barton and Boyd) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Natalie J. Robb.

Robb's character and her family were created and introduced to Emmerdale as part of an overhaul of the show by the series producer Gavin Blyth.

Moira's later storylines focused on an affair with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), whom she later married after John's death and a casual relationship with farmhand Alex Moss (Kurtis Stacey); the revelation that she had had an affair with John's brother, James (Bill Ward), who was the biological father of her son Adam (Adam Thomas); murdering Emma Barton (Gillian Kearney); an affair with her farmhand Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter), who turned out to be Cain's secret son; and being diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumour.

In May 2009, it was announced that Emmerdale's new series producer, Gavin Blyth, would be introducing a new farming family called the Bartons, as part of an ongoing overhaul of the show.

[4] During an interview with Inside Soap Robb said she would probably not make a good farmer's wife, unlike Moira.

[7] Moira finds employment as a barmaid at The Woolpack and Robb said she was looking forward to getting behind the bar and pulling a few pints.

[9] When Marlon falls in love with Moira, she tells him she has not looked at another man during her twenty years of marriage to John.

[11] Moira decides to purchase a Land Rover from Cain and agrees to pay him the money in weekly instalments.

[11] Moira asks Cain to keep the arrangement from John, as their marriage is under a lot of strain and is quite fragile at that moment.

[11] Hordley told Laura Morgan of All About Soap that Cain sees the deal as his chance to have a bit of fun with Moira.

[12] On 23 October, Nada Farhoud of The People reported the attraction between Moira and Cain was going to "explode into Emmerdale's steamiest ever fling.

"[10] The actress told Kate White of Inside Soap that her character does not like Cain, but that is part of the attraction for her.

[11] However, she cannot help giving into temptation again and Robb revealed Moira does not want to go back to Cain and she tries to fight it when she does.

[10] Of why her character puts her marriage in jeopardy, Robb explained "She still loves John, but she feels isolated and neglected because he's stopped including her in the finances of the new business.

[13] On 17 November 2011, it was announced a major storyline would see Cain attacked by a mystery person and left for dead.

[14] Digital Spy conducted a poll on their website asking viewers to select which suspect they thought had carried out the attack.

Moira received 16.3% of the vote, placing her fourth behind John, Amy Wyatt (Chelsea Halfpenny) and Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell).

[16] In the lead up to the wedding, Moira's brother-in-law James Barton (Bill Ward) threatens to reveal that Adam is actually his biological son, having carried out a secret DNA test.

[18] When Moira becomes aware of her feelings for Alex, she initially urges him to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins).

Moira defends her husband, John, when he faces prison for locking Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) in a barn.

She also becomes concerned when her youngest child (then called Hannah) shows an interest in Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher), who is recovering from a breakdown.

Moira finds out that her son, Adam, is having an affair with Ella Hart (Corrinne Wicks) and she demands that he ends it.

Moira's former brother-in-law, James (Bill Ward) and his three sons, Ross (Michael Parr), Pete (Anthony Quinlan) and Finn (Joe Gill), move to the village.

By the time Finn was pronounced dead, Moira confronted Emma on a viaduct and urged her to come back in a bid to tell Pete and Ross the truth.

Ross and Pete learn that Moira was the one who murdered Emma but agree to keep her secret, feeling that enough damage has been done.

Moira begins drinking to excess due to loneliness and she is hit by a car driven by Nate's mother Cara Robinson (Carryl Thomas).

[21] The DVD centers around the characters of Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) and Marlon Dingle who have a "not-so-quiet night in the country, and a morning after anybody would want to forget.

[23] In 2012, Robb and Thornton won Spectacular Scene of the Year for John and Moira's car accident at the British Soap Awards.

[24] The following year, Cain and Moira's relationship was nominated in the Forbidden Lovers category at the All About Soap Awards.

[28] During the Moira and Alex storyline, Carena Crawford from All About Soap commented that the sexual tension between them was "sizzling – and we love it!