Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale’s special two-hander episode between Cain and Charity Dingle included a surprising nod to the past in tonight’s episode, as she recalled her iconic romance with Vanessa Woodfield. Known as Vanity, the couple were together pre-pandemic — and Charity clearly has fond memories of their time together.

This evening’s compelling episode saw Cain and Charity talk through their raft of current crises, including his cancer diagnosis and the family’s loss of Butlers Farm.

cain dingle, charity dingle, emmerdale

ITV

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He asked his old flame if she still loved him, to which she responded: “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, would I?”

After she said that the twosome were “toxic” when they were an item, Cain boldly proclaimed: “I was the best you had.”

Charity smirked: “You wish. Yeah, you were good, but I’ve had better.”

When Cain asked who she was talking about, she declared: “Vanessa, if you must know. She might have a wardrobe full of jumpers but she definitely knows what she’s doing in the sack.”

Charity is now married to Mackenzie, but should fans be reading into this unexpected little reference? Was it just a fun little nod, or is a proper reunion maybe on the cards? We’ll have to just wait and see.

Elsewhere in the episode, after Cain then tried to seduce Charity, he confessed his fears about struggling to keep it together for spouse Moira while she’s wrongly imprisoned. He also voiced his concern that the physical effects of his cancer treatment will impact their intimacy.

vanessa woodfield and charity dingle in emmerdale

ITV

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Charity, meanwhile, has enough on her plate, as her massive baby secret is on the brink of being exposed. The baby she’s carrying for Sarah and Jacob Sugden is actually biologically hers — and the father is Ross Barton, following a one night stand.

After tonight’s episode saw Charity telling Cain that he owes her one, will she be able to count on him when tempers inevitably flare over her deception?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage

For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale – as Gary Windass battles Theo Silverton, and Kim Tate is rocked by a poisoning mystery!