In the sprawling, often tumultuous world of serial drama, where every glance holds meaning and every kiss ignites a firestorm, few relationships have captured the hearts and imaginations of millions quite like that of Emmerdale’s Moira Dingle and Cain Dingle. Their tempestuous romance, affectionately dubbed ‘Coira’ by fans, is the stuff of soap opera legend – a passionate, problematic, and undeniably magnetic pairing that has defied expectations and outlasted countless challenges. Yet, even the most seasoned performers can find themselves squirming at the specter of their past onscreen endeavors, as recently revealed by the inimitable Natalie J Robb, the formidable actress behind Moira Dingle. In a candid confession that has sent ripples of empathetic amusement through the fanbase, Robb has pinpointed a specific, early ‘Coira’ moment that makes her “literally blush” and instantly reach for the ‘off’ button.

Since her arrival in the picturesque village in 2009, Natalie J Robb has masterfully brought Moira Barton – later Dingle – to life. Initially introduced as the hardworking, grounded wife of farmer John Barton and matriarch of the Barton clan, Moira quickly established herself as a woman of strength, integrity, and a deep, abiding love for her family. Her life, though often fraught with the everyday struggles of rural living, seemed to possess a certain stability. That is, until the arrival of Cain Dingle, the village’s resident bad boy, whose magnetic allure and dangerous charm would irrevocably shatter Moira’s seemingly steadfast world and plunge her into a whirlwind of forbidden desire.

Cain Dingle, portrayed with simmering intensity by Jeff Hordley, was, and remains, Emmerdale’s archetypal anti-hero. A man perpetually on the wrong side of the law, with a heart guarded by layers of cynicism and a past scarred by trauma, Cain was an unlikely candidate for conventional romance. His relationships were typically explosive, fleeting, and steeped in drama, often leaving a trail of broken hearts and shattered lives in their wake. To imagine him engaging in a tender, long-term commitment seemed almost laughable. Yet, it was precisely this contrast – the respectable farmer’s wife and the notorious village rogue – that set the stage for one of Emmerdale’s most captivating and scandalous love affairs.

The initial sparks between Moira and Cain were subtle, almost imperceptible to the untrained eye. A lingering glance, an unspoken understanding, a shared moment of vulnerability – these were the quiet precursors to the storm that was brewing. The betrayal of John Barton, a man genuinely devoted to his wife, was an emotional tightrope walk for the writers, requiring a delicate balance between illicit desire and the devastating consequences of infidelity. As the clandestine encounters escalated, culminating in stolen moments of intense passion, the audience was gripped. The affair was raw, messy, and utterly compelling, forcing viewers to confront their own moral compasses while simultaneously rooting for the undeniable chemistry sizzling between the two characters.

It is these very “first kissy whissy scenes,” these early, burgeoning moments of intimate romance that Natalie J Robb, with endearing honesty, now finds unbearable to watch. Speaking in an interview with hospital radio, Robb revealed the extent of her discomfort: “The first kissy whissy scenes, the romantic scenes, I couldn’t even watch it now. It makes me go red.” Her vivid description of the blush creeping up her neck is palpable, transporting us directly into her experience of acute embarrassment. “It’s quite cringey and for its time, you just think, oh my goodness, somebody sent me it a few years ago and I got really embarrassed and I had to turn it off.” The immediacy of her reaction – the involuntary turning away, the desperate need to escape the visual evidence – speaks volumes about the powerful, almost visceral, impact these moments still hold over her.

The root of this profound embarrassment, Robb explains, lay not in any fault of her co-star, Jeff Hordley, but rather in the circumstances surrounding the filming. “I suppose when you see it on screen, it doesn’t feel like that when you’re doing it. No offense, Jeff,” she clarified, adding a lighthearted touch to her confession. She elaborated that at the time, she was still relatively new to the fast-paced, high-stakes world of soap opera and didn’t yet possess a deep personal familiarity with Hordley. Imagining yourself in that situation – tasked with portraying deeply intimate, passionate scenes with a colleague you barely know – sheds significant light on Robb’s discomfort. The artifice of acting, the requirement to project intense emotion, can be challenging enough, but to do so with a new acquaintance, under the watchful eye of cameras and crew, amplifies the potential for awkwardness, which, in retrospect, can manifest as pure, unadulterated cringe.

Indeed, the storyline itself came as a shock to both actors. Robb and Hordley both initially expressed surprise at the producers’ decision to pair their characters romantically, with Robb admitting she “didn’t really know Hordley very well” and both questioning what the creative team “saw in the idea of them together” that they themselves didn’t. This initial skepticism from the actors themselves underscores the audacious vision of the Emmerdale producers. They saw potential where the performers saw polite professional distance, recognizing an underlying chemistry or a dramatic opportunity that transcended immediate personal acquaintance.

And what prescience it turned out to be! Despite the actors’ initial reservations and the myriad “many, many bumps in the road” that ‘Coira’ has endured – from John Barton’s tragic death and Moira’s subsequent marriage to Cain, to numerous affairs (Nate Robinson, anyone?), kidnappings, and betrayals – their relationship has not only lasted but has flourished, becoming one of Emmerdale’s most iconic and enduring pairings. The producers, in their wisdom, were undeniably “on to something.” Their faith in the pairing of the respectable farmer’s wife and the village bad boy not only redefined both characters but also cemented their place in soap opera history.

The legacy of ‘Coira’ extends far beyond their initial scandalous affair. Their journey has been a masterclass in evolving character dynamics, showing how an illicit spark can mature into a profound, albeit still tumultuous, love. Moira, transformed from the wholesome farmer’s wife into a woman capable of great passion and even greater resilience, found a depth she might never have explored otherwise. Cain, for his part, was softened by Moira’s influence, revealing glimpses of vulnerability and a capacity for deep affection that had previously been hidden beneath layers of hardened cynicism. Their complex, often volatile, but ultimately unbreakable bond resonates with viewers precisely because it mirrors the messy realities of love and life.

Natalie J Robb’s candid revelation is a charming and deeply human moment. It reminds us that even the most accomplished actors, embodying characters with such conviction, are still people. They look back at their work, particularly from early in their tenure, with the same mixture of fondness, critical self-assessment, and, yes, acute embarrassment that many of us experience when confronting our own past selves. The difference, of course, is that Robb’s “cringey” moments are forever immortalized on screen, available for millions to witness. Her willingness to share this vulnerability only further endears her to fans, making her, and by extension, Moira, even more relatable.

In a television landscape often dominated by carefully curated public personas, Natalie J Robb’s honest admission is a refreshing breath of authenticity. It highlights the often-unseen challenges of portraying intimate relationships under the glare of the camera and celebrates the enduring power of a storyline that, against all odds and initial hesitations, became a cornerstone of Emmerdale. The “kissy whissy” scenes may make her blush, but they also laid the foundation for a soap opera romance that continues to captivate and prove that sometimes, the most embarrassing beginnings lead to the most legendary love stories.