Swapping the TV screen for the stage, actor Jeff Hordley spoke to us about life after Emmerdale, his secret soft side and dressing up as a woman.

Everyone expects me to be a real ruffian" says Jeff Hordley, who played rogue Cain Dingle for six years.

"But it couldn't be further from the truth, I'm a big softy" he admits.

And behind the excess facial hair, the greasy mop and that evil look in his eye, Jeff is a well dressed, modest and polite family man - a complete opposite to the character we loved to hate.

"I'm not a bit like Cain. I'm just like most men, under the thumb." he joked.

And Did Those Feet which opened this week at Bolton's Octagon Theatre is set around the build-up to the first FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in 1923 known as the "White Horse Final" and what do you do when you're a fan but are due to get married on the same day like Jeff's character Ted?

The world premiere of the play which runs until October 20, is a story about the passion for football in a time of great political and social change and how the residents of one Bolton street resolve their differences and unite behind their team.

Jeff, who is a big Manchester City fan imagines himself in a similar situation, with fellow actress wife, Zoe who plays Casey, in Coronation Street: "I'd never get away with it, my wife would figure me out straight away if I tried to do what Ted does and delay the big day.

"It's only on screen and the stage where I can get away with anything!" he laughs.

But it is his on screen dark side that he has been teaching Zoe in her recent role on the cobbles of Weatherfield.

Jeff said: "I helped her with her lines. And she very cleverly made the character what it was. She never made it too crazy with mad acting but she made it more realistic and sinister. Villains don't grab people and be hard, they do it in a look - less is more as we were always told at drama school."

But in his next play at the Octagon, as part of the theatre's 40th anniversary season, Jeff will be ditching any sign of the bad guy image and swapping it for a skirt!

"I will be right out side of my comfort zone in the next play 'Oh What A Lovely War'. I will be singing and dancing and even dressing up as a woman with plaits on my head - which should be interesting.

"I suppose it makes a difference from playing Cain Dingle and never being allowed to wash my hair and putting conditioner in it to it to make it look greasy.

"This is what I left Emmerdale for. It's all about trying new things and exploring other avenues."

But another reason for leaving the famous Yorkshire Dales was to spend more time with his three-year-old daughter.

"I have no regrets about leaving. One bonus was to spend more time with my daughter. But I had great fun and the door has been left open for a possible future return so we'll just wait to see what future holds."

After acting, Jeff's second passion is music and recently he has fronting a Sunday afternoon radio show on 96.2 Revolution in his home town of Oldham, as well as hosting a regular live rock n roll club night in Manchester.

But acting will be taking the front seat over the next few months with two plays on at the Octagon, Jeff will be rehearsing one by day and performing another by night.

He added: "I'll be fit after all of this working and it will be great fun and a real challenge. But after we are looking forward to spending some time as a family. We have missed each other a lot recently with the plays and Zoe doing Corrie. So it's time for a bit of Jeff and Zoe time."

And Did Those Feet, Bolton Octagon Theatre, until October 20. Details from the box office on 01204 520661.